JPH04169024A - Relay and its element - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To intend smaller size, lower consumption power and longer life by providing a control coil into which a control current is supplied from an external terminal, a resistance change detecting means which detects resistance change in a magnetic resistance element to output resistance change signals and an electronic switch which receives the resistance change signals to perform open-close control of a preset circuit. CONSTITUTION:It consists of a magnetic resistance element 1, a control coil 2, a current supply section 3, a resistance change detecting means 4, and an electronic switch 5. When a control current flows into the control coil 2 from the outside, a resistance change is caused in the magnetic resistance element 1 by magnetic resistance effect between a magnetic field generated by the control current and a current flowing into the magnetic resistance element 1. This resistance change is detected by the resistance change detecting means 4 and output in the form of magnetic resistance change signals, so that the electronic switch 5 receives the magnetic resistance change signals to perform open-close control of a preset circuit. It is thus possible to intend smaller size, lower demand and longer life.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] C Overview] Regarding relays and relay elements.

Aimed at miniaturization, lower power consumption, and longer life.

The relay includes: (1) a magnetic resistance element supplied with current for operation; (2) a control coil wound around the magnetic resistance element and supplied with a control current from an external terminal; It is configured to include a resistance change detection means for outputting a change signal, and an electronic switch that receives the resistance change signal and controls opening and closing of a predetermined circuit, and the relay element includes a magnetoresistive element and a magnetoresistive element. and a control coil wound around the control current terminal and connected to the control current terminal.

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a relay and a relay element used in the relay, and more particularly to a new type of relay as a relay whose input and output are insulated, and a relay element used therein.

A conventional relay of the type in which the human power and the output are mutually insulated is composed of an excitation coil and a mechanical contact attracted by the electromagnetic force of the excitation coil. A so-called electromagnetic relay is used.

Generally, relays are particularly required to have characteristics of small size, low power consumption, and long life.

[Prior Art] FIG. 9 shows a conventional relay 90 of this type. In the figure, an excitation coil 91 is wound on an iron core 92, and when a control current is applied to the excitation coil 91 via a fill terminal 93, the magnetic force of the iron core 92 causes an iron piece 95 to support one contact 94. is attracted and the contact 94 is closed. Further, when the control current is cut off, the iron piece is returned to its original position via the spring 90, and the contact 94 is opened.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the case of the conventional relay 90, because of the structure in which the mechanical contact 94 is attracted through the electromagnetic force of the excitation coil 91 wound on the iron core, not only the external size is generally large but also the structure is large. Since an excitation current is required, power consumption is also large.

In addition, since the contact 94 is a mechanically operated contact, wear of the contact due to arc current becomes a problem, especially when switching an inductive load, requiring maintenance such as cleaning of the contact and shortening the service life. There's a problem. Furthermore, there are also problems in that there are limits to response sensitivity to input signals and opening/closing speed.

Another type of relay, a relay using semiconductors, cannot provide insulation between input and output, so its use is limited to specific circuits.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a new type of relay and a relay element therefor, particularly as a type of relay in which the input and output are mutually insulated, thereby reducing the size and power consumption. It is an object of the present invention to provide a relay that is capable of a long service life and has a long life because it does not use a single mechanical contact.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a relay with high response sensitivity and high switching speed.

[Means to achieve the task] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In the same figure.

1 is a magnetoresistive element, 2 is a control coil, 3 is a current supply unit,
4 is a resistance change detection means, and 5 is an electronic switch. Further, 1 and 2 constitute a relay element IO.

In order to achieve the above object, the relay of the present invention includes a magnetoresistive element (1) supplied with a current for one operation.

a control coil (2) wound around the magnetoresistive element (1) and supplied with a control current from an external terminal;

a resistance change detection means (4) for detecting a resistance change of the magnetoresistive element (1) and outputting a resistance change signal;

It is configured to include an electronic switch (5) that receives the resistance change signal and controls opening and closing of a predetermined circuit, and current supply to the magnetoresistive element is
The current is supplied from the current supply section (3).

