Patent ID: 7525776
Filing Date: 2009-04-28
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A magnetoresistive element comprising: a magnetization pinned layer a magnetization direction of which is substantially pinned in one direction; a magnetization free layer a magnetization direction of which varies depending on an external field; and a spacer layer including an insulating layer provided between the magnetization pinned layer and the magnetization free layer and current paths penetrating the insulating layer, the magnetization pinned layer or magnetization free layer located under the spacer layer comprising crystal grains separated by grain boundaries extending across a thickness thereof, wherein, an in-plane position of one end of each of the crystal grains is set to 0, an in-plane position of a grain boundary adjacent to the other end of the crystal grain is set to 100, and the current path corresponding to each crystal grain is formed on a region of the crystal grain in a range between 20 and 80 of the in-plane position.