Abstract: A magnetoresistive angular sensor and sensing method, in which an external magnetic field generator is used to provide a first mode in which a dc external magnetic field is provided in a predetermined direction and which dominates over the magnetic field generated by the input device being sensed. In a second mode, the external magnetic field is smaller. The angular sensor arrangement outputs from the two modes are combined, and this enables the input device angular orientation to be determined with offset voltage compensation.

Abstract: A voltage reference circuit and method for generating a reference voltage using the circuit uses a comparison of the voltages on first and second nodes of a diode resistor network to produce a comparison signal, which is then used to increase the voltage on an output of a charge pump to generate the reference voltage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection circuitry for detecting bonding conditions on segmented bond pads of a semiconductor device, the bonding conditions representing good or bad contacts on the bond pads. The detection circuitry comprises a segmented bond pad (1, 11) having at least two parts (2, 3, 12, 13) being electrically separated from each other, and a supplying unit (S1, S2, R1, R2) being adapted for supplying predetermined signals to at least one of the at least two parts of the segmented bond pad. Furthermore, a detector (4, 14) is provided for receiving from at least one of the at least two parts of the segmented bond pad sensing signals derived from said predetermined signals, and for determining the bonding conditions based on said received sensing signals indicative of a good or bad bonding contact on the segmented bond pad.

Abstract: A sensor (400) for sensing jitter in a clock signal has a DLL (402, 310, 312) for locking a clock signal and a delayed version of the clock signal. The sensor comprises a delay line (402) having a first number of cascaded controllable delay segments. The DLL uses a second number of the cascaded delay segments for generating a delay of an average clock period of the clock signal. The second number is smaller than the first number. The sensor also has a comparator (408) for supplying a sensor output signal representative of a comparison of the clock signal and a further delayed version of the clock signal. The further delayed version of the clock signal is obtained from an output of a specific one of the delay segments located in the delay line after the second number of cascaded delay segments.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated circuit comprising a substrate having a first side and a second opposing side. An electronic circuit (EC) is provided at the first side (S1) of the substrate, wherein the electronic circuit (EC) comprises at least one magnetic field sensor (Snsr, Snsr1, Snsr2, Snsr3, Snsr4). The integrated circuit further comprises a magnetizable region (MR) provided on the second side (S1) of the substrate (SUB) by using a wafer-level type deposition processing step. The magnetic moment of the magnetizable region (MR) is configurable for generating a magnetic field (H1, H2) detectable at the location of the at least one magnetic field sensor Snsr3 (Snsr, Snsr1, Snsr2, Snsr3, Snsr4). The integrated circuit constitutes a very simple construction and enables a strongly miniaturized solution which is, because of its reduced dimensions well suitable for being used in bank cards. An attempt to remove the integrated circuit according to the invention from its environment (e.g.

Abstract: Magnetic head having a head face (5) and comprising a head structure composed of thin layers and provided with a transducing element (E11), in which different materials occurring in different areas are present in the head face. The head face is provided with a first layer (31) of a material which is more sensitive to corrosion than other materials in the head face, and the first layer is provided with a second layer (33) of a wear-resistant material which is more insensitive to corrosion than the material of the first layer. The second layer constitutes a contact face (35) for cooperation with a magnetic tape (7).

Abstract: Magnetic head having a head face (5) and comprising a head structure composed of thin layers and provided with a transducing element (E11), in which different materials occurring in different areas are present in the head face. The head face is provided with a first layer (31) of a material which is more sensitive to corrosion than said materials in the head face, and the first layer is provided with a second layer (33) of a wear-resistant material which is more insensitive to corrosion than the material of the first layer. The second layer constitutes a contact face (35) for cooperation with a magnetic tape (7).

Abstract: Method in which a magnetic head unit is manufactured from a magnetic head and a support. The magnetic head is manufactured by providing a thin-film magnetic head structure with a ground conductor on an electrically conducting substrate. Before the magnetic head is secured to the support, an electrically insulating layer present on an outer side of the substrate is removed, whereafter an electrically conducting contact layer (39) is formed on the surface obtained. By securing the magnetic head to the support, the contact layer will be in contact with parts (43a, 43b) of the support for the purpose of grounding the support.

Abstract: Magnetic head unit comprising a magnetic head secured in a housing and having a magnetic head structure provided with a head face and at least one transducing gap terminating in the head face. A wear- resistant layer (31 ) having at least one alignment mark (35, 36, 37) occupying a defined position with respect to the transducing gap is provided on the head face.

