Patent ID: 6501627
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A spin-valve magnetoresistive head having a device part and terminal parts provided to both ends of the device part, the spin-valve magnetoresistive head comprising:a first free magnetic layer formed from one to the other of the terminal parts; and a lamination in the terminal parts on said first free magnetic layer, the lamination including an antiparallel coupling intermediate layer, a soft magnetic layer, and a first antiferromagnetic layer, the antiparallel coupling intermediate layer having a function of making front and rear magnetization orientation of said soft magnetic layer and said first free magnetic layer contacting the antiparallel coupling intermediate layer substantially antiparallel, the first antiferromagnetic layer applying to the soft magnetic layer a bias magnetic field substantially perpendicular to a direction of an external magnetic field to be detected.