Magnetoresistive transducer for absolute position detection

In this paper a new method is presented for the measurement of absolute linear or angular position. The digital position information is recorded serially into one track of a suitable hard-magnetic medium. The stray field of this information layer determines the angular magnetisation distribution in a ferromagnetic (permalloy) detection strip which is positioned parallel to the track but with its plane perpendicular to the hard-magnetic layer. The bit pattern representing the position co-ordinate is regained by detection of the planar magnetoresistance effect in the sensor strip. Experiments have been performed using sensors with a resolution of 250 μm and 1 mm respectively and longitudinally recorded audio tape. Suitable sensor output signals could be measured without hysteresis.