Magnetoresistive sensor element with selective magnetization direction of the bias layer

US6373247B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Klaus Marx · Stuttgart, DE
• Hartmut Kittel · Diez, DE
• Franz Jost · Stuttgart, DE
• Martin Freitag · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 3, 2000
• Grant date: Apr 16, 2002
• Expiry date: Apr 3, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/093
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A magnetoresistive sensor element, in particular an angle sensor element, has a first, magnetic layer (3) whose direction of magnetization represents a reference direction, a second, nonmagnetic layer (2) formed on the first layer (3), a third magnetic layer (1), formed on the second layer (2), whose direction of magnetization can be varied by an external magnetic field, and an additional layer consisting of a current conductor (5) for selective orientation of the direction of magnetization of the first layer (3). A current flow direction of an electric current that passes through the current conductor (5) can be switched to change the magnetization direction of the first magnetic layer (3) to create different reference directions. An insulation layer (4) for galvanic separation of the first magnetic layer (3) from the additional layer (5) is also provided between them.