MAGNETIC FIELD DETECTOR, CURRENT DETECTOR, POSITION DETECTOR AND ROTATION DETECTOR EMPLOYING IT

摘要

A magnetic field detector comprising a magnetoresistive element for reference and a magnetoresistive element for detecting magnetic field. Each of the magnetoresistive element for reference and the magnetoresistive element for detecting magnetic field has a laminate structure of an antiferromagnetic layer, a bonding layer of a magnetic body having a magnetization direction fixed by the antiferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer, and a free layer of a magnetic body having a magnetization direction varying by the external magnetic field. The magnetization direction of the bonding layer in the magnetoresistive element for reference is parallel or anti-parallel with the magnetization direction of the free layer under no magnetic field. The magnetization direction of the bonding layer in the magnetoresistive element for detecting magnetic field is different from the magnetization direction of the free layer under no magnetic field. Thus, it is possible to obtain a magnetic field detector whose sensitivity and resolution can be calibrated as a single unit at any time.