Magnetic sensor
First Claim
1. A magnetic sensor comprising:
- an elongate sensor region, said elongate sensor region comprising an elongate magneto-resistive element having first and second ends and an elongate conductive element overlapping said elongate magneto-resistive element and having first and second ends; and
a plurality of terminals electrically connected to said elongate sensor region for providing respective electrical connection to said first and second ends of said elongate magneto-resistive element and said elongate conductive element;
wherein said terminals together form an array which is spaced from said elongate sensor region in a predetermined direction of elongation of said elongate magneto-resistive element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic sensor has a elongate sensor region formed by an elongate magneto-resistive element and an overlapping elongate conductive element. The ends of the magneto-resistive element and the conductive element are connected to terminals which are arranged in an array which is spaced in a predetermined direction from the elongate sensor region. The array may be at one side or one end of the elongate sensor region, and the terminals may have a linear arrangement within the array. The two terminals connected to the magneto-resistive element are preferably adjacent, and preferably the terminals connected to the ends of the magneto-resistive element and the conductive element closer to the array are also adjacent. A common terminal may be provided. Two such sensors may form a sensor array which is particularly suitable for use in a position sensor in e.g. a torque sensor of a power steering system.
22 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A magnetic sensor comprising:
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an elongate sensor region, said elongate sensor region comprising an elongate magneto-resistive element having first and second ends and an elongate conductive element overlapping said elongate magneto-resistive element and having first and second ends; and a plurality of terminals electrically connected to said elongate sensor region for providing respective electrical connection to said first and second ends of said elongate magneto-resistive element and said elongate conductive element; wherein said terminals together form an array which is spaced from said elongate sensor region in a predetermined direction of elongation of said elongate magneto-resistive element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17)
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8. A magnetic sensor comprising:
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an elongate sensor region, said elongate sensor region comprising an elongate magneto-resistive element having first and second ends and an elongate conductive element overlapping said elongate magneto-resistive element and having first and second ends; and a plurality of terminals electrically connected to said elongate sensor region for providing respective electrical connection to said first and second ends of said elongate magneto-resistive element and said elongate conductive element; wherein said terminals together form an array which is spaced in a predetermined direction from said elongate sensor region; wherein said plurality of terminals include first and second terminals respectively connected to said first and second ends of said elongate magneto-resistive element and said first and second terminals are adjacent in said array; wherein said plurality of terminals include third and fourth terminals respectively connected to said first and second ends of said elongate conductive element. - View Dependent Claims (15, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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11. An magnetic sensor comprising:
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an elongate sensor region, said elongate sensor region comprising an elongate magneto-resistive element having first and second ends and an elongate conductive element overlapping said elongate magneto-resistive element and having first and second ends; and a plurality of terminals electrically connected to said elongate sensor region for providing respective electrical connection to said first and second ends of said elongate magneto-resistive element and said elongate conductive element; wherein said terminals together form an array which is spaced in a predetermined direction from said elongate sensor region; wherein said first and second ends of said elongate magneto-resistive element are respectively adjacent said first and second ends of said elongate conductive element, and said terminals include at least one first terminal connected to said first end of said elongate magneto-resistive element and a third terminal connected to said first end of said elongate conductive element and said first and third terminals are adjacent in said array. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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13. A magnetic sensor comprising:
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an elongate sensor region, said elongate sensor region comprising an elongate magneto-resistive element having first and second ends and an elongate conductive element overlapping said elongate magneto-resistive element and having first and second ends; and a plurality of terminals electrically connected to said elongate sensor region for providing respective electrical connection to said first and second ends of said elongate magneto-resistive element and said elongate conductive element; wherein said terminals together form an array which is spaced in a predetermined direction from said elongate sensor region; wherein said first and second ends of said elongate magneto-resistive element are respectively adjacent said first and second ends of said elongate conductive element, and said terminals include at least one fifth terminal connected in common to said second end of said elongate magneto-resistive element and said second end of said elongate conductive element.
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18. A magnetic sensor comprising:
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an elongate sensor region, said elongate sensor region comprising an elongate magneto-resistive element having first and second ends and an elongate conductive element overlapping said elongate magneto-resistive element and having first and second ends; and a plurality of terminals electrically connected to said elongate sensor region for providing respective electrical connection to said first and second ends of said elongate magneto-resistive element and said elongate conductive element; wherein said terminals together form an array which is spaced in a predetermined direction from said elongate sensor region; further including a plurality of leads respectively connecting said plurality of terminals to said elongate sensor region, and each of said plurality of leads has a width which is greater than a transverse width of said elongate magneto-resistive element.
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20. A magnetic sensor array comprising a first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic sensor, each of said first and second magnetic sensors including:
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an elongate sensor region, said elongate sensor region comprising an elongate magneto-resistive element having first and second ends and an elongate conductive element overlapping said elongate magnetic resistance element and; a plurality of terminals electrically connected to said elongate sensor region for providing respective electrical connection to said first and second ends of said elongate magneto-resistive element and said elongate conductive element; wherein said terminals together form an array which is spaced in a predetermined direction from said elongate sensor region.
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Specification