Patent ID: 6656604
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F,H01L,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A magnetoresistive thin-film magnetic element comprising:a composite comprising an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer on the antiferromagnetic layer and having a first magnetization vector pinned by an exchange anisotropic magnetic field with the antiferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic conductive layer on the pinned magnetic layer and a free magnetic layer formed on the nonmagnetic conductive layer and having a second magnetization vector; hard bias layers formed on two sides of the free magnetic layer so that the side face of each hard bias layer is in direct contact with the corresponding side face of the free magnetic layer, wherein the hard bias layers orient the second magnetization vector of the free magnetic layer in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first magnetization vector of the pinned magnetic layer; a conductive layer to supply a sense current to the free magnetic layer, the nonmagnetic conductive layer, and the pinned magnetic layer; and bias underlayers each provided under each of the hard bias layers, wherein the bias underlayers extend at least below the hard bias layers toward the top face of the pinned magnetic layer, wherein the bias underlayers comprise a nonmagnetic metal having a body-centered cubic structure.