Magnetic position detector with multiple magnetoeffect resistance elements

Claim 1

A magnetic sensor disposed in an opposing relation to a magnetic scale magnetized at a grating pitch λ in its length direction and which is movable relative to said magnetic scale in its length direction comprising: at least one pair of magnetoeffect resistance elements; said pair of magnetoeffect resistance elements being arranged in the width direction perpendicular to said length direction and each of said magnetoeffect resistance elements being formed of a first partial magnetoeffect resistance element and an electrically connected second partial magnetoeffect resistance element; said first partial magnetoeffect resistance element and said second partial magnetoeffect resistance element arranged substantially parallel to each other and offset by a distance of (λ/2)·(1/2m) (m=2, 3, 4, . . . ) in said length direction, wherein said pair of magnetoeffect resistance elements are disposed with distance of (λ/2) n (n=1, 2, 3, . . . ) between said first partial magnetoeffect resistance element of a first one of said pair of magnetoeffect resistance elements and said second partial magnetoeffect resistance element of a second one of said pair of magnetoeffect resistance elements in said length direction, and wherein said pair of magnetoeffect resistance elements are shaped as substantially symmetrical configuration so as to be mirror images of each other relative to a central line perpendicular to said length direction, whereby an output of at least one pair of said magnetoeffect resistance elements is maximized and a distortion of said output of said magnetoeffect resistance elements is minimized at a given angle relative to said magnetic scale.