Abstract: A magnetic field detection device of an embodiment of the disclosure includes: a first magnetic field detection element having a first resistance value increasing upon application of a first magnetic field in a first direction and decreasing upon application of a second magnetic field in a second direction; and a second magnetic field detection element having a second resistance value decreasing upon application of the first magnetic field and increasing upon application of the second magnetic field. The first and second magnetic field detection elements each include first and second magneto-resistive effect films coupled in series. The first magneto-resistive effect film has a first major-axis direction inclined at a first inclination angle relative to the first direction. The second magneto-resistive effect film has a second major-axis direction inclined at a second inclination angle relative to the first direction. The magnetic field detection device satisfies conditional expressions (1) and (2).

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a magnetic detection element circuit that includes first and second magnetic detection elements, which are connected in series, and an output terminal, which is positioned between the first and second magnetic detection elements; an impedance matching device, which has a prescribed input voltage range and is connected to an output terminal of the magnetic detection element circuit; a first current supply source, which supplies an electric current to the magnetic detection element circuit; and a second current supply source, which supplies an electric current to the impedance matching device. A resistor is provided between the output terminal of the magnetic detection element circuit and the first current supply source and/or a reference electric potential point.

Abstract: A first, a second, and a third computing circuit respectively generate a first post-computation signal with a second harmonic component reduced as compared with first and second signals, a second post-computation signal with the second harmonic component reduced as compared with third and fourth signals, and a third post-computation signal with the second harmonic component reduced as compared with fifth and sixth signals. A fourth and a fifth computing circuit respectively generate a fourth post-computation signal with a third harmonic component reduced as compared with the first and second post-computation signals, and a fifth post-computation signal with the third harmonic component reduced as compared with the second and third post-computation signals. A sixth computing circuit determines a detected angle value based on the fourth and fifth post-computation signals.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor device includes a first magnetic sensor, a second magnetic sensor, and a soft magnetic structure. The first magnetic sensor generates a detection value corresponding to a component in a direction parallel to an X direction of an external magnetic field. The second magnetic sensor generates a detection value corresponding to a component in a direction parallel to a Y direction of the external magnetic field. In the presence of a residual magnetization in the X direction in the soft magnetic structure, a magnetic field that is based on the residual magnetization and contains a component in the ?X direction is applied to the first magnetic sensor. In the presence of a residual magnetization in the Y direction in the soft magnetic structure, a magnetic field that is based on the residual magnetization and contains a component in the ?Y direction is applied to the second magnetic sensor.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes first, second, and third detection units for detecting components in X, Y, and Z directions of an external magnetic field. The third detection unit includes a soft magnetic structure. The first detection unit includes a first portion and a second portion. The second detection unit includes a third portion and a fourth portion. The first portion and the fourth portion are located on opposite sides of the third detection unit in the X direction. The second portion and the third portion are located on opposite sides of the third detection unit in the Y direction.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor is provided which can improve density of magnetoresistance effect elements without narrowing the wiring pitch. A plurality of element array layers 10 are stacked one on another, each of the element array layers including a plurality of magnetoresistance effect elements 1 arranged in parallel in an in-plane direction, and magnetoresistance effect elements 1 in the plurality of element array layers 10 are connected in series to each other.

Abstract: An angle sensor system includes a magnetic field generation unit for generating a rotating magnetic field, and an angle sensor for detecting the rotating magnetic field to generate a detected angle value. The rotating magnetic field contains first and second magnetic field components orthogonal to each other. Each of the first and second magnetic field components contains an ideal magnetic field component, and an error component corresponding to the fifth harmonic of the ideal magnetic field component. The angle sensor includes first and second detection signal generation units. Each of the first and second detection signal generation units includes a magnetic layer whose magnetization direction varies according to the direction of the rotating magnetic field. The magnetic layer is provided with a magnetic anisotropy that is set to reduce an angular error resulting from the error components of the first and second magnetic field components.

