Patent ID: 8295015
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: G01R,G11B

Abstract:
1. A magnetoresistive element comprising a stacked structure, the stacked structure including, in order: a magnetically pinned layer whose magnetization direction is fixed in a given direction; a non-magnetic layer; a magnetically free layer whose magnetization direction changes according to an external magnetic field; and an antiferromagnetic bias layer exchange-coupled with the magnetically free layer, an exchange-coupling magnetic field between the magnetically free layer and the antiferromagnetic bias layer being smaller than a saturation magnetic field of the magnetically free layer, the antiferromagnetic bias layer being in direct contact with the magnetically free layer, wherein a curve which represents a variation in magnetization of the magnetically free layer versus an external magnetic field includes a first magnetic field range and a second magnetic field range, the first magnetic field range being defined as a range from the saturation magnetic field via a portion with a maximum gradient of magnetic field variation to the exchange-coupling magnetic field, the second magnetic field range being defined as a range from the exchange-coupling magnetic field to zero magnetic field, a gradient in the second magnetic field range being smaller than that of the first magnetic field range.