A sensor including: a substrate having a first region and a second region; a first series of first magnetoresistive (MR) elements formed on the substrate, the first series of first MR elements including at least two first MR elements; and a second series of second MR elements that is coupled in parallel with the first series of first MR elements to form a bridge circuit, the second series of second MR elements being formed on the substrate, the second series of second MR elements including at least two second MR elements, each of the at least two second MR elements having a different pinning direction than each of the at least two first MR elements, wherein one of the at least two first MR elements and one of the at least two second MR elements are formed in the first region of the substrate and have different pinning directions.