Patent ID: 8014108
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01L

Abstract:
1. A magnetoresistive device of a CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure, comprising a magnetoresistive unit, and a first shield layer and a second shield layer which are located and formed such that the magnetoresistive unit is sandwiched between them from above and below, with a sense current applied in a stacking direction, characterized in that: said magnetoresistive unit comprises a non-magnetic intermediate layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked and formed such that said nonmagnetic intermediate layer is sandwiched between them, said first shield layer and said second shield layer include a first shield parallel layer and a second shield parallel layer, respectively, between which said magnetoresistive unit is sandwiched from above and below, both ends of either one of said first shield parallel layer and said second shield parallel layer are provided with joining layers that extend from said both ends substantially toward both ends of the other shield parallel layer, a nonmagnetic insulating layer is interposed between ends of said joining layers and an end of said other shield parallel layer, and said first shield layer and said second shield layer are joined together by way of said nonmagnetic insulating layer, forming a substantially insulated, closed magnetic path, the first shield parallel layer for said first shield layer and the second shield parallel layer for said second shield layer are each controlled by magnetization direction control means in terms of magnetization direction, and said first ferromagnetic layer and said second ferromagnetic layer each receive action such that under magnetic actions of the first shield parallel layer for said first shield layer and the second shield parallel layer for said second shield layer, there is an anti-parallel magnetization state created with their mutual magnetizations being in opposite directions.