Magnetic switch capable of instantaneous switching of an output signal and magnetic sensor
US6900713B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 9, 2002 |
| Grant date | May 31, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/97
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A magnetic switch using magnetoresistive elements having respective free layers whose magnetization directions are varied by an external magnetic field. The magnetic switch also has a first magnet and a second magnet that produce respective magnetic fields that serve as the external magnetic field and are different from each other in strength and opposite to each other in direction, and a magnetic shield member whose relative position with respect to the first magnet and the second magnet varies. The magnetic shield member moves between a first position with which both of the magnetic fields of the first magnet and the second magnet act on the magnetoresistive elements to magnetize their free layers in a first direction and a second position with which only one of the magnetic fields of the first magnet and the second magnet acts on the magnetoresistive elements to magnetize their free layers in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.