A current sensor includes a first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic sensor which are configured to detect an induced magnetic field from target current to be measured flowing through a current line. The first and second magnetic sensors each include a magnetoresistive element that includes a free magnetic layer and a hard bias layer applying a bias magnetic field to the free magnetic layer. The bias magnetic field in the magnetoresistive element of the first magnetic sensor is oriented opposite to the bias magnetic field in the magnetoresistive element of the second magnetic sensor.
1. A current sensor comprising:
first, second, third, and fourth magnetoresistive elements configured to detect an induced magnetic field from a target current to be measured and output first, second, third, and fourth outputs, respectively, the target current flowing through a current path, the first, second, third, and fourth magnetoresistive elements having first, second, third, and fourth sensing axes, respectively; and
an arithmetic unit configured to process the first, second, third, and fourth outputs,
wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth magnetoresistive elements includes a free magnetic layer and a hard bias layer applying a bias magnetic field to the free magnetic layer,
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth magnetoresistive elements are arranged such that:
the bias magnetic field in the first magnetoresistive element is oriented opposite to the bias magnetic field in the second magnetoresistive element,
the bias magnetic field in the third magnetoresistive element is oriented opposite to the bias magnetic field in the fourth magnetoresistive element,
the bias magnetic field in the first magnetoresistive element and the bias magnetic field in the third magnetoresistive element are oriented in a same direction, and
the bias magnetic field in the second magnetoresistive element and the bias magnetic field in the fourth magnetoresistive element are oriented in a same direction,
wherein the induced magnetic field applied to the first and second magnetoresistive elements has a first direction, and the induced magnetic field applied to the third and fourth magnetoresistive elements has a second direction opposite to the first direction,
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth sensing axes are oriented in a same direction,
and wherein the arithmetic unit subtracts a sum of the third and fourth outputs from a sum of the first and second outputs.
2. The current sensor according to claim 1 ,
wherein the current path extends linearly,
and wherein the first and second magnetoresistive elements are disposed on a first side of the current path, while the third and fourth magnetoresistive elements are disposed on a second side of the current path opposite the first side with respect to the current path.
3. A current sensor comprising:
first, second, third, and fourth magnetoresistive elements configured to detect an induced magnetic field from a target current to be measured and output first, second, third, and fourth outputs, respectively, the target current flowing through a current path, the first, second, third, and fourth magnetoresistive elements having first, second, third, and fourth sensing axes, respectively; and
an arithmetic unit configured to process the first, second, third, and fourth outputs,
wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth magnetoresistive elements includes a free magnetic layer and a hard bias layer applying a bias magnetic field to the free magnetic layer,
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth magnetoresistive elements are arranged such that:
the bias magnetic field in the first magnetoresistive element is oriented opposite to the bias magnetic field in the second magnetoresistive element,
the bias magnetic field in the third magnetoresistive element is oriented opposite to the bias magnetic field in the fourth magnetoresistive element,
the bias magnetic field in the first magnetoresistive element and the bias magnetic field in the third magnetoresistive element are oriented in a same direction, and
the bias magnetic field in the second magnetoresistive element and the bias magnetic field in the fourth magnetoresistive element are oriented in a same direction,
wherein the induced magnetic field applied to the first and second magnetoresistive elements has a first direction, and the induced magnetic field applied to the third and fourth magnetoresistive elements has a second direction opposite to the first direction,
wherein the first and third sensing axes are oriented in a third direction, and the second and fourth sensing axes are oriented in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction
and wherein the arithmetic unit subtracts a difference between the third and fourth outputs from a difference between the first and second outputs.
4. The current sensor according to claim 3 ,
wherein the current path includes a first portion and a second portion parallel to each other and a third portion connecting the first and second portions, the third portion being perpendicular to the first and second portions, and
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth magnetoresistive elements are disposed on a same side of the current path such that the first and second magnetoresistive elements detect the induced magnetic field from the target current flowing through the first portion, and the third and fourth magnetoresistive elements detect the induced magnetic field from the target current flowing through the second portion.