Patent ID: 6587315
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
A magnetoresistive-effect device comprising a multilayer film comprising an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer, which is deposited on and in contact with said antiferromagnetic layer, and the magnetization direction of which is pinned through an exchange anisotropic magnetic field with said antiferromagnetic layer, and a free magnetic layer, separated from said pinned magnetic layer by a nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer, a pair of hard bias layers, deposited on both sides of said multilayer film, for orienting the magnetization direction of said free magnetic layer perpendicular to the magnetization direction of said pinned magnetic layer, and a pair of electrode layers respectively deposited on said hard bias layers, wherein said electrode layers extend over said multilayer film;wherein said free magnetic layer comprises a plurality of soft magnetic thin films having different magnetic moments and nonmagnetic material layers, which are alternately laminated with one soft magnetic thin film separated from another by one nonmagnetic material layer, and said free magnetic layer is in a ferrimagnetic state in which the magnetization directions of two adjacent soft magnetic thin films, separated by the nonmagnetic material layer, are aligned anti-parallel to each other; and wherein the magnetic coupling junction between said multilayer film and said bias layer is fabricated of an interface with the end face of only one of the plurality of the soft magnetic thin films forming said free magnetic layer.