Patent ID: 7116534
Filing Date: 2006-10-03
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F

Abstract:
1. A magnetoresistive element comprising: a magnetoresistive film having a pinned layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a free layer; a pair of terminals for applying a current to said magnetoresistive film; and bias applying means for applying a bias magnetic field for magnetic domain control to said free layer, said free layer having a sensing region and a pair of out-of-sensing-region regions on both ends of said sensing region, a magnetization direction of one of the out-of-sensing-region regions and a magnetization direction of the other out-of-sensing-region region having different components in a direction of element height, magnetization of the one of the out-of-sensing-region regions and magnetization of the other out-of-sensing-region region being nearly symmetrical relative to the sensing region interposed therebetween.