Abstract: The invention relates to a substance determining apparatus for determining a substance within a fluid. Particles attach the substance and bind to a binding surface (30), wherein a sensing signal is generated depending on the bound particles. Binding events indicating a binding of a particle on the binding surface (30) are determined from the generated sensing signal, and the substance within the fluid is determined based on the determined binding events. During a procedure of determining a substance within a fluid, particles may bind to the binding surface and may leave the binding surface. Therefore, during this procedure a number of binding events can be determined being much larger than the number of bound particles. The determination of the substance within the fluid can therefore be based on a very large amount of data, thereby increasing the accuracy of determining the substance within the fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a sensor device (100) for detecting particles (MP) that are bound to the binding surface (12) of a carrier (11). The sensor device (100) comprises a microscope (50) for imaging bound particles (MP) onto an image sensor (53). In order to increase the spatial resolution of the microscope(50), a displacement unit (60,70,80) is provided that can displace the carrier (11) relative to the image sensor (53). The distance of a bound particle (MP) from the binding surface (12) and/or its lateral displacement in reaction to forces can thus be determine with high accuracy. This allows to discriminate specific bindings of large magnetic particles (MP) that are bound to the binding surface (12) via smaller target particles from nonspecific direct bindings.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a biosensor system for the detection of particles comprising: a biosensor cartridge comprising a sensor surface, a biosensor magnet assembly on one side of the cartridge for generating a magnetic field effective at the cartridge and the sensor surface, the first biosensor magnet assembly comprising at least two magnetic sub-units separated by a gap, a first optical detection system for detecting the particles arranged at the same side of the cartridge as the magnet assembly, whereas the magnet assembly is designed in a way that the optical detection is accomplished through the gap of the magnet assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substance determining apparatus and method for determining a substance within a fluid. Particles attach to the substance and bind to a binding surface (30), wherein a particle release curve being indicative of a release of bound particles from the binding surface (30) is determined, and a part of the particle release curve caused by particles bound to the binding surface via a predefined kind of binding is determined based on the temporal behaviour of the particle release curve. The substance within the fluid is determined based on the part of the particle release curve. The substance can therefore be determined based on particles which are bound to the binding surface via a certain kind of binding, i.e. other kinds of binding substantially do not affect the determination of the substance, thereby improving the accuracy of determining the substance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substance determining apparatus for determining a substance within a fluid. Particles, which have attached the substance, are bound to a binding surface (30). A sensing unit (33) is adapted to generate a sensing signal being indicative of at least one of i) a distance between the particles bound on the binding surface (30) and the binding surface (30) and ii) an in-plane position of the particles bound on the binding surface. A binding discrimination unit (34) is adapted to discriminate between different kinds of binding of the particles bound on the binding surface (30) depending on the generated sensing signal. The binding discrimination unit (34) is preferentially a unit for determining the part of the sensing signal being caused by specifically bound particles and to determine the substance based on this determined part of the sensing signal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic tunnel junction device, in which a stack (1) comprising two magnetic layers (3, 7) and a barrier layer (5) extending in between is formed. One of the magnetic layers is structured by means of etching, in which, during etching, a part of this layer is made thinner by removing material until a rest layer (7r) remains. This rest layer is passivated by chemical conversion. In the relevant method, it is prevented that the magnetic layer which is not to be structured is detrimentally influenced during structuring of the other magnetic layer.

