Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes first to fourth resistor sections and a plurality of MR elements. Each of the plurality of MR elements belongs to any of first to fourth groups. The first to fourth groups are defined based on the areas of top surfaces of the MR elements. The first resistor section, the second resistor section, the third resistor section, and the fourth resistor section are constituted of the first group, the second group, the third group, and the fourth group, respectively; the second group, the first group, the fourth group, and the third group, respectively; the first group, the fourth group, the third group, and the second group, respectively; or the third group, the second group, the first group, and the fourth group, respectively.

Abstract: A magnetic field detection apparatus includes first and second projections that are provided on a flat surface of a substrate and that each include first and second inclined surfaces. First and second MR films are provided on the first and second inclined surfaces, respectively. A first wiring line couples the first MR films provided on the respective first inclined surfaces of the first and second projections. A second wiring line couples the second MR films provided on the respective second inclined surfaces of the first and second projections. The first and second projections are adjacent in a first direction, with the first inclined surface of the first projection and the second inclined surface of the second projection opposed to each other in the first direction. One or more patterns are provided on the first inclined surface of the first projection, the second inclined surface of the second projection, or both.

Abstract: A magnetic field detection apparatus includes a substrate, first and second projections, first and second MR films, and first and second wiring lines. The first and second projections are provided on a flat surface of the substrate and each include first and second inclined surfaces. The first and second MR films are provided on the first and second inclined surfaces, respectively. The first wiring line couples the first MR film on the first inclined surface of the first projection and the first MR film on the first inclined surface of the second projection to each other. The second wiring line couples the second MR film on the second inclined surface of the first projection and the second MR film on the second inclined surface of the second projection to each other. The first and second wiring lines intersect on the first inclined surface, the second inclined surface, or both.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes an insulating layer including a protruding surface, a first MR element, and a second MR element. The first MR element is disposed on a first inclined surface of the protruding surface. The second MR element is disposed on a second inclined surface of the protruding surface. The protruding surface includes first to third curved surface portions. Each of the second and third curved surface portions is a curved surface protruding in a direction closer to the top surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes an insulating layer, a first MR element, and a second MR element. The insulating layer includes a first layer and a second layer, and also includes first and second inclined surfaces formed across the first layer and the second layer. Each of the first and second MR elements includes a magnetization pinned layer and a free layer. The magnetization pinned layer and the free layer of the first MR element are disposed on the first inclined surface. The magnetization pinned layer and the free layer of the second MR element are disposed on the second inclined surface.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer, a third insulating layer, a lower coil element located on an opposite side of the first insulating layer from the second insulating layer, and a second MR element. The second MR element includes a magnetization pinned layer and a free layer. The magnetization pinned layer and the free layer are located on an opposite side of the third insulating layer from the second insulating layer. The first and third insulating layers each contain a first insulating material. The second insulating layer contains a second insulating material.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a substrate including a top surface, an insulating layer including an inclined surface, and a magnetic detection element disposed on the inclined surface. The magnetic detection element includes a first side surface and a second side surface. The first side surface is located at a position forward in a first direction that is one direction along the inclined surface. The second side surface is located at a position forward in a second direction that is another direction along the inclined surface. The magnetic detection element includes a first non-constant portion in which a gap between an upper end of the first side surface and an upper end of the second side surface becomes smaller along the longitudinal direction of the magnetic detection element.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a substrate including a top surface; an insulating layer disposed on the substrate, the insulating layer including first and second inclined surfaces each inclined with respect to the top surface of the substrate; and an MR element. The MR element is disposed on the first inclined surface or the second inclined surface. The MR element includes a first side surface including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion having different angles with respect to the first inclined surface or the second inclined surface.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes an insulating layer, a first MR element, and a second MR element. The insulating layer includes a protruding surface including first and second inclined surfaces. Each of the first and second MR elements includes a magnetization pinned layer and a free layer. The magnetization pinned layer and the free layer of the first MR element are disposed on the first inclined surface. The magnetization pinned layer and the free layer of the second MR element are disposed on the second inclined surface. The dimension of the protruding surface in a direction parallel to the Z direction is in the range of 1.4 µm to 3.0 µm.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes an insulating layer including a protruding surface, a first MR element, and a second MR element. The protruding surface includes a first curved surface portion. The first curved surface portion includes a first portion including an upper end portion of the protruding surface, and a second portion continuous with the first portion at a position away from the upper end portion of the protruding surface. When the shape of the protruding surface is regarded as a function Z, the mean value of the absolute value of a second derivative Z? of the function Z corresponding to the first portion is smaller than the mean value of the absolute value of the second derivative Z? of the function Z corresponding to the second portion.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a first path and a second path, a plurality of structures, and a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes. The first path includes at least one first array. The second path includes at least one second array. The at least one first array and the at least one second array are disposed so that they are arranged in a first direction. The at least one first array and the at least one second array each include an odd number of structures disposed so that they are arranged in a second direction.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes an MR element and a support member. A top surface of the support member includes an inclined portion. The MR element includes an MR element main body, a lower electrode, and an upper electrode. The lower electrode includes a first end closest to a lower end of the inclined portion and a second end closest to an upper end of the inclined portion. The MR element main body is located at a position closer to the second end than to the first end.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor device includes a first chip including a first magnetic sensor, a second chip including a second magnetic sensor and a third magnetic sensor, and a support having a reference plane. The first magnetic sensor includes at least one first magnetic detection element, and detects a first component of an external magnetic field. The second magnetic sensor includes at least one second magnetic detection element, and detects a second component of the external magnetic field. The third magnetic sensor includes at least one third magnetic detection element, and detects a third component of the external magnetic field. The first chip and the second chip are mounted on the reference plane.

