Patent ID: 7295407
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A magnetoresistance effect element comprising: a stacked film including a magnetization fixed layer in which the direction of magnetization is substantially fixed to one direction, and a magnetization free layer in which the direction of magnetization varies in response to an external magnetic field; an electrode connected to a part of a principal plane of the stacked film; the magnetoresistance effect element having a resistance varying in response to a relative angle between the direction of magnetization in the magnetization fixed layer and the direction of magnetization in the magnetization free layer; a sense current detecting the variation of the resistance being applied to the film planes of the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer via the electrode in a direction substantially perpendicular to the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer; the electrode comprising a pillar electrode portion substantially perpendicularly extending from the principal plane of the stacked film, and a feed portion extending substantially in parallel to the principal plane of the stacked film; and the pillar electrode portion having two conductive layers in the central portion and outer peripheral portion thereof, and the sense current being caused to flow in the opposite directions to each other in the central portion and the outer peripheral portion.