Model of output characteristics of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) multilayer sensor*

Abstract

In this paper, the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) multilayer sensor is fabricated with a Wheatstone bridge, and it exhibits excellent performance with a sensitivity of 2.8349 mV/(V/Oe) ( 1 Oe = 79.5775 A · m − 1 ) and a saturation field of 26 Oe along the sensitive axis. The GMR sensor is also characterized in a high magnetic field. The sensitivity decreases from 2.8349 mV/(V/Oe) at an angle of 0° to 0.0175 mV/(V/Oe) at an angle of 90°. Then, the sensor is placed in a series of rotating magnetic fields. We propose a model to express the output characteristics of the GMR multilayer sensor. The transfer curves of the sensor can be shown as two exactly symmetrical circles with an increasing radius when the magnetic field increases. The experimental results are consistent with the simulation results of the model. The advantage of this model is that it is simpler and more intuitive.