Abstract:
The current sensor comprises: a magnetic detecting device that is arranged in the vicinity of a conductor, to which a magnetic field to be measured induced by a current flowing through the conductor is applied, and that changes an electrical resistance in response to a change in the magnetic field to be measured; two coils that generate a canceling magnetic field to cancel the magnetic field to be measured and that are arranged in the vicinity of the magnetic detecting device; a shunt resistor, that is connected in series between the two coils, for detecting a current flowing through the coils; a first differential amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the magnetic detecting device and that supplies the current to induce the canceling magnetic field to the coils; and a second differential amplifier that amplifies the voltage across the shunt resistor and that outputs a measured voltage proportional to the current flowing through the conductor.
Abstract:
A magnetic sensor includes an MR element and a pair of magnets. The MR element includes a magnetization pinned layer having a magnetization pinned in a direction parallel to an X direction, a free layer having a magnetization that varies depending on an X-direction component of an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic layer interposed between the magnetization pinned layer and the free layer. The magnetization pinned layer, the nonmagnetic layer and the free layer are stacked to be adjacent in a Y direction. The free layer receives an interlayer coupling magnetic field in a direction parallel to the X direction resulting from the magnetization pinned layer. The pair of magnets applies a bias magnetic field to the free layer. The bias magnetic field includes a first component in a direction opposite to that of the interlayer coupling magnetic field and a second component in a Z direction.
Abstract:
A magnetic sensor includes an MR element and a bias field generation unit. The MR element includes a magnetization pinned layer having a magnetization pinned in a direction parallel to an X direction, a free layer having a magnetization that varies depending on an X-direction component of an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic layer interposed between the magnetization pinned layer and the free layer. The magnetization pinned layer, the nonmagnetic layer and the free layer are stacked to be adjacent in a Y direction. The free layer receives an interlayer coupling magnetic field in a direction parallel to the X direction resulting from the magnetization pinned layer. The bias field generation unit applies a bias magnetic field to the free layer. The bias magnetic field includes a first component in a direction opposite to that of the interlayer coupling magnetic field and a second component in a Z direction.
Abstract:
The current sensor comprises: a magnetic detecting device that is arranged in the vicinity of a conductor, to which a magnetic field to be measured induced by a current flowing through the conductor is applied, and that changes an electrical resistance in response to a change in the magnetic field to be measured; two coils that generate a canceling magnetic field to cancel the magnetic field to be measured and that are arranged in the vicinity of the magnetic detecting device; a shunt resistor, that is connected in series between the two coils, for detecting a current flowing through the coils; a first differential amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the magnetic detecting device and that supplies the current to induce the canceling magnetic field to the coils; and a second differential amplifier that amplifies the voltage across the shunt resistor and that outputs a measured voltage proportional to the current flowing through the conductor.
Abstract:
A magnetic sensor system includes a scale and a magnetic sensor arranged in a relative positional relationship variable in a first direction, and a computing unit. The magnetic sensor includes a first detection circuit, a second detection circuit and a third detection circuit that are disposed at a first position, a second position and a third position, respectively. Each of the first to third detection circuits includes a spin-valve MR element. A difference between two of the first to third positions that are the most distant from each other in a first direction falls within a one-pitch amount of change in the relative positional relationship between the scale and the magnetic sensor. The computing unit generates first and second post-computation signals having mutually different phases by computation using detection signals from the first to third detection circuits.
Abstract:
A magnetic sensor system includes a scale and a magnetic sensor arranged in a relative positional relationship variable in a first direction, and a computing unit. The magnetic sensor includes a first detection circuit disposed at a first position and a second detection circuit disposed at a second position. Each of the first and second detection circuits includes a spin-valve magnetoresistive element. The difference between the first position and the second position in the first direction is smaller than or equal to 1.25% of a one-pitch amount of change in the relative positional relationship between the scale and the magnetic sensor. The computing unit generates an abnormal-event determination signal indicative of the presence of an abnormal event in the magnetic sensor by computation using detection signals from the first and second detection circuits.