Patent ID: 8009465
Filing Date: 2011-08-30
Classification: G11C,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A magnetoresistive element comprising: a fixed layer having a direction of magnetization fixed; a free layer having a direction of magnetization set variable; and a non-magnetic layer interposed between the fixed layer and the free layer, wherein: the free layer includes a long portion extending in a first direction and a projecting portion projecting from a region except an end of a side of the long portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a planar shape of the free layer has a 180° rotational symmetry but no reflection symmetry, the long portion has first and third corners located on a first diagonal line and second and fourth corners located on a second diagonal line, and the first and third corners are cut off linearly such that a single edge is added the free layer for each corner cut off.