Title :
2-Axis Magnetometers Based on Full Wheatstone Bridges Incorporating Magnetic Tunnel Junctions Connected in Series
Author :
Ferreira, Ricardo ; Paz, Elvira ; Freitas, Paulo P. ; Ribeiro, João ; Germano, José ; Sousa, Leonel
Author_Institution :
INL-Int. Iberian Nanotechnol. Lab., Braga, Portugal
Abstract :
Full Wheatstone Bridge incorporating a serially connected ensemble of Magnetic tunnel junctions was produced, targeting an application as a magnetic field compass. To that end, MTJs with RxA ~ 10kΩ μm2 TMR~150-200%, Hf = 5 Oe and Hf = 5 Oe were produced. In order to achieve a full bridge signal, two stacks with an asymmetric SAF reference structure where used to produce MTJs with opposite dR/dH upon annealing in the same substrate. The resulting Bridges exhibit sensitivities between 13.5-32 mV/V/Oe depending on the field range and provide a significantly advantageous alternative to AMR and GMR based bridges.
Keywords :
bridge circuits; compasses; magnetic annealing; magnetic sensors; magnetic tunnelling; magnetometers; 2-axis magnetometer; AMR based bridge; GMR based bridge; MTJ; annealing; asymmetric SAF reference structure; full Wheatstone bridge; full bridge signal; magnetic field compass; magnetic tunnel junction; opposite dR-dH; serially connected ensemble; Bridge circuits; Bridges; Magnetic tunneling; Magnetometers; Sensitivity; Sensors; Tunneling magnetoresistance; Magnetic field sensors; magnetic tunnel junctions; magnetometers; wheatstone bridges;
Journal_Title :
Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TMAG.2012.2202381