Abstract: Thin-film magnetic head comprising a substrate (2), an inductive element (23) and a magnetoresistive element (7), and substantially parallel extending flux guides of a magnetic conducting material for magnetic cooperation with said elements. The flux guides are mutually arranged in such a way that two pairs of flux guides (3A, 3B; 5A, 5B) mutually separated by an insulation layer (19) of a non-magnetic material are present, a first pair constituting a first magnetic circuit, provided with a write gap (27), for the inductive element and a second pair constituting a second magnetic circuit, provided with a read gap (17), for the magnetoresistive element.

Abstract: For a tape contact face to be formed in a thin-film magnetic head having at least one transducing element, by removing material, a reference plane (29) corresponding to the tape contact face is detected by means of a plurality of markers (27A-27J) juxtaposed in a layer and extending transversely to the tape contact face, which markers have first end portions (27A1-27J1) pointing in one direction and second, spatially separated end portions (27A2-27J2) pointing in an opposite direction, with the second end portions located at different distances from the reference plane, inclined with respect to the reference plane, and adjoining each other steplessly.

Abstract: Magnetic head including a core (1, 3) of soft magnetic material having a contact face (7) and a winding aperture (5) and a coil (14) wound around the core. A layer (13) of a superconducting material is present in the non-magnetic transducing gap (11) in the core and a layer (15) of a superconducting material is provided on at least a plurality of the outer faces, for example the side faces (17).

Abstract: Thin-film transformer, for example suitable for use in a thin-film magnetic head, comprising a magnetic yoke composed of two magnetically permeable thin layers 3 and 5 and a primary turn constituted by an electrically conducting thin layer 13 and a secondary turn constituted by an electrically conducting thin layer 15. A thin layer 21 of a superconducting material is provided between the layer 3 and the said turns, or the turns are closely fitted together and made of a superconducting material themselves.

Abstract: Device is provided for reading information from a magnetic recording medium, comprising a SQUID (15), a magnetic yoke formed from two flux guides (3 and 5) and a face (13) for magnetic flux coupling of the SQUID with the magnetic recording medium. The SQUID is provided with connection means (33) for a detection circuit (35).

Abstract: Magnetic head for use in vertical recording has a main magnetic pole of a thin film of soft magnetic material enclosed between two protective blocks together constituting the body of the magnetic head. One protective block includes a magnetic part and a non-magnetic part, the latter extending from the boundary surface of the two parts up to the contact surface between the main pole and a magnetic recording medium. A channel provided at the boundary surface in the magnetic part of the protective block causes a part constituting an auxiliary magnetic pole and adjoining the main magnetic pole to be separated from a part constituting the return path for the magnetic flux from the main pole, a winding embracing the main pole and the auxiliary pole being wound through the channel. The other protective block consists entirely of a non-magnetic material and has a polished surface facing the one protective block, while the main pole is provided on the polished surface.

Abstract: Thin-film magnetic head including an inductive transducing element (15) and a face (3) for magnetic flux coupling of the transducing element with a magnetic recording medium. A first magnetically permeable layer (5) and a second similar layer (7) together constitute a transducing gap (11). To improve the transducing function a layer (21) of a superconducting material is provided between the layers (5) and (7).

Abstract: Thin-film transformer suitable for use in a thin-film magnetic head has two magnetically permeable thin layers 3 and 5 primary turn constituted by an electrically conducting which form a magnetic yoke. A layer 13 and a secondary turn constituted by an electrically conducting layer 15 are located in the yoke. A layer 21 of a superconducting material is provided between the layer 3 and the turns, or the turns are closely fitted together and made of a superconducting material themselves.

Abstract: Thin-film magnetic head including a magnetoresistive element (1) and a face (9) for magnetically coupling the element with a magnetic recording medium. A magnetic yoke constituted by three layers (3, 5, 7) of a magnetically permeable material has a gap (13) which is bridged by the magnetoresistive element. A layer (15) of a superconducting material for improving the efficiency of the magnetic head is provided between the layers (3) and (5) and the element (1) on the one hand and the layer (7) on the other hand. For protection from external disturbing magnetic fields and reduction of stray flux a layer (43A, 43B, respectively) of a superconducting material is provided on the layers (3) and (5) and under the layer (7).

Abstract: Magnetic head (1) for use in vertical recording comprising two protective blocks (5, 7) which jointly constitute a contact surface (S), and a magnetic pole (3) in the form of a thin film of a soft magnetic material enclosed between the two protective blocks. The magnetic head also comprises a winding aperture (13) and a coil W. At least one (7) of the two protective blocks is formed from one piece of ferrite having a high magnetostriction, a first portion (7A) consisting of a ferrite having a high magnetic permeability and a second portion (7B) consisting of a ferrite having only a low magnetic permeability.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic field-sensitive element (1), more specifically a magnetic field-sensitive multi-collector transistor (2). To reduce the offset, the setting of this element is modulated to vary the sensitivity. In the variation of the output signal of the element (1) in response to the variation in the sensitivity the offset has then been reduced.