Magnetic sensor element and electronic directional measuring device

1. A magnetic sensor element of a flux gate type comprising a magnetism sensitive part formed by winding a coil around a magnetic core layer, and magnetism collective part connected to respective ends of the magnetism sensitive part for guiding magnetic fluxes to the magnetism sensitive part;

wherein the magnetism collective part are a pair of magnetism collective part each in the shape of a long strip, formed integrally with the magnetic core layer of the magnetism sensitive part, extending in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the magnetism sensitive part, respective central parts of the magnetism collective part, in the longitudinal direction thereof, are individually connected with the respective ends of the magnetism sensitive part; and

wherein the coil is a thin-film coil comprising a plurality of upper coil thin-films provided on a surface of an upper insulation layer formed on one of principal surfaces of the magnetic core layer, opposite from the magnetic core layer, and a plurality of lower coil thin-films provided on a surface of a lower insulation layer formed on the other of the principal surfaces of the magnetic core layer, opposite from the magnetic core layer, formed by connecting together the respective lower coil thin-films and the adjacent upper coil thin-films, at respective ends thereof, so as to be sequentially continuous with each other.

2. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetism sensitive part is formed by winding the coil around a plurality of divided magnetic core layers altogether.

3. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic core layer is uniform in thickness, and is formed in a whole shape such that a value of B/A falls in a range of 0.8 to 1.5 on the assumption that a length of the magnetic sensitive part, along the longitudinal direction, is A, and a length of the magnetism collective part along the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the magnetism sensitive part, is B.

4. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 3 , wherein the magnetic core layer is formed such that a value of C/B falls in a range of 0.033 to 0.200 on the assumption that a length of the magnetism sensitive part along the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof, is C.

5. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein respective edges of the upper insulation layer in the transversely direction of the magnetism sensitive part, have a face inclined at a predetermined angle.

6. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic core layer is made up of a permalloy film mainly composed of iron and nickel, or a soft magnetic film mainly composed of iron, nickel, and cobalt, formed by sputtering or plating.

7. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 1 , wherein the coil comprises two thin-film coils including an excitation coil and a detection coil, formed by connecting together the respective lower coil thin-films and the adjacent upper coil thin-films, at respective ends thereof, so as to be alternately and sequentially continuous with each other.

8. A magnetic sensor element of a flux gate type comprising a magnetism sensitive part formed by winding a coil around a magnetic core layer, and a magnetism collective part connected to respective ends of the magnetism sensitive part for guiding magnetic fluxes to the magnetism sensitive part;

wherein the magnetism collective part is formed in a shape resembling a closed-loop surrounding the magnetism sensitive part, formed integrally with the magnetic core layer of the magnetism sensitive part, and two portions of the magnetism collective part joined together, opposed to each other with an enclosed space surrounded by the magnetism collective part interposed therebetween, are connected to both ends of the magnetism sensitive part, in such a way as to substantially halve the enclosed space by the magnetism sensitive part; and

wherein the coil is a thin-film coil comprising a plurality of upper coil thin-films provided on a surface of an upper insulation layer formed on one of principal surfaces of the magnetic core layer, opposite from the magnetic core layer, and a plurality of lower coil thin-films provided on a surface of a lower insulation layer formed on the other of the principal surfaces of the magnetic core layer, opposite from the magnetic core layer, formed by connecting together the respective lower coil thin-films and the adjacent upper coil thin-films, at respective ends thereof, so as to be sequentially continuous with each other.

9. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 8 , wherein the magnetism collective part is formed in the planar shape of a square frame or a rectangular frame.

10. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 9 , wherein respective corners of the square frame or the rectangular frame of the magnetism collective part are formed in an arc-like shape.

11. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 8 , wherein the closed-loop magnetism collective part is formed in the planar shape of a circular frame, an elliptical frame, or an oval frame.

12. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 8 , wherein the magnetism sensitive part is formed by winding the coil around a plurality of divided magnetic core layers altogether.

13. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 8 , wherein respective edges of the upper insulation layer, in the transversely direction of the magnetism sensitive part, have a face inclined at a predetermined angle.

14. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 8 , wherein the magnetic core layer is made up of a permalloy film mainly composed of iron and nickel, or a soft magnetic film mainly composed of iron, nickel, and cobalt, formed by sputtering or plating.

15. A magnetic sensor element according to claim 8 , wherein the coil comprises two thin-film coils including an excitation coil and a detection coil, formed by connecting together the respective lower coil thin-films and the adjacent upper coil thin-films, at respective ends thereof, so as to be alternately and sequentially continuous with each other.

16. An electronic directional measuring device made up by arranging at least two units of the magnetic sensor elements on a nonmagnetic base,

wherein the magnetic sensor elements each being a flux gate type comprising a magnetism sensitive part formed by winding a coil around a magnetic core layer, and magnetism collective part connected to respective ends of the magnetism sensitive part for guiding magnetic fluxes to the magnetism sensitive part;

wherein the magnetism collective part are a pair of magnetism collective part each in the shape of a long strip, formed integrally with the magnetic core layer of the magnetism sensitive part, extending in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the magnetism sensitive part, respective central parts of the magnetism collective part, in the longitudinal direction thereof, are individually connected with the respective ends of the magnetism sensitive part; and

wherein the coil is a thin-film coil comprising a plurality of upper coil thin-films provided on a surface of an upper insulation layer formed on one of principal surfaces of the magnetic core layer, opposite from the magnetic core layer, and a plurality of lower coil thin-films provided on a surface of a lower insulation layer formed on the other of the principal surfaces of the magnetic core layer, opposite from the magnetic core layer, formed by connecting together the respective lower coil thin-films and the adjacent upper coil thin-films, at respective ends thereof, so as to be sequentially continuous with each other.

17. An electronic directional measuring device according to claim 16 , wherein a triaxial magnetic sensor is made up by arranging three units of the magnetic sensor elements on the nonmagnetic base, and by disposing the respective magnetic sensor elements such that the longitudinal directions of the respective magnetism sensitive parts thereof cross each other at right angles.

18. An electronic directional measuring device made up by arranging at least two units of the magnetic sensor elements on a nonmagnetic base,

wherein the magnetic sensor elements each being a flux gate type comprising a magnetism sensitive part formed by winding a coil around a magnetic core layer, and a magnetism collective part connected to respective ends of the magnetism sensitive part for guiding magnetic fluxes to the magnetism sensitive part;

wherein the magnetism collective part is formed each in a shape resembling a closed-loop surrounding the magnetism sensitive part, formed integrally with the magnetic core layer of the magnetism sensitive part, and two portions of the magnetism collective part joined together, opposed to each other with an enclosed space surrounded by the magnetism collective part interposed therebetween, are connected to both ends of the magnetism sensitive part, respectively, in such a way as to substantially halve the enclosed space by the magnetism sensitive part; and

wherein the coil is a thin-film coil comprising a plurality of upper coil thin-films provided on a surface of an upper insulation layer formed on one of principal surfaces of the magnetic core layer, opposite from the magnetic core layer, and a plurality of lower coil thin-films provided on a surface of a lower insulation layer formed on the other of the principal surfaces of the magnetic core layer, opposite from the magnetic core layer, formed by connecting together the respective lower coil thin-films and the adjacent upper coil thin-films, at respective ends thereof, so as to be sequentially continuous with each other.

19. An electronic directional measuring device according to claim 18 , wherein a triaxial magnetic sensor is made up by arranging three units of the magnetic sensor elements on the nonmagnetic base, and by disposing the respective magnetic sensor elements such that the longitudinal directions of the respective magnetism sensitive parts thereof cross each other at right angles.