Magnetoresistive wheatstone measuring bridge and angle sensor having at least two such measuring bridges

Abstract

A magnetoresistive Wheatstone bridge includes two bridge branches connected in parallel between a supply potential Vb, wherein two series-connected resistor arrangements Rand Ror Rand Rare arranged in each bridge branch with an interposed measuring potential Vout. The resistor arrangements of the two bridge branches are situated diagonally opposite one another and at least two magnetoresistive resistor arrangements have a magnetically sensitive preferred direction. The preferred directions of diagonally opposing resistor arrangements of the bridge branches Rand Ror Rand Rdiffer by an angle other than 0° or 180°. An angle sensor includes at least two of the Wheatstone bridges offset by a predefined angle for determining an angular orientation of a magnetic field by a sine bridge and a cosine bridge. The measuring bridge reduces harmonics and optimizes resistance values, improving the accuracy of a phase-angle sensor signal and the sensor resolution.