Deformation sensor and method for detecting a deformation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor comprising:
- a substrate having a mechanically deformable region;
a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element for detecting a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region, the multi-layer sensor element comprising a sensor layer consisting of a material having a positive or a negative magnetostriction constant; and
a device, arranged on the substrate, for generating a controllable magnetic field by which a performance of the sensor element is influenced, wherein the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element and the device for generating a controllable magnetic field are arranged such that the magnetic field generated is perpendicular to the extension direction of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element.
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Abstract
A sensor has a substrate having a mechanically deformable region, a magnetostrictive spin-valve sensor element being arranged to detect a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region. On the substrate, there is a device for generating a controllable magnetic field by which a performance of the sensor element is influenced.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A sensor comprising:
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a substrate having a mechanically deformable region; a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element for detecting a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region, the multi-layer sensor element comprising a sensor layer consisting of a material having a positive or a negative magnetostriction constant; and a device, arranged on the substrate, for generating a controllable magnetic field by which a performance of the sensor element is influenced, wherein the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element and the device for generating a controllable magnetic field are arranged such that the magnetic field generated is perpendicular to the extension direction of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A sensor comprising:
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a substrate having a mechanically deformable region; a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element for detecting a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region, the multi-layer sensor element comprising a sensor layer consisting of a material having a positive or a negative magnetostriction constant; and a device, arranged on the substrate, for generating a controllable magnetic field by which a performance of the sensor element is influenced, wherein the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element is formed as a spin-valve sensor element, wherein a magnetization of a magnetically hard layer of the spin-valve sensor element and a magnetization of the magnetically soft layer of the spin-valve sensor element, without a magnetic field applied and without a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region, are parallel or anti-parallel to each other.
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13. A sensor comprising:
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a substrate having a mechanically deformable region; a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element for detecting a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region, the multi-layer sensor element comprising a sensor layer consisting of a material having a positive or a negative magnetostriction constant; and a device, arranged on the substrate, for generating a controllable magnetic field by which a performance of the sensor element is influenced, wherein the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element is formed as a spin-valve sensor element, wherein a magnetization of the magnetically hard layer and a magnetization of the magnetically soft layer of the spin-valve sensor element, without a magnetic field applied and without a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region, comprise an angle between 0° and
180°
. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A sensor comprising:
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a substrate having a mechanically deformable region; a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element for detecting a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region, the multi-layer sensor element comprising a sensor layer consisting of a material having a positive or a negative magnetostriction constant; and a device, arranged on the substrate, for generating a controllable magnetic field by which a performance of the sensor element is influenced, wherein the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element is formed as a spin-valve sensor element arranged such that a magnetization of the magnetically hard layer is parallel to an extension of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the spin-valve sensor element.
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16. A sensor comprising:
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a substrate having a mechanically deformable region; a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element for detecting a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region, the multi-layer sensor element comprising a sensor layer consisting of a material having a positive or a negative magnetostriction constant; and a device, arranged on the substrate, for generating a controllable magnetic field by which a performance of the sensor element is influenced, wherein the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element is formed as a spin-valve sensor element arranged such that a magnetization of the magnetically hard layer and an extension direction of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the spin-valve sensor element comprise an angle of ±
45°
or ±
135°
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17. A sensor comprising:
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a substrate having a mechanically deformable region; a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element for detecting a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region, the multi-layer sensor element comprising a sensor layer consisting of a material having a positive or a negative magnetostriction constant; and a device, arranged on the substrate, for generating a controllable magnetic field by which a performance of the sensor element is influenced;
wherein another magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element is arranged in addition to a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, and wherein the one magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element and the other magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element are connected to form a half-bridge, the other magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element being arranged such that an extension of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the other magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element does not influence the magnetization direction of the soft magnetic layer.
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18. A sensor comprising:
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a substrate having a mechanically deformable region; a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element for detecting a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region, the multi-layer sensor element comprising a sensor layer consisting of a material having a positive or a negative magnetostriction constant; and a device, arranged on the substrate, for generating a controllable magnetic field by which a performance of the sensor element is influenced, wherein another magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element is arranged in addition to a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, and wherein the other magnetostrictive spin-valve sensor element is arranged such that a magnetization of the magnetically hard layer is perpendicular to an extension direction of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the other magnetostrictive spin-valve sensor element.
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19. A sensor comprising:
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a substrate having a mechanically deformable region; a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element for detecting a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region, the multi-layer sensor element comprising a sensor layer consisting of a material having a positive or a negative magnetostriction constant; and a device, arranged on the substrate, for generating a controllable magnetic field by which a performance of the sensor element is influenced, wherein another magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element is arranged in addition to a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element and wherein the other magnetostrictive spin-valve sensor element is arranged such that an angle between a magnetization of the magnetically hard layer and an extension direction of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the other magnetostrictive spin-valve sensor element has a value of ±
45°
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20. A sensor comprising:
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a substrate having a mechanically deformable region; a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element for detecting a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region, the multi-layer sensor element comprising a sensor layer consisting of a material having a positive or a negative magnetostriction constant; and a device, arranged on the substrate, for generating a controllable magnetic field by which a performance of the sensor element is influenced, wherein the device for generating a controllable magnetic field is connected to a controller, and wherein the controller is formed to control the device for generating a controllable magnetic field when a predetermined value of a linearity or a sensitivity of the output characteristic curve of the sensor element is fallen below or exceeded by a predetermined magnitude such that a magnetic field differing from the previous magnetic field is generated by it. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for detecting a deformation of a mechanically deformable region arranged on a substrate by means of a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, comprising the steps of:
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adjusting an operating point of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element by applying a magnetic field; and detecting a value indicating the mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, wherein the step of adjusting an operating point takes place in dependence on a linearity of the characteristic curve of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for detecting a deformation of a mechanically deformable region arranged on a substrate by means of a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, comprising the steps of:
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adjusting an operating point of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element by applying a magnetic field; and detecting a value indicating the mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, wherein the step of adjusting an operating point takes place in dependence on a sensitivity of the sensor element, and wherein the step of adjusting an operating point comprises the steps of; determining a sensitivity of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element at an operating point adjusted; comparing the sensitivity to a predetermined value; and generating a new magnetic field differing from the previous magnetic field when the sensitivity at the previous operating point differs from a predetermined value by a predetermined magnitude.
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28. A method for detecting a deformation of a mechanically deformable region arranged on a substrate by means of a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, comprising the steps of:
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adjusting an operating point of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element by applying a magnetic field; and detecting a value indicting the mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, wherein the magnetic field is adjusted in dependence on one or several parameters causing a drift of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element.
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29. A method for detecting a deformation of a mechanically deformable region arranged on a substrate by means of a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, comprising the steps of:
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adjusting an operating point of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element by applying a magnetic field; and detecting a value indicating the mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, wherein the operating point is adjusted such that an electrical resistance of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element is kept constant independently of a deformation of the mechanically deformable region. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for detecting a deformation of a mechanically deformable region arranged on a substrate by means of a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, comprising the steps of:
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adjusting an operating point of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element by applying a magnetic field; and detecting a value indicating the mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, wherein the magnetic field is generated by a device integrated on the substrate.
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34. A method for detecting a deformation of a mechanically deformable region arranged on a substrate by means of a magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element, comprising the steps of:
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providing the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element for detecting a mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region; after the step of providing, adjusting an operating point of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element by applying a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field is generated by a device integrated on the substrate; and detecting a value indicating the mechanical deformation of the mechanically deformable region at the position of the magnetostrictive multi-layer sensor element.
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Specification