Patent ID: 7916431
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B

Abstract:
1. A magnetoresistive element comprising a stack of layers including a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a spacer layer disposed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, wherein: a current for detecting magnetic signals is fed in a direction intersecting a plane of each of the foregoing layers; the stack of layers has an outer surface; and the spacer layer has a periphery located in the outer surface of the stack of layers; the magnetoresistive element further comprising an insulating film that touches the periphery of the spacer layer, wherein: the spacer layer includes a layer made of an oxide semiconductor composed of an oxide of a first metal; the first metal is composed of at least one of Zn, In and Sn; the insulating film includes a contact film that touches the periphery of the spacer layer and that is made of an oxide of a second metal having a Pauling electronegativity lower than that of the first metal by 0.1 or more; the second metal is composed of at least one of Hf, Mg, Zr, Ta and Ti; and the magnetoresistive element has a resistance-area product within a range of 0.1 to 0.3 Ω·μm