Magnetic sensor
A magnetic sensor 1 includes a plurality of sensitive elements 31 made of a soft magnetic material. The sensitive elements 31 have a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and have a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. The sensitive elements 31 are configured to sense a magnetic field by a magnetic impedance effect. The sensitive elements 31 are arranged with a gap in between in the transverse direction. The magnetic sensor 1 includes a connecting portion 32 configured to connect longitudinal ends of transversely adjacent ones of the sensitive elements 31 . The connecting portion 32 has a width in the transverse direction that narrows as the connecting portion 32 approaches the ones of the sensitive elements 31 along the longitudinal direction.
1 . A magnetic sensor comprising:
a plurality of sensitive elements made of a soft magnetic material, the plurality of sensitive elements having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the plurality of sensitive elements having a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, the plurality of sensitive elements being configured to sense, by a magnetic impedance effect, a magnetic field applied in the longitudinal direction, the plurality of sensitive elements being arranged with a gap in between in the transverse direction; and
a connecting portion configured to connect longitudinal ends of transversely adjacent ones of the plurality of sensitive elements, wherein
the connecting portion comprises an extended portion with a uniform width in the longitudinal direction and tapered portions that have a width in the transverse direction that narrows as the connecting portion approaches a center portion of the ones of the plurality of sensitive elements along the longitudinal direction, the connecting portion inducing magnetic lines of force into the longitudinal ends of the plurality of sensitive elements, the extended portion extending along the transverse direction and protruding in the transverse direction relative to the ones of the plurality of sensitive elements, the tapered portions connecting the extended portion with longitudinal ends of the plurality of sensitive elements.
2 . The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein
the extended portion of the connecting portion has a width in the longitudinal direction that is equal to or larger than a width of each of the plurality of sensitive elements in the transverse direction.
3 . The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein
the magnetic sensor comprises a plurality of the connecting portions,
the plurality of sensitive elements are connected by the plurality of the connecting portions in series in a serpentine pattern, and
each connecting portion of the plurality of the connecting portions comprises the extended portion and the tapered portions, and each of the tapered portions has a width in the transverse direction that narrows as the connecting portion approaches corresponding ones of the plurality of sensitive elements along the longitudinal direction.
4 . The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein
the magnetic sensor comprises a plurality of the connecting portions,
the plurality of sensitive elements are connected by the plurality of the connecting portions in series in a serpentine pattern, and
each connecting portion of the plurality of the connecting portions comprises the extended portion and the tapered portions, and each of the tapered portions has a width in the transverse direction that narrows as the connecting portion approaches corresponding ones of the plurality of sensitive elements along the longitudinal direction.
5 . The magnetic sensor according to claim 2 , wherein
the magnetic sensor comprises a plurality of the connecting portions,
the plurality of sensitive elements are connected by the plurality of the connecting portions in series in a serpentine pattern, and
each connecting portion of the plurality of the connecting portions comprises the extended portion and the tapered portions, and each of the tapered portions has a width in the transverse direction that narrows as the connecting portion approaches corresponding ones of the plurality of sensitive elements along the longitudinal direction.
6 . The magnetic sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion has the tapered portion having a width in the transverse direction that narrows as the connecting portion approaches a center portion of the ones of the plurality of sensitive elements along the longitudinal direction, an inclination angle of the tapered portion with respect to the longitudinal direction ranging from 110 degree to 150 degree.
7 . A magnetic sensor comprising:
a plurality of sensitive elements made of a soft magnetic material, the plurality of sensitive elements having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, the plurality of sensitive elements having a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, the plurality of sensitive elements being configured to sense, by a magnetic impedance effect, a magnetic field applied in the longitudinal direction, the plurality of sensitive elements being arranged with a gap in between in the transverse direction; and
a connecting portion configured to connect longitudinal ends of transversely adjacent two of the plurality of sensitive elements, wherein
the connecting portion comprises an extended portion that has a uniform width in the longitudinal direction and protrudes in the transverse direction relative to the two of the plurality of sensitive elements that the connecting portion connects; and tapered portions that connect the extended portion with longitudinal ends of the plurality of sensitive elements and have a width in the transverse direction that narrows as the connecting portion approaches a center portion of the ones of the plurality of sensitive elements along the longitudinal direction, and
a length of the connecting portion in the transverse direction is longer than a combined length of widths of the two of the plurality of sensitive elements in the transverse direction and a gap between the two of the plurality of sensitive elements in the transverse direction, and
the connecting portion gathers a magnetic lines of force to the connecting portion from both sides in the transverse direction.