IP Library Granted Patent US 9,939,498
Granted Patent B2
US 9,939,498 · App. 15/093,905 · Granted Apr 10, 2018

Magnetic sensor

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,939,498
App. No.
15/093,905
Granted
Apr 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A magnetic sensor includes a substrate, magnetoresistive effect elements arranged on a surface of the substrate, a first wiring line arranged on a surface of the substrate, an insulation layer configured to cover the magnetoresistive effect elements and the first wiring line, a soft magnetic body arranged on the insulation layer, and a second wiring line arranged on the insulation layer, wherein the magnetoresistive effect elements each extend in a first direction and are arranged while being separated from each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in a case of viewing in plan the substrate, the soft magnetic body includes a first direction extension portion that extends in the first direction, and when viewed in plan, the first direction extension portion is arranged between the magnetoresistive effect elements, and the second wiring line is connected to the first wiring line.

Claims (29)

1. A magnetic sensor comprising:

a substrate;

magnetoresistive effect elements arranged on a surface of the substrate;

a first wiring line arranged on a surface of the substrate;

an insulation layer that covers the magnetoresistive effect elements and the first wiring line;

a soft magnetic body arranged on the insulation layer; and

a second wiring line arranged on the insulation layer, wherein

in a case where it is assumed that two directions, orthogonal to each other in a case of viewing in plan the substrate, are a first direction and a second direction,

the magnetoresistive effect elements each extend in the first direction and are arranged while being separated from each other in the second direction,

the soft magnetic body includes first direction extension portions that extend in the first direction, and in a case of being viewed in plan, a projection of each of the first direction extension portions on the plan view of the substrate is disposed between the magnetoresistive effect elements arranged while the first direction extension portions being separated from each other in the second direction, and the second wiring line is connected to the first wiring line via a through-hole formed in the insulation layer.

2. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

the magnetoresistive effect elements are arranged in the vicinities of two end portions in the second direction of the first direction extension portions in the plan view of the substrate.

3. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

the first wiring line is connected to an end portion in the first direction of each of the magnetoresistive effect elements, and

the second wiring line is arranged in the vicinity of a soft magnetic body arrangement area in which the soft magnetic body is arranged.

4. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

the first wiring line includes a comb-shaped wiring line having a comb-shaped pattern in the plan view of the substrate and a straight wiring line having a line pattern in the plan view of the substrate,

the straight wiring line is arranged between comb teeth of the comb-shaped wiring line, and

the second wiring line connects the straight wiring lines while lying astride the comb teeth of the comb-shaped wiring line.

5. The magnetic sensor according to claim 4 , wherein

the magnetoresistive effect elements are connected in parallel by using the comb-shaped wiring line, the straight wiring lines, and the second wiring line.

6. The magnetic sensor according to claim 4 , wherein

the comb-shaped wiring line, the magnetoresistive effect elements, the straight wiring lines, and the second wiring line are connected, thereby configuring a bridge circuit.

7. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

the soft magnetic body includes second direction extension portions configured to extend in the second direction,

two end portions in the first direction of the first direction extension portions are short-circuited by the second direction extension portions, and

a closed magnetic-field path is configured by the first direction extension portions and the second direction extension portions.

8. The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

the soft magnetic body converts an external vertical magnetic-field component into a magnetic-field component in a horizontal direction, and the magnetic-field component converted into the horizontal direction is applied to the magnetoresistive effect elements.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048260/0950 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2016
From: ENDO, HIROAKI; ANDO, HIDETO; MORITA, SUMIHITO; NOGUCHI, TAKAFUMI
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 038225/0750 →