MAGNETO-RESISTIVE SENSOR FOR MEASURING MAGNETIC FIELD

The present invention relates to a magnetoresistive sensor for measuring a magnetic field. A calculation of the sensitivity to external magnetic fields is provided, and it is shown to be related to the shape anisotropy of the magnetoresistive sensing elements. Moreover, it is shown that sensitivity may be made highest when the shape of the magnetoresistive element is long parallel to the sensing axis, and a magnetic bias field strong enough to saturate the magnetoresistive element's magnetization, H cross , is applied perpendicular to the sensing axis. A monolithic permanent magnet is provided to generate the H cross and it may be applied at an angle in order to counteract non-ideal fields along the sense axis direction. The high sensitivity magnetoresistive element can be used in many electrical form-factors. Six exemplary bridge configurations are described herein.