Patent ID: 8810974
Filing Date: 2014-08-19
Classification: G01R,G11B,H01L

Abstract:
1. A magnetic sensor stack body comprising, on a substrate, a magnetoresistive element whose electric resistance fluctuates when a bias magnetic field is applied and, on sides of opposed junction wall faces of the magnetoresistive element, field regions including a magnetic layer for applying the bias magnetic field to the element, wherein the magnetoresistive element has at least a ferromagnetic stack on a part of an antiferromagnetic layer, wherein the ferromagnetic stack and the antiferromagnetic layer are stacked so as to form a stepwise form at both ends adjacent to opposed junction wall faces by forming the width of an uppermost face and a lowermost face of the ferromagnetic stack smaller than the width of an uppermost face of the antiferromagnetic layer, all widths being defined by the opposed junction wall faces, and wherein the lowermost face of the ferromagnetic stack is a face that comes in contact with the antiferromagnetic layer.