Furthermore, in the relay element of the present invention, a magnetoresistive element (1)
and a control current terminal (2) wound around the magnetoresistive element (1).
1) and a control coil (2) connected to the control coil (2).

The relay of the present invention is particularly suitable if a barber pole magnetoresistive element is used as the magnetoresistive element 1, since two types of switching signals can be output by applying control current in two directions, positive and negative.

Moreover, the magnetoresistive element 1 is preferably cylindrical (bobbin-shaped).
This facilitates winding of the control coil 2, and furthermore, the entire control coil is integrally molded from above to provide a suitable relay element 10.

By adjusting the sensitivity to the control current by applying a bias magnetic field to the magnetoresistive element l using a permanent magnet, it is possible to adapt the relay to a specific control circuit that supplies control currents of various current values. .

It is also possible to adopt a Hall element and voltage change detection means in place of the magnetoresistive element and resistance change detection means used in the present invention, but when using the Hall effect, the Hall effect is more effective than the magnetoresistive effect. Since the sensitivity in magnetic detection is low, it is difficult to detect changes in the magnetic field compared to the use of the magnetoresistive effect of the present invention.

[Operation] When a control current is applied to the control coil from the outside, a resistance change occurs in the magnetoresistive element due to the magnetoresistive effect between the magnetic field generated by the control current and the current flowing through the magnetoresistive element. This resistance change is detected by the resistance change detection means and output as a magnetoresistive change signal, and the electronic switch receives this magnetoresistive change signal and controls the opening and closing of a predetermined circuit.

[Example] The present invention will be further explained based on the drawings. As already shown in the principle diagram of FIG. 1, the relay according to the present invention consists of a relay element 10 constituting a signal input section, a resistance change detection means 4 and an electronic switch 5 constituting a signal detection and output section. configured.

It receives current supply for operation from external current supply means 3.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a relay element 10, which is an embodiment of the present invention and is used in the above-mentioned relay. In the figure, this relay element 10 has current supply terminals 11.
14 and resistance change detection terminals 12 and 13, which are molded, and a control coil 2 wound around the magnetoresistive element 1 and connected to a control current terminal 21. As the magnetoresistive element 1, either a semiconductor magnetoresistive element or a ferromagnetic metal magnetoresistive element can be used. By applying the magnetoresistive effect, it is possible to create a relay element that can provide insulation between input and output. It is particularly preferable to use a magnetoresistive element made of a ferromagnetic metal such as permalloy as the relay element because the resistance change is stable regardless of temperature changes and the element has excellent ability to detect minute magnetic flux.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of a relay according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The relay shown in the figure is used as a magnetoresistive element of a relay element 10.

Connected as a Wheatstone bridge circuit.

It has a magnetoresistive element set IA that is a combination of four barber pole magnetoresistive elements (1-1 to 1-4) supplied with a bridge current from an external current supply section 3.

In addition to the relay element 10 consisting of the magnetoresistive element set IA and the control coil 2 wound around it and connected to the control current terminal 21, the relay also includes a relay element 10 for detecting resistance changes of bridge-connected magnetoresistive elements. differential amplifier 4 and P-MOS and N-N0 connected to the output stage of this differential amplifier.
8 transistors 5-1 and 5-2. Note that a DC amplifier may be used instead of the differential amplifier. The current supply unit 3 can be included in each relay, or can be provided outside the relay and connected to supply current to a large number of relays at once.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing the structure of a barber pole magnetoresistive element which is the magnetoresistive element set IA shown in FIG. In the figure, each of four magnetoresistive elements 1-1 to 1-4
are connected as a Wheatstone bridge via external terminals 11-14.

They have the same shape except for the direction in which the conductor patterns are formed. This type of magnetoresistive element set IA was published in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 84-2
It has the same configuration as that described in the 2076 publication. Each of the magnetoresistive elements t-i to 1-4 has long linear element portions 7 connected in series in a spiral pattern.

FIG. 5 schematically shows the basic configuration of the linear element portion 7 of the barber pole type magnetoresistive element.
1 to 1-4 are partially enlarged plan views.