Abstract: A displacement detection unit includes a magnet and a magnetic detector. The magnet includes a first magnetic-pole region polarized into a south pole and a second magnetic-pole region polarized into a north pole, and generates a magnetic field around the magnet. The magnetic detector is movable relative to the magnet in a first direction, and detects a change in the magnetic field and thereby detects a displacement of the magnet in the first direction. The magnet includes a transition section in which a ratio of a magnetic volume of the second magnetic-pole region in a second direction to a magnetic volume of the first magnetic-pole region in the second direction gradually varies in the first direction. The second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a magnetic field conversion unit and a magnetic field detection unit. The magnetic field conversion unit receives an input magnetic field containing an input magnetic field component in a direction parallel to Z direction, and generates an output magnetic field containing an output magnetic field component in a direction parallel to X direction. The magnetic field detection unit receives the output magmetic field and generates an output signal corresponding to the input magnetic field component. The magnetic field detection unit includes first and second magnetic detection elements. When misalignment occurs between the magnetic field conversion unit and the magnetic field detection unit, one of the strength of a portion of the output magnetic field component that the first magnetic detection element receives and the strength of a portion of the output magnetic field component that the second magnetic detection element receives increases while the other decreases.

Abstract: A magnetic field detection device includes a first soft magnetic body, a second soft magnetic body, and a magnetism detection element. The first soft magnetic body extends to have a first length in a first direction, and has a first width, smaller than the first length, in a second direction. The second direction is substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The second soft magnetic body is disposed to be spaced apart from and face the first soft magnetic body in the first direction, extends to have a second length in the first direction, and has a second width, smaller than the second length, in the second direction. The magnetism detection element is disposed, in the first direction, between the first and second soft magnetic bodies, and extends to have a third length in the first direction and a third width, larger than the third length, in the second direction.

Abstract: A first, a second, and a third computing circuit respectively generate a first post-computation signal with a second harmonic component reduced as compared with first and second signals, a second post-computation signal with the second harmonic component reduced as compared with third and fourth signals, and a third post-computation signal with the second harmonic component reduced as compared with fifth and sixth signals. A fourth and a fifth computing circuit respectively generate a fourth post-computation signal with a third harmonic component reduced as compared with the first and second post-computation signals, and a fifth post-computation signal with the third harmonic component reduced as compared with the second and third post-computation signals. A sixth computing circuit determines a detected angle value based on the fourth and fifth post-computation signals.

Abstract: An angle sensor system includes a magnetic field generation unit for generating a rotating magnetic field, and an angle sensor for detecting the rotating magnetic field to generate a detected angle value. The rotating magnetic field contains first and second magnetic field components orthogonal to each other. Each of the first and second magnetic field components contains an ideal magnetic field component and an error magnetic field component. The error magnetic field component causes an angular error that varies with ½ the predetermined period. The angle sensor includes first and second detection signal generation units. Each of the first and second detection signal generation units includes a magnetic layer whose magnetization direction varies according to the direction of the rotating magnetic field. The magnetic layer is provided with a magnetic anisotropy that is set to reduce the angular error resulting from the error magnetic field component.

Abstract: An angle sensor includes a detection signal generation unit for generating detection signals, and an angle detection unit for generating a detected angle value on the basis of the detection signals. The angle detection unit includes a signal conversion unit for performing a conversion operation, and an angle operation unit for performing an angle operation. The conversion operation is to convert the detection signals into first and second operation signals. The angle operation is to calculate the detected angle value using the first and second operation signals. The conversion operation includes an operation using a correction-term-containing function which contains a correction term for reducing a first error or a second error occurring in the detected angle value. When the angle to be detected varies with a predetermined period, the first error varies with the predetermined period, whereas the second error varies with a period ½ the predetermined period.

