Patent ID: 7425824

Claim:
A magnetic sensor, comprising: a target comprising a plurality of teeth and a plurality of slots formed there between; a magnet having a first end located proximate to said target and a second end located away from said target; an integrated circuit comprising a magnetoresistive Wheatstone bridge having a plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components comprising a first group of magnetoresistive bridge components located within a first region of said integrated circuit and a second group of magnetoresistive bridge components located within a second region of said integrated circuit adjacent said first region; wherein said first group of magnetoresistive bridge components comprise a second magnetoresistive component and a fourth magnetoresistive component located in parallel with each other in said first region, and wherein said second group of magnetoreistive components comprise a first magnetoresistive component and third magnetoresistive component located in parallel with each other in said second region; and wherein said first magnetoresistive component and said fourth magnetoresistive component are electrically connected in a leg of said magnetoresistive Wheatstone bridge and wherein said second magnetoresistive component and said third magnetoresistive component are electrically connected in another leg of said magnetoresistive Wheatstone bridge; wherein said integrated circuit and said magnet are configured into a sensor package, such that said integrated circuit is located proximate said first end of said magnet and away from said second end with said magnetoresistive Wheatstone bridge in a plane facing a side of said magnet extending between said first and second ends, said first and second groups of magnetoresistive bridge components being located side by side in the direction of motion of said target, to enable said magnetoresistive to detect an edge of at least one tooth among said plurality of teeth when a half of said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components come into proximity with said edge of said at least one tooth before that of another half of said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components.