Patent ID: 7229706
Filing Date: 2007-06-12
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A magnetic detecting element comprising: a free magnetic layer disposed on a lower gap layer comprising an insulating material; and pinned magnetic layers opposing both end surfaces of the free magnetic layer through nonmagnetic material layers so that a sense current flows in a direction crossing interfaces between the free magnetic layer and the nonmagnetic material layers and interfaces between the pinned magnetic layers and the non magnetic material layers; wherein assuming that a NiX alloy (wherein X is one element selected from Co, Fe, Mn, Zr, Hf, Cu, and Au), a CoT alloy (wherein T is one element selected from Fe, Zr, Ta, and Hf), a FeZ alloy (wherein Z is one element selected from Rh, Pt, Ir, Be, Al, Si, Ga, and Ge), and a Co—Mn—D alloy (wherein D is one element selected from Al, Ga, Si, Ge, and Sn) belong to group A, and a NiM alloy (wherein M is one element selected from Cr, Rh, Ru, Mo, Nb, Pt, Ir, Os, Re, W, and Ta), a CoQ alloy (wherein Q is one element selected from Mn, Cr, Ru, Mo, Ir, Os, Re, and W), and an FeA alloy (wherein A is one element selected from Mn, Cr, V, Ti, Ru, Mo, Os, Re, and W) belong to group B, the free magnetic layer has a synthetic ferrimagnetic structure comprising a upper free magnetic sub-layer and a lower free magnetic sub-layer, wherein the upper and lower free magnetic sub-layers being separated by a first nonmagnetic intermediate sub-layer; wherein each of the pinned magnetic layers has a synthetic ferromagnetic structure including the upper and lower pinned magnetic sub-layers which are laminated with a second nonmagnetic intermediate sub-layer provided therebetween; wherein the side end surfaces of the upper free magnetic sub-layer face the respective upper pinned magnetic sub-layers through the nonmagnetic material layers, and the side end surfaces of the lower free magnetic sub-layer face the respective lower pinned magnetic sub-layers through the nonmagnetic material layers; wherein the positions of the top surfaces of the lower pinned magnetic sub-layers are lower than the position of the bottom surface of the upper free magnetic sub-layer, and the positions of the bottom surfaces of the upper pinned magnetic sub-layers are higher than the position of the top surface of the lower free magnetic sub-layer; and wherein the upper free magnetic sub-layer and upper pinned magnetic sub-layers are made of magnetic material in one of the groups A and B, and the lower free magnetic sub-layer and lower pinned magnetic sub-layers are made of magnetic materials in the other group.