High Performance Micro-Magnetic Sensors

AMS develops and manufactures high-performance magnetic sensors using magnetoresistive (AMR, GMR) materials and magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). These sensors exhibit excellent performance, and they outperform traditional Hall Effect devices with regard to size, power, sensitivity, accuracy and resolution.

Examples of our work include:

Magnetic Data Recording – AMS has been meeting the data storage industry’s demand for high performance, high-reliability, and low manufacturing cost of integrated magnetic thin film read/writer digital linear tape recording heads since 1999.

Magnetic Switches – Developed for a manufacturer of implantable devices a magnetic solid state sensor replaced a mechanical Reed switch to activate certain device functions remotely.

Electronic Compassing Sensors – With a partner, AMS has developed a magneto-resistive field sensor for mobile compassing applications. The sensor uses barber-pole biased AMR elements and builds upon AMS’ expertise and production capabilities in magnetic sensors and thin-film magnetic recording devices. The sensor is produced at very low costs.

Bio-Sensors – The high-sensitivity of GMR-based sensors can be used to detect proteins tagged with magnetic nano-particles. This technology enables new applications for molecular diagnostics.

Implantable devices – AMS’ MEMS technology supported the construction of 3D micro structures with high aspect-ratios for applications such as radiation monitors, chemical and environmental sensors, and nerve stimulation.

Figure 1: Test structures for sensor development

Figure 3: Barberpole biasing for AMR sensors