IP Library Granted Patent US 9,110,124
Granted Patent B2
US 9,110,124 · App. 13/175,382 · Granted Aug 18, 2015

Magnetic sensor and magnetic detection apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,110,124
App. No.
13/175,382
Granted
Aug 18, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A magnetic sensor is provided with a channel of a semiconductor, a first insulating film and a metal body arranged opposite to each other with the channel in between, a ferromagnet provided on the first insulating film, a first reference electrode connected to the metal body, a second reference electrode connected to the metal body, a magnetic shield covering a portion opposed to the ferromagnet in the channel, and a second insulating film provided between the channel and the magnetic shield. The magnetic shield has a through hole extending toward the portion opposed to the ferromagnet in the channel.

Claims (21)

1. A magnetic sensor comprising:

a channel composed of a semiconductor;

a first insulating film and a metal body arranged opposite to each other with the channel in between;

a ferromagnet provided on the first insulating film;

a first reference electrode connected to the metal body;

a second reference electrode connected to the metal body;

a magnetic shield covering a portion opposed to the ferromagnet in the channel; and

a second insulating film provided between the channel and the magnetic shield,

wherein the magnetic shield has a through hole extending toward said portion opposed to the ferromagnet in the channel.

2. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the channel is not more than 10 nm.

3. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a junction between the channel and the metal body is a Schottky junction.

4. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein an axis direction of the through hole is nonparallel to a magnetization direction of the ferromagnet.

5. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein when viewed from an axis direction of the through hole, an entire cross section of the through hole is opposed to the channel.

6. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a material of the metal body is Al, Gd, or Yb.

7. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a material of the metal body is CoFe or Fe 3 Si.

8. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a material of the ferromagnet is a metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Co, Fe, and Ni, an alloy containing at least one element in the group, or a compound containing at least one element selected from the group, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, C, N, Si, and Ge.

9. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a material of the channel is a semiconductor containing any one of Si, Ge, GaAs, C, and ZnO.

10. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a material of the first insulating film is magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide, magnesium aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, or gallium oxide.

11. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a magnetization direction of the ferromagnet is fixed by an antiferromagnet provided on the ferromagnet.

12. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising a permanent magnet which supplies to the through hole, a magnetic field in the same direction as an axis direction of the through hole.

13. A magnetic detection apparatus comprising a plurality of magnetic sensors as defined in claim 1 .

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 12, 2013
From: TDK CORPORATION
To: TDK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030651/0687 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2011
From: SASAKI, TOMOYUKI; OIKAWA, TOHRU
To: TDK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026559/0762 →