Patent ID: 7372672
Filing Date: 2008-05-13
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A magnetic sensing element comprising, in order from the bottom, a first antiferromagnetic layer; a pinned magnetic layer; a nonmagnetic material layer; a free magnetic layer; a nonmagnetic layer; a ferromagnetic layer; and a bias antiferromagnetic layer, wherein the free magnetic layer is formed between the nonmagnetic material layer and the nonmagnetic layer, the pinned magnetic layer is formed between the nonmagnetic material layer and the first antiferromagnetic layer, and the ferromagnetic layer is formed between the nonmagnetic layer and the bias antiferromagnetic layer, the magnetization direction of the ferromagnetic layer is oriented in a direction orthogonal to the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer by an exchange coupling magnetic field with the bias antiferromagnetic layer, wherein the free magnetic layer is put into a single-magnetic-domain state by an interlayer coupling magnetic field due to a RKKY interaction with the ferromagnetic layer through the nonmagnetic layer, and the magnetization of the free magnetic layer is oriented in a direction orthogonal to the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer, wherein a length of the first antiferromagnetic layer and the bias antiferromagnetic layer in a track width direction is larger than a length of the free magnetic layer in the track width direction wherein the nonmagnetic layer comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Ir, Cr, and Re.