Figure (a) shows two of the four magnetoresistive elements 1-1 and 1.
-3 shows the structure of the element portion 7, and FIG. 2B shows the structure of the element portion 7 of two other magnetoresistive elements 1-2 and 1-4. In the same figure, 71 is, for example, a perm 10 i < N1
-Fe), and 72.73 indicates a conductor pattern made of, for example, gold (Au), and the conductor pattern consists of electrode portions 72 at both ends and a strip-shaped conductor layer 73 in the center.

The magnetic thin film 71 is given uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in the M direction shown in the figure and is initially magnetized, and each conductor pattern 72.7
3 is formed as a thin layer on this magnetic film 71, and has a barber pole-like structure with a large number of strip-shaped conductor layers 73 arranged at predetermined intervals and inclined at 45 degrees with respect to the line connecting the electrode portions 72 at both left and right ends. formed into a pattern. As shown in Figures (a) and (b), the magnetoresistive element 1. -1, 1-3 and magnetoresistive element 1-2. The strip-shaped conductor layers 73 are arranged in a direction 90 degrees different from that of 1-4, and the direction of each strip-shaped conductor layer is 45 degrees or 135 degrees with respect to the direction M of initial magnetization and the direction of the external magnetic field Hex. . According to this configuration, the current direction m flowing through each magnetic thin film 71 is the direction shown in the figure.
That is, the direction is perpendicular to the long axis of the strip-shaped conductor layer 73.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the resistance change in each barber pole magnetoresistive element. Curve (a).

(b) corresponds to (a) and (b) of the configuration explanatory diagram of the element portion of the magnetoresistive element shown in FIG. 5, respectively.

As shown in Fig. 6, as the external magnetic field Hex increases, 2
Magnetoresistive element 1-1 having the element portion shown in FIG. 5(a).
1-3 is a magnetoresistive element 1-2 with an increased resistance value and having the element portion shown in FIG. 5(b). 1-4, the resistance value decreases.

Furthermore, when the external magnetic field is reversed, the resistance change is reversed, unlike a normal magnetoresistive element, which causes the same resistance change in the positive and negative directions of the magnetic field. Therefore, in the case of the relay of Example 2 configured as a Wheatstone bridge circuit (FIG. 3).

Different switching signals can be generated in response to positive and negative external magnetic fields generated according to the positive and negative current directions of the control coil. Note that the curve (a') in FIG.
1 is a characteristic diagram showing a resistance change when a bias magnetic field is applied to a magnetoresistive element by a permanent magnet in the direction of initial magnetization of FIG. By selecting various bias magnetic fields of the permanent magnets, it is possible to match the magnitude of the control current of a specific circuit. In addition, this bias method using a permanent magnet has the advantage that the relationship between the magnetic field and resistance change is linear as shown in curve (a').

It is possible to make the bias direction of the permanent magnet opposite to the initial magnetization direction, but if the bias magnetic field is large, the sensitivity decreases, and if it is even larger, the output characteristics are reversed.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the general structure of a barber pole magnetoresistive element. 2. In the figure, in addition to the initial magnetization of the magnetic thin film of the magnetoresistive element 1, a permanent magnet of 1 inch is used to magnetize the magnetic thin film in the direction M shown in the figure. An example of applying a bias magnetic field to is shown. In the figure, this magnetoresistive element 1 includes an St substrate 102 provided on a permanent magnet 101, an StO□ film 103, a permalloy magnetic thin film 104, and a permalloy magnetic thin film 104 on the Si substrate.
The adhesive layer 105 and the conductor layer 106 are sequentially laminated and formed into a predetermined pattern, and then the entire structure is covered with a protective layer 107 from above. The magnetic thin film 104 is given uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in the M direction in the drawing, and is initially magnetized.

Next, the operation of the relay of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will be explained. When a coil current is supplied to the control coil 2 from the coil terminal 21, this coil current is.

