UNIT ELEMENT PAIR AND THIN FILM MAGNETIC SENSOR

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a unit element pair of which the variation of output due to fluctuations in temperature can be suppressed without using a temperature sensor or a heating coil, and a thin film magnetic sensor using the same.SOLUTION: A unit element pair (A) includes at least one first unit element of which a temperature coefficient αof a magneto-resistivity change ratio MRis positive, and at least one second unit element of which a temperature coefficient αof a magneto-resistivity change ratio MRis negative. The first unit element and the second unit element are electrically connected in series so that directions of magnetic sensing are substantially parallel. Each of the first unit element and the second unit element includes a pair of thin film yokes made of a soft magnetic material and a GMR (Giant Magneto-Resistivity) film formed in a gap between the thin film yokes or in the vicinity of the gap. The thin film magnetic sensor includes a half bridge circuit in which the unit element pair (A) and a second resistance element are electrically connected in series, or a full bridge circuit formed by combining two half bridge circuits.