Structures for a sensor and methods of forming such structures. A sensing element includes a free magnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic conductive spacer layer between the free magnetic layer and the pinned magnetic layer. A dummy element is positioned outside of an outer boundary of the sensing element. The dummy element is detached from the sensing element.

A motor unit including a drive motor that includes an output shaft having a hollow portion; a torque sensor arranged within the hollow portion; and a cooling mechanism. The cooling mechanism has one end of a coolant path arranged inside the hollow portion and cools the drive motor and the torque sensor. A vehicle can include the motor unit. The drive motor can act as a traction motor generating traction drive force of the vehicle.

A state detection apparatus includes a state detection sensor that is attached to an architecture and that detects a state of the architecture, a power supp that generates power on the basis of vibration of the architecture, and a controller that controls the state detection sensor and the power supp. The controller supplies power to the state detection sensor to drive the state detection sensor in a case where a voltage by power generation exceeds a first threshold (threshold voltage), and acquires state information to be used for diagnosing the state of the architecture on the basis of a signal indicating a detection result received from the state detection sensor.

A magnetostrictive element that can exhibit a sufficiently large magnetostriction amount in a longitudinal direction is formed of a single crystal alloy magnetostrictive material. The magnetostrictive element has a shape of a plate-shaped rectangular parallelepiped, a main plane of the plate-shaped rectangular parallelepiped includes a plurality of magnetic domains that are regions where atomic magnetic moments are arranged in the same direction and whose width is 10 m to 200 m, and a total area rate of a magnetic domain where an angle difference between a lateral direction of the main plane and a direction of the magnetic moments of the magnetic domain is 10 or less to the main plane is 60% to 100%.

A strain gauge sensor includes a substrate, at least one resistor comprising a magnetoresistive material on the substrate. The magnetoresistive material exhibits a magnetostriction coefficient that is greater than or equal to () |2| parts per million (ppm) and an anisotropic magnetoresistance effect with an anisotropic magnetoresistance of greater than or equal to () 2% R/R. The strain gauge sensor consists of a single layer of the magnetoresistive material. At least a first contact to the resistor provides a sensor input and a second contact to the resistor provides a sensor output.

A magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic sense element and a shield structure formed on a substrate. The shield structure fully encircles the magnetic sense element for suppressing stray magnetic fields along a first axis and a second axis, both of which are parallel to a surface of the substrate and perpendicular to one another. A magnetic field is oriented along a third axis perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, and the magnetic sense element is configured to sense a magnetic field along the first axis. A magnetic field deflection element, formed on the substrate proximate the magnetic sense element, redirects the magnetic field from the third axis into the first axis to be sensed as a measurement magnetic field by the magnetic sense element. At least two magnetic field sensors, each fully encircled by a shield structure, form a gradient unit for determining a magnetic field gradient.

An assembly measures a bending torque on a machine element extending on an axis using the inverse magnetostrictive effect. The machine element has a cavity and at least one magnetization region, extending circumferentially around the axis. A magnetic sensor is arranged in the cavity to measure a directional component of a magnetic field which is brought about by the magnetization and by the bending torque. A second directional component of the magnetic field may be measured by the magnetic sensor or by another magnetic sensor.

There is provided a magnetic deformable member that is deformable upon application of magnetism, and that has a front surface that projects toward the side opposite to a magnet when such a magnet is placed. The front surface provides variations in tactile feel or viewability for humans by providing a soft tactile feel. A magnetic deformable member includes: a flexible sheet; a back plate made of a hard material and stacked on the flexible sheet; a gel charged inside a space between the flexible sheet and the back plate; and a magnetic member having an annular shape as viewed in plan in a direction that is perpendicular to a front surface of the flexible sheet and having a length in the perpendicular direction. The magnetic member is secured to the flexible sheet, and disposed in the gel.

There is provided a magnetic deformable member that is deformable upon application of magnetism, and that has a front surface that projects toward the side opposite to a magnet when such a magnet is placed. The front surface provides variations in tactile feel or viewability for humans by providing a soft tactile feel. A magnetic deformable member 10 includes: a flexible sheet; a back plate made of a hard material and stacked on the flexible sheet; a gel charged inside a space between the flexible sheet and the back plate; and a magnetic member having an annular shape as viewed in plan in a direction that is perpendicular to a front surface of the flexible sheet and having a length in the perpendicular direction. The magnetic member is secured to the flexible sheet, and disposed in the gel.

A gap compensated torque sensing system and methods for using the same are provided. The system can include a magnetostrictive torque sensor and at least one proximity sensor in communication with a controller. The proximity sensor can be substantially rigidly coupled to a sensor head of the torque sensor, either contained within the sensor head or mounted proximate to the sensor head using a bracket or other coupling mechanism. The torque sensor can sense magnetic flux passing through the target and the proximity sensor can measure a gap between itself and the target. The controller can estimate torque applied to the target from magnetic flux sensed by the torque sensor. The estimated torque can be modified by the gap measurement to compensate for changes in magnetic properties of the target due to variations in the gap. In this manner, the accuracy of the torque measurements can be increased.