Magnetoresistive detector with multiple bias magnets for biasing its magnetoresistive elements

• US 6,356,074 B1
• Filed: 07/28/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Inventors: Ohkawa, Takuya, Senda, Rirou
• Primary Examiner(s): Strecker, Gerard R.
• Application Number:
  US09/601,209
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 324/117.R, 324/207.2, 324/207.21, 324/207.25, 324/235, 324/251, 324/252, 324/174, 338/32.R, 338/32.H, 341/15
• US Class Current: 324/207.21
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/30 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/09 Magnetoresistive devices

Abstract

The magnetoresistive detector of the present invention uses magnetoresistive elements for detecting changes in the magnetic field of a moving magnet 3 which changes a magnetic field, wherein bias magnets (21, 22, 23, 24) can be mounted without using positioning jigs, errors in mounting are prevented, and the mounting density of components on a printed circuit board (4) is improved, whereby improved quality and compactness of the magnetoresistive detector can be achieved. For that purpose, the shape and dimensions of magnetoresistive detector elements (11, 12, 13, 14) are made identical to the shape and dimensions of the bias magnets (21, 22, 23, 24), and on the printed circuit board (4), positioning sections (41) for simultaneously positioning the magnetoresistive detector elements (11, 12, 13, 14) and bias magnets (21, 22, 23, 24) are provided.

Claims

1. A magnetoresistive detector comprising a printed circuit board, magnetoresistive elements, bias magnets, a magnet for changing a magnetic field, detection circuits for wave-shaping signals detected by the magnetoresistive elements, wherein

said bias magnets have approximately the same dimensions as the magnetoresistive elements and are fixed so as to overlap the magnetoresistive elements, and on the printed circuit board, holes, having approximately the same dimensions of the magnetoresistive elements, for positioning and fixing the magnetoresistive elements are disposed.

2. The magnetoresistive detector as set forth in claim 1, wherein two types of the bias magnets are provided, the outward form of the two types of bias magnets are different from each other, two types of outward forms of the holes of the printed circuit board which are corresponded to the outward form of the two types of bias magnets are provided, and marking lines for recognizing the boundaries of magnetic poles are provided on the surfaces of the bias magnets.