Patent ID: 6721148
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F

Abstract:
A magnetoresistive element, comprising:an antiferromagnetic layer; a second magnetic layer on the antiferromagnetic layer; a non-magnetic interlayer on the second magnetic layer; and a first magnetic layer on the non-magnetic interlayer; wherein said first magnetic layer extends in a track width direction, and includes at least one specific region at an end of the first magnetic layer in the track width direction, a thickness of the first magnetic layer at said at least one specific region being thinner than that at a central part of said first magnetic layer in the track width direction; and each of said specific regions has a width Xe defined by the equation 0.08&lE;Xe/Twr&lE;0.2, where Twr denotes the track width of the first magnetic layer.