Abstract: An angle sensor system includes a magnetic field generation unit for generating a rotating magnetic field, and an angle sensor for detecting the rotating magnetic field to generate a detected angle value. The rotating magnetic field contains first and second magnetic field components orthogonal to each other. Each of the first and second magnetic field components contains an ideal magnetic field component, and an error component corresponding to the fifth harmonic of the ideal magnetic field component. The angle sensor includes first and second detection signal generation units. Each of the first and second detection signal generation units includes a magnetic layer whose magnetization direction varies according to the direction of the rotating magnetic field. The magnetic layer is provided with a magnetic anisotropy that is set to reduce an angular error resulting from the error components of the first and second magnetic field components.

Abstract: An operation processing apparatus computes torque generated in a first rotation shaft and a second rotation shaft connected to each other and arranged coaxially using first and second output signals (a first sine wave signal SS1, a first cosine wave signal SC1, a second sine wave signal SS2, and a second cosine wave signal SC2) output from first and second magnetic sensor elements in accordance with rotation of the first and second rotation shafts is provided with a phase difference calculation part that computes a relative phase difference CPD between the first and second rotation shafts from the first and second output signals based on the Equation (1) and a torque calculation part that computes the torque from a relative twist angle of the first and second rotation shafts found on the basis of a correlation between the relative phase differences.

Abstract: A magnetic field detection device includes a first soft magnetic body, a second soft magnetic body, and a magnetism detection element. The first soft magnetic body extends to have a first length in a first direction, and has a first width, smaller than the first length, in a second direction. The second direction is substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The second soft magnetic body is disposed to be spaced apart from and face the first soft magnetic body in the first direction, extends to have a second length in the first direction, and has a second width, smaller than the second length, in the second direction. The magnetism detection element is disposed, in the first direction, between the first and second soft magnetic bodies, and extends to have a third length in the first direction and a third width, larger than the third length, in the second direction.

Abstract: An angle sensor system includes a magnetic field generation unit for generating a rotating magnetic field, and an angle sensor for detecting the rotating magnetic field to generate a detected angle value. The rotating magnetic field contains first and second magnetic field components orthogonal to each other. Each of the first and second magnetic field components contains an ideal magnetic field component and an error magnetic field component. The error magnetic field component causes an angular error that varies with ½ the predetermined period. The angle sensor includes first and second detection signal generation units. Each of the first and second detection signal generation units includes a magnetic layer whose magnetization direction varies according to the direction of the rotating magnetic field. The magnetic layer is provided with a magnetic anisotropy that is set to reduce the angular error resulting from the error magnetic field component.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor for detecting a component of an external magnetic field in a specific direction includes a resistor array including a plurality of resistive element sections each having a magnetoresistance element. Each of the plurality of resistive element sections has a different output characteristic curve with respect to the component of the external magnetic field in the specific direction.

Abstract: An operation processing apparatus that calculates a rotation angle based on a first output signal and a second output signal, which differ in signal frequency from each other, is provided with a first cross-coupled operation part that performs a first cross-coupled operation and a second cross-coupled operation part that performs a second cross-coupled operation based on the first and second output signals. A first Lissajous curve generation part generates a first Lissajous curve based on the result of operation by the first cross-coupled operation part, and a second Lissajous curve generation part generates a second Lissajous curve based on the result of operation by the second cross-coupled operation part. A rotation angle computing part calculates the rotation angle based on the first Lissajous curve and the second Lissajous curve.

Abstract: A position detection device includes a first position detector, a second position detector, and a signal generator. The first position detector includes a first magnetic field generation unit, a second magnetic field generation unit, and a first magnetic sensor. The second position detector includes a third magnetic field generation unit, a fourth magnetic field generation unit, and a second magnetic sensor. The positions of the second and fourth magnetic field generation units vary in response to variations in a detection-target position. The signal generator generates a position detection signal, which is the sum of a first detection signal generated by the first magnetic sensor and a second detection signal generated by the second magnetic sensor. Each of the first and second position detectors includes a bias magnetic field generation unit.