Magnetoresistive sensor for determining an angle or a position

US8164332B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MEAS Deutschland GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Axel Bartos · Waltrop, DE
• Armin Meisenberg · Dortmund, DE
• Fritz Dettmann · Solms, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 7, 2010
• Grant date: Apr 24, 2012
• Expiry date: Dec 7, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01D5/145
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A magneto-resistive resistor for use in sensors for determining alignment of the sensor relative to a homogeneous magnetic field include an anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) strip having a longitudinal extent and a first and second edge along the longitudinal extent. The first and second edge have a shape along the longitudinal extent such that the direction of current flowing through the strip varies continuously along the longitudinal extent of the strip. The shape of the first and second edges produce a resistance determining angle with respect to the homogeneous magnetic field, the angle varying throughout the length of the strip and filtering out harmonics. A sensor bridge comprising at least one AMR resistor pair, each resistor electrically connected to the other resistor, a positive input contact and a negative input, and an output voltage tap electrically connected between the resistors in each resistor pair.