Current sensor with temperature-compensated magnetic tunnel junction bridge
US9465056B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 2012 |
| Grant date | Oct 11, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 13, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R33/098
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A current sensor comprises a sensor bridge, with magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) elements, a MTJ temperature compensation resistor, and a current lead integrated onto a chip. The current lead is positioned close to the sensor bridge, and it is used to carry the test current. A permanent magnet is arranged at the periphery of the MTJ temperature compensation resistor. The permanent magnet rigidly aligns the magnetization direction of the free layer of the MTJ temperature compensation resistor anti-parallel to the magnetization direction of a pinning layer. The sensor bridge is connected in series with the MTJ temperature compensation resistor to temperature compensate the sensor bridge. A magnetic field generated by the test current produces an output voltage at the output of the temperature compensated sensor bridge that is proportional to the test current value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.