Abstract: A magneto-resistance device comprising two layers of ferromagnetic material mutually separated by at least one interposed layer of non-ferromagnetic material, in which at least one of the layers of ferromagnetic material comprises half-metallic material, and preferably both ferromagnetic layers are principally comprised of half-metallic material.

Abstract: A power cord transformer includes a core of ferromagnetic material, a primary coil and a secondary coil both provided around the core. The core and coils have such a shape that the distance between two points on the primary coil and also the distance between two points on the secondary coil is always smaller than twice the largest axis of the power cord cross-section.

Abstract: Two magnetic layers are mutually interconnected by a constricted region also made of a magnetic material. The layers may be separated by an intermediate non-metallic layer having a hole filed with magnetic material to from the constricted region. Alternatively, the layers and constricted region may be substantially co-planar. The constricted region minimum cross-section dimension preferably is less than one micron, and ideally of the order of 100 nm, thus being much smaller than the diameter of a magnetic domain. A high magneto-resistance ratio is obtained, and electrical and magnetic properties of the sensor can be adjusted largely independently.

Abstract: A magnetic multilayer device (1) comprising two layers (3, 5) of magnetic material which are separated by an interposed layered structure comprising a resonant-tunneling double-barrier structure (RTDBS) (7). In such a device (1), exchange coupling between the magnetic layers (3, 5) can be modified by subjection of the RTDBS (7) to an electric field. In this way, the configuration of the magnetisations (M.sub.1, M.sub.2) in the magnetic layers (3, 5), and thus the net magnetic flux generated by the device (1), can be electrically adjusted. The device (1) can be applied inter alia in a magnetic recording head.

Abstract: A device for detecting a magnetic field, which device comprises a magneto-resistive multilayer structure comprising a first magnetic layer (1) which is separated from a second magnetic layer by an interposed non-magnetic layer, the multilayer structure having a first in-plane reference axis (R.sub.1) coinciding with the direction in which magnetic flux is offered to the multilayer structure during operation, and a second in-plane reference axis (R.sub.2) which is perpendicular to the first reference axis (R.sub.1), whereby the magnetic easy axis (E.sub.1) of the first magnetic layer (1) is canted through an acute in-plane angle .alpha. with respect to the second reference axis (R.sub.2), and the magnetic easy axis (E.sub.2) of the second magnetic layer is canted in the opposite sense through an acute in-plane angle .beta. with respect to the second reference axis (R.sub.2).

Abstract: A magneto-resistance device comprises a stacked structure, which stacked structure has a non-conducting substrate having a surface on which a multilayer structure is provided. The surface is furnished with a plurality of grooves which are substantially mutually parallel, each groove comprising a first and a second face. All first faces are substantially planar and mutually parallel. The constituent layers of the multilayer structure are provided in a stack upon each first face in such a manner as to be parallel thereto, the thickness of the stacks being such that each stack makes physical contact with each immediately neighbouring stack.

Abstract: A device for determining the orientation of a vehicle includes a magnetic field sensor (3) which is arranged in the vicinity of a ferromagnetic outer wall of the body of the vehicle and which is rigidly connected to the wall. External magnetic fields could unpredictably magnetize the wall portion (1) of the body, in the vicinity of which the magnetic field sensor (3) is provided, so that the measurements would become inaccurate. In order to achieve a substantial reduction of these adverse effects of external magnetic fields, the relevant wall portion is magnetically stabilized, preferably by including it in a magnetic circuit which also includes at least a magnet (11; 23, 27).