Abstract: A method of orienting the axis of magnetization of a first magnetic element with respect to a second magnetic element uses a first element and a second element lying on a substrate. Each of the elements has a magnetic layer with an axis of magnetization. The method includes depositing a pattern of flux-concentrating material close to the first element and subsequently orienting the axis of magnetization of the first element in an applied magnetic field. The semi-finished article for measuring a magnetic field includes a substrate, a first magnetic element, a second magnetic element, a third magnetic element and a fourth magnetic element on the substrate in a bridge configuration. A first bridge portion is provided wherein the first element and the second element are electrically connected in series. A second bridge portion is provided wherein the third element and the fourth element are electrically connected in series.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic tunnel junction device, in which a stack (1) comprising two electrode layers (3, 7) and a barrier layer (5) extending in between is formed. One of the electrode layers is structured by means of etching, in which, during etching, a part of this layer is made thinner by removing material until a rest layer (7r) remains. This rest layer is subsequently removed by means of physical etching, in which at least substantially charged particles have a motion energy which is between the sputtering threshold of the magnetic material of the rest layer and the sputtering threshold of the non-magnetic material of the barrier layer. In the relevant method, it is prevented that the electrode layer which is not to be structured is detrimentally influenced during structuring of the other electrode layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic tunnel junction device, in which a stack (1) comprising two electrode layers (3, 7) and a barrier layer (5) extending in between is formed. One of the electrode layers is structured by means of etching, in which, during etching, a part of this layer is made thinner by removing material until a rest layer (7r) remains. This rest layer is subsequently removed by means of physical etching, in which at least substantially charged particles have a motion energy which is between the sputtering threshold of the magnetic material of the rest layer and the sputtering threshold of the non-magnetic material of the barrier layer. In the relevant method, it is prevented that the electrode layer which is not to be structured is detrimentally influenced during structuring of the other electrode layer.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring a magnetic field includes a substrate, four magnetic elements arranged in a bridge configuration on the substrate, a first bridge portion. A first element and a second element are connected in series, a second bridge portion, and a third element and a fourth element are connected in series, being situated between a first contact and a second contact. The first bridge portion includes an electrical shunt resistor, which is arranged parallel to the first magnetic element of the bridge. In order to compensate for offset voltage and offset voltage drift in the output voltage of the bridge configuration, the temperature coefficient of the shunt resistor compensates for the variation of the temperature coefficients of the magnetic elements in the bridge.

Abstract: The sensor for measuring a magnetic field comprises a substrate (1), a first magnetic element (2), a second magnetic element (3), a third magnetic element (4) and a fourth magnetic element (5) in a bridge configuration on the substrate (1), a first bridge portion (8), wherein the first element (2) and the second element (3) are connected in series, and a second bridge portion (9), wherein the third element (4) and the fourth element (5) are connected in series, being situated between a first contact (6) and a second contact (7).

Abstract: A novel magnetic data storage system and a sensing system of magnetic characteristics are disclosed; the systems have a magnetization direction that is irreversible in an external magnetic field. A method of manufacturing, a method of resetting or changing or repairing and a method of operating such systems are also disclosed. The systems can include a set of magnetic devices in a balancing configuration; essentially each of said devices comprises a structure of layers including at least a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer with at least a separation layer of a non-magnetic material there between, said structure having at least a magneto resistance effect. The magnetization direction of the first ferromagnetic layer of at least one of said devices is irreversible in an external magnetic field higher than about 35 kA/m.

Abstract: A method of orienting the axis of magnetization of a first magnetic element (2) with respect to a second magnetic element (3), wherein the first element (2) and the second element (3) are present on a substrate (1), and each of the magnetic elements has a first magnetic layer (10) with an axis of magnetization (11), said method including the step of depositing a pattern of flux-concentrating means (20) close to the first magnetic element (2) and subsequently orienting the axis of magnetization (11) of said first magnetic element (2) in an applied magnetic field.

Abstract: Magnetic field sensors and magnetic memories have at least two magnetoresistive bridge elements (A,B,C,D), wherein each magnetoresistive element comprises a free (F) and a pinned (P) ferromagnetic layer. The magnetization directions of pinned ferromagnetic layers are different for the two bridge elements. In the method, in a first deposition step, a first ferromagnetic layer of one of the two said elements is deposited, during which deposition a magnetic field is applied to pin the magnetization direction MP in the first ferromagnetic layer in a first direction. Then, in a second deposition step, a second ferromagnetic layer of the other of the two said elements is deposited, during which deposition a magnetic field is applied to pin the magnetization direction in the second ferromagnetic layer in a second direction different from, preferably opposite to, the magnetization direction in the first ferromagnetic layer.

Abstract: In order to increase the information density on storage media the track width of a written magnetic pattern is made increasingly smaller. This requires write heads having appropriate flux guides. The method disclosed in this patent document provides such flux guides.