Patent ID: 6210818
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F,H01L,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A spin-valve thin film element comprising:an antiferromagnetic layer;a pinned magnetic layer being formed adjacent to the antiferromagnetic layer and having a magnetization orientation fixed by an exchange anisotropic magnetic field between said pinned magnetic layer and the antiferromagnetic layer, said pinned magnetic layer being formed of a CoFe alloy, said pinned magnetic layer having a positive saturated magnetostrictive constant, and a part of a crystal structure of said pinned magnetic layer comprises an fcc structure;a free magnetic layer formed over the pinned magnetic layer with a nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer disposed therebetween;a bias magnetic layer to align a magnetization orientation of the free magnetic layer in a direction crossing the magnetization orientation of the pinned magnetic layer; andan electric conductive layer to provide a sensing current to the pinned magnetic layer, the nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer and the free magnetic layer.