Abstract: A magnetic field detection apparatus includes a magnetoresistive effect element and a helical coil. The magnetoresistive effect element includes a magnetoresistive effect film extending in a first axis direction. The helical coil includes a parallel connection including first and second parts extending in a second axis direction inclined with respect to the first axis direction. The first and second parts are adjacent to each other in a third axis direction and coupled to each other in parallel. The helical coil is wound around the magnetoresistive effect element while extending along the third axis direction. The magnetoresistive effect film overlaps the first and second parts in a fourth axis direction orthogonal to the second and third axis directions. The helical coil is configured to be supplied with a current and thereby configured to generate an induction magnetic field to be applied to the magnetoresistive effect film in the third axis direction.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes first to fourth resistor sections and a plurality of MR elements. Each of the plurality of MR elements belongs to any of first to fourth groups. The first to fourth groups are defined based on the areas of top surfaces of the MR elements. The first resistor section, the second resistor section, the third resistor section, and the fourth resistor section are constituted of the first group, the second group, the third group, and the fourth group, respectively; the second group, the first group, the fourth group, and the third group, respectively; the first group, the fourth group, the third group, and the second group, respectively; or the third group, the second group, the first group, and the fourth group, respectively.

Abstract: The objective is to improve driving feeling at a time of acceleration operation or deceleration operation, by recognizing driver's intention of acceleration or deceleration during straight-ahead running. A driving-assistance control apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a straight-running determination unit that determines whether or not a vehicle is running straight, a head-position detection unit that detects a head position of a driver, a driving-posture determination unit that determines the posture of the driver, based on the head position detected by the head-position detection unit, and a driving-assistance control unit that performs acceleration preparation control for raising a reaction speed for acceleration operation or deceleration preparation control for raising a reaction speed for deceleration operation in accordance with an output of the driving-posture determination unit, when the straight-running determination unit determines that a vehicle is running straight.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes at least one MR element and a coil. The coil includes at least one conductor portion. The at least one conductor portion is each located at a position such that a partial magnetic field generated by the conductor portion is applied to one of the at least one MR element, the one corresponding to the conductor portion, and extends along an imaginary curve curving to protrude in a direction away from the corresponding MR element.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor device includes a first chip including a first magnetic sensor, a second chip including a second magnetic sensor and a third magnetic sensor, and a support having a reference plane. The first magnetic sensor includes at least one first magnetic detection element, and detects a first component of an external magnetic field. The second magnetic sensor includes at least one second magnetic detection element, and detects a second component of the external magnetic field. The third magnetic sensor includes at least one third magnetic detection element, and detects a third component of the external magnetic field. The first chip and the second chip are mounted on the reference plane.

Abstract: A magnetic field detection apparatus includes a magnetoresistive effect element and a coil. The coil includes first and second tier parts opposed to each other in a first axis direction, with the magnetoresistive dal element interposed therebetween. The coil is configured to be supplied with a current and thereby configured to generate an induction magnetic field to be applied to the magnetoresistive effect element in a second axis direction. The first tier part includes first conductors extending in a third axis direction, arranged in the second axis direction and coupled in parallel to each other. The second tier part includes a second conductor or second conductors extending in the third axis direction, the second conductors being arranged in the second axis direction and coupled in parallel to each other. The first conductor each have a width smaller than a width of the second conductor or each of the second conductors.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes at least one MR element and a coil. The coil includes at least one conductor portion. The at least one conductor portion is each located at a position such that a partial magnetic field generated by the conductor portion is applied to one of the at least one MR element, the one corresponding to the conductor portion, and extends along an imaginary curve curving to protrude in a direction away from the corresponding MR element.