Patent ID: 6639765
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: B82Y,G01R,H01F,H01L

Abstract:
A magnetoresistive element comprising a substrate and a multilayer film formed on the substrate, the multilayer film including a first magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer formed on the first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer formed on the nonmagnetic layer, the layers being laminated from a side of the substrate in this order, an electric current being supplied in a direction perpendicular to a film surface of the multilayer film, and a change in electrical resistance being detected by the electric current based on a change in a relative angle between a magnetization direction of the first magnetic layer and a magnetization direction of the second magnetic layer,wherein the first magnetic layer has a spinel crystal structure, and the multilayer film further includes a titanium nitride layer interposed between the substrate and the first magnetic layer.