MAGNETIC SENSOR AND ROTATION ANGLE DETECTOR

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact magnetic sensor having a magnetic isotropic property so as to suppress an anisotropic property of the detection sensitivity. SOLUTION: The magnetic sensor uses a spin-valve magnetoresistive effect element in which two ferromagnetic membranes are laminated through a nonmagnetic intermediate layer. The spin-valve magnetoresistive effect element has a shape in which a plurality of C-shaped elements are coupled to each other on an outer circumference, or a shape in which a plurality of the C-shaped elements are sequentially coupled to each other at one end in an opening. A current is carried through a plurality of the C-shaped elements while they are electrically connected. The magnetic sensor is characterized so as to change an electrical resistance of the spin-valve magnetoresistive effect element in response to an external magnetic field. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT