Magnetic Sensor Yoke Merging for Multi-Direction Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional magnetic sensors requiring a soft magnetic material insulated from the magnetoresistive element and current path are complex and involve numerous manufacturing steps, making them difficult to configure effectively for detecting magnetic fields in directions other than their initial sensitivity.

Innovation Solution

A magnetic sensor design featuring a yoke made of soft magnetic material that is electrically continuous with the magnetic detection element, allowing it to receive and generate magnetic fields in different directions without the need for insulation, simplifying the configuration and reducing manufacturing complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the soft magnetic material is insulated from the magnetoresistive element and current path, then the magnetic sensor can detect magnetic fields in directions other than its initial sensitivity, but the configuration becomes complicated and requires numerous manufacturing steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemagnetic field detection capability in multiple directionsVSAvoidconfiguration complexity and manufacturing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the soft magnetic material (yoke) with the current path by making them electrically continuous, eliminating the need for insulation structures. The yoke serves dual functions as both a magnetic flux guide and an electrical conductor, thereby simplifying the overall configuration and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the capability to detect magnetic fields in multiple directions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemagnetic field detection capability in multiple directionsVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the yoke and current path into a single electrically continuous structure, which reduces the number of manufacturing steps by eliminating insulation processes and simplifying assembly operations, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency while preserving multi-directional magnetic field detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If the yoke is made electrically continuous with the magnetic detection element, then the configuration is simplified and manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the yoke must serve dual electrical and magnetic functions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration simplicityVSAvoidfunctional requirements of the yoke

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the universality principle by designing the yoke to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it guides magnetic flux and serves as an electrical conductor for the current path. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall configuration by reducing the number of separate components needed, while the yoke's dual functionality is achieved through its electrical continuity with the magnetoresistive element

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 detection of magnetic fields in directions other than the sensor's initial sensitivity while simplifying the sensor configuration and reducing manufacturing complexity by eliminating the need for insulation between the yoke and the magnetoresistive element.

Implementation Method 1

a soft magnetic material for converting a vertical magnetic field component perpendicular to the plane of the substrate into a horizontal magnetic field component parallel to the plane of the substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field conversion: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

The magnetic detection elements may be magnetoresistive elements, for example

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetoresistance: Magnetoresistance

Data Source

PatentUS10890629B2Magnetic sensor

Publication Date: 2021.01.12 TDK CORP

AI summary

A magnetic sensor includes first and second yokes, first and second magnetoresistive elements, and a current path for passing a current through the first and second magnetoresistive elements. Each of the first and second yokes receives an input magnetic field containing an input magnetic field component in a direction parallel to a first virtual straight line Lz, and generates an output magnetic field. The output magnetic field contains an output magnetic field component in a direction parallel to a second virtual straight line Lx orthogonal to the first virtual straight line Lz. The first and second magnetoresistive elements generate respective detection values corresponding to the output magnetic field components of the output magnetic fields generates by the first and second yokes. The first and second yokes are electrically continuous with the first and second magnetoresistive elements, respectively.