The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 27, 2015
Filed:
Sep. 10, 2012
Nobuhiro Hayashi, Niigata-ken, JP;
Tatsuya Kogure, Niigata-ken, JP;
Akira Takahashi, Niigita-ken, JP;
Nobuhiro Hayashi, Niigata-ken, JP;
Tatsuya Kogure, Niigata-ken, JP;
Akira Takahashi, Niigita-ken, JP;
ALPS GREEN DEVICES CO., LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A current measurement apparatus includes multiple GMR elements and a calculation unit. The multiple GMR elements each include a pinned magnetic layer having a pinned magnetization direction, and a free magnetic layer having a magnetization direction to be changed by an external magnetic field. The calculation unit obtains the magnitude of a current to be detected, from outputs of the multiple GMR elements. The multiple GMR elements are disposed in ring shape around a conductor through which the current to be detected flows, and are electrically connected so as to form a series variable resistor by using the multiple GMR elements. The magnetization directions of the pinned magnetic layers are pinned in the same direction when viewed from an extension direction of the conductor at each of the positions of the elements.