Patent ID: 6600184
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,G11C,H01F,H01L

Abstract:
A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) sensor device, comprising:an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer; a first ferromagnetic layer with a pinned magnetization adjacent to the AFM layer for serving as a pinned layer; a tunnel barrier layer adjacent to the first ferromagnetic layer; a second ferromagnetic layer adjacent to the tunnel barrier layer; a spacer adjacent to the second ferromagnetic layer; a third ferromagnetic layer adjacent to the spacer for working in conjunction with the second ferromagnetic layer to serve as a free layer, the magnetization direction of the pinned layer being substantially perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the free layer at zero applied magnetic field; and a cap layer adjacent to the third ferromagnetic layer; wherein a thickness of the first ferromagnetic layer and second ferromagnetic layer is selected to achieve a resonant tunneling effect.