Magnetic Sensor Soft Magnetic Body Vertical Field Conversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic sensors employing Hall elements or magnetoresistive elements face challenges in detecting vertical magnetic field components efficiently, leading to complex configurations, large size, high production costs, and instability in detection characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic sensor using multiple magnetoresistive elements with a soft magnetic body, where the soft magnetic body converts vertical magnetic fields into horizontal components, allowing the magnetoresistive elements to detect them effectively, while maintaining a simple configuration and low production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Hall elements are used to detect vertical magnetic field components, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to ferrite chips, ferrite substrates, and magnetic body connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the ferrite chips, ferrite substrates, and magnetic body components from the sensor configuration. By eliminating these complex magnetic field conversion components, the invention achieves vertical magnetic field detection using only planar magnetoresistive elements on a single substrate, dramatically simplifying the device structure while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fictional magnetic field conversion layer that converts vertical magnetic field components into horizontal components that can be detected by planar magnetoresistive elements. This intermediary layer enables the use of simpler planar sensor structures while maintaining the ability to detect vertical magnetic field components
2Measurement precision
If a magnetic body extending in the horizontal direction is used to connect ferrite chips, then magnetic field conversion is improved, but the sensor size increases and small-size sensors cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional structure with extended magnetic bodies to a two-dimensional planar structure. By using magnetoresistive elements arranged in specific patterns on a flat substrate, the invention achieves magnetic field detection without requiring horizontal extensions, enabling compact sensor designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the magnetic field conversion function and the detection function into a single integrated planar structure. The magnetoresistive elements directly detect magnetic field components without requiring separate magnetic bodies, ferrite chips, and substrates, consolidating multiple components into one compact unit
3Measurement precision
If Hall elements with separate ferrite chips and substrates are used, then vertical magnetic field detection is achieved, but production efficiency decreases due to multiple parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (ferrite chips, ferrite substrates, magnetic bodies) into a single integrated planar structure using magnetoresistive elements. This merging of components into one manufacturable unit on a substrate dramatically improves production efficiency by enabling standardized fabrication processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical assembly of multiple discrete magnetic components with a planar electronic structure using magnetoresistive elements. This substitution enables the use of semiconductor fabrication techniques instead of mechanical assembly, significantly improving production efficiency and consistency
4Measurement precision
If magnetoresistive elements are used for horizontal magnetic field detection, then detection capability is improved, but vertical magnetic field detection becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the magnetoresistive element-based sensor to perform multiple functions: detecting both horizontal magnetic field components directly and vertical magnetic field components through the fictional conversion layer. This multi-functional design enables a single sensor type to replace multiple specialized sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fictional magnetic field conversion layer that acts as an intermediary, converting vertical magnetic field components into horizontal components that the magnetoresistive elements can detect. This intermediary enables vertical field detection capability while maintaining the horizontal field detection capability of the planar elements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise detection of vertical magnetic field components with improved production efficiency and reduced size, while minimizing the detection of horizontal components, resulting in a cost-effective and compact magnetic sensor.
Implementation Method 1
The soft magnetic body converts a vertical magnetic field component from the outside into a magnetic field component in a horizontal direction
Implementation Method 2
multiple magnetoresistive elements which each have multi layers including a magnetic layer and a nonmagnetic layer on a substrate, and which exert a magnetoresistance effect
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic sensor includes magnetoresistive elements and a soft magnetic body. The magnetoresistive elements have multi layers including a magnetic layer and a nonmagnetic layer on a substrate, and exert a magnetoresistance effect. The soft magnetic body is electrically disconnected with the magnetoresistive elements, and converts a vertical magnetic field component from the outside into a magnetic field component in a horizontal direction so as to provide the magnetoresistive elements with the horizontally converted magnetic field component. The magnetoresistive elements have a pinned magnetic layer having a fixed magnetization direction and a free magnetic layer having a variable magnetization direction. The free magnetic layer is stacked on the pinned magnetic layer with a nonmagnetic layer interposed between the free magnetic layer and the pinned magnetic layer. The magnetization directions of the pinned magnetic layers of the magnetoresistive elements are the same direction. The magnetoresistive elements form a bridge circuit.