MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSOR BASED ON OSCILLATIONS IN THE MAGNETORESISTANCE

摘要

ABSTRACTDescribed is a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor comprising a multilayered structureformed on a substrate includes alternating layers of a ferromagnetic material (12) and copper(14). The ferromagnetic material and the copper form bilayers which exhibit the propertythat the magnetoresistance of the multilayered structure oscillates as a function of thicknessof the non-magnetic material. A current flow is produced through the MR sensor, and thevariations in the resistivity of the MR sensor are sensed as a function of the magnetic fieldbeing sensed. Also described is a sensor having a quadlayer structure which comprisesalternating layers bf a first and second ferromagnetic material and a non-magnetic metallicmaterial.Fig. 3