Tdk Corporation

Shigeru Shimura

Masahiro Miyazaki

Susumu Haratani

Hitoshi Yamaguchi

Yoshio Sase

A current sensor includes first to fourth magneto-resistive elements each having a resistance value; and a compensation current line applying a compensation magnetic field to the magneto-resistive elements. A bridge circuit is formed by the magneto-resistive elements. Resistance values of the first and third magneto-resistive elements change together in one increasing/decreasing direction. Resistance values of the second and fourth magneto-resistive elements change together in the other increasing/decreasing direction. The compensation current is generated by a potential difference between the first and second junctions in response to application of voltage between the third and fourth junctions. The compensation current line includes first to fourth line portions. Each line portion extends in the same direction as the extending direction of the magneto-resistive elements, overlaps the corresponding magneto-resistive elements, and. The current-to-be-detected is detected based on the compensation current.

Current sensor

A signal transmission device includes: an input signal conductor in which an input signal current flows and thereby generating an input signal magnetic field; a magnetically-biasing conductor in which a biasing current flows and thereby generating a biasing magnetic field; and one or more magnetoresistive elements in each of which a sensing current flows and thereby generating a self-biasing magnetic field, and each including a magnetization free layer having a magnetization direction which varies in response to the input signal magnetic field, the biasing magnetic field, and the self-biasing magnetic field. Each of the biasing magnetic field and the self-biasing magnetic field is applied to the magnetization free layer in a same direction to each other.

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Tokyo, Japan

Shigeru Shimura