An external magnetic field Hex is applied to the barber-pole magnetoresistive element set IA connected as a Wheatstone bridge, and of the magnetoresistive elements receiving current supply from the current supply means 3, magnetoresistive elements 1-1. 1-3 has an increased resistance value, and magnetoresistive elements 1-2. 1-4, the resistance value decreases.

Due to this resistance value change, the bridge circuit outputs an unbalanced voltage to its resistance detection terminal 12.13. A differential amplifier 4 serving as a resistance change detection means sends a resistance change signal to an electronic switch 5-1. 5-2, and corresponding to the direction of the coil current, electronic switches 5-1. When one of the terminals 5-2 becomes conductive, a predetermined circuit connected to one of the terminals 51-1 and 51-2 is energized.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the outer shape of the magnetoresistive element IB of Example 3 used in the relay element of the present invention. In the figure, the magnetoresistive element IB is molded to have a cylindrical shape (bobbin shape) with a substantially rectangular cross section. The pots 18 and 17 in the mold part are connected to the magnetoresistive element I between them.
It is provided to fixedly support the control coil 2 around which B is wound.

Current supply terminal 11.14 and resistance change detection terminal 12.1
3 is placed extending from the mold part as a SIP <single or inline urn package).

In each of the above embodiments, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown in which a barber pole type magnetoresistive element is employed as the magnetoresistive element. If the magnetoresistive element is not of the barber pole type, the resistance simply changes in response to the absolute value of the external magnetic field.

Although it is not possible to output different switching signals corresponding to the positive and negative directions of the current in the control coil, it can be used in cases where one type of switching signal is sufficient, such as in a normal relay.

The relays of each example are equipped with a magnetoresistive element, which allows for downsizing and lower power consumption according to the sensitivity of the magnetoresistive effect, and in combination with an electronic switch, the relay can have a longer lifespan and faster response. This enables the relay to be used for switching control in high frequency ranges.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, 1) unlike conventional relays, the relay of the present invention does not use an iron core or a suction piece, so 2 it is possible to downsize and reduce power consumption, and it also uses mechanical contacts. Since the relay has a long life, it can be used in a high frequency range, and it is possible to provide a compact, low power consumption, long life relay.

Moreover, in the case of the relay element of the present invention, since it has a structure without a moving part, it has a long life and, when formed in a mold shape, can be made into a relay element that is extremely resistant to mechanical shock.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram of the principle of the present invention Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a relay element of Embodiment 1 Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram of a relay of Embodiment 2 Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of a barber pole magnetoresistive element set Schematic diagram 1
Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the element part of a barber pole type magnetic resistance element. Figure 6 is a diagram explaining the operation of a barber pole type magnetic resistance element. Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the structure of a barber pole type magnetic resistance element. Figure 8 is FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a magnetoresistive element of a relay element of Example 3. In FIG. 1, 1 is a magnetoresistive element, 2 is a control coil, and 3 is a magnetoresistive element.
4 is a current supply section, and 4 is a resistance change detection means. 5 is an electronic switch, and 10 is a relay element. -to 0L0 -to Figure 7 /- △---------. Figure 9 Procedural amendment (method) % formula %) 1 Display of the case 1990 Patent Application No. 294695 2 Name of the invention Relay and relay element 3 Person making the amendment Relationship to the case Name of patent applicant (522) Fujitsu Co., Ltd. 4 Agent Address 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture 211
Address: Fujitsu Limited Tel: (044) 754-3035-TE-17 Contents of amendment

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) Magnetoresistive element (1) supplied with current for operation
a control coil (2) wound around the magnetoresistive element (1) and supplied with a control current from an external terminal; and a resistor that detects a resistance change of the magnetoresistive element (1) and outputs a resistance change signal. A relay comprising a change detection means (4) and an electronic switch (5) that receives the resistance change signal and controls opening and closing of a predetermined circuit. 2) A relay according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnetoresistive element (1) is a barber pole type magnetoresistive element. 3) The relay according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the magnetoresistive element (1) is molded into a cylindrical shape. 4) Relay according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the magnetoresistive element (1) is biased by a permanent magnet. 5) A magnetoresistive element (1) and a control coil (
2) A relay element comprising: