Patent ID: 7567412
Filing Date: 2009-07-28
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01F,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A magnetic sensing element comprising a multilayer film including a pinned magnetic layer whose magnetization direction is pinned in one direction and a free magnetic layer formed on the pinned magnetic layer with a nonmagnetic material layer disposed therebetween, the free magnetic layer including a low-coercivity layer and an enhancement layer comprising a material having a higher spin-dependent scattering coefficient than the material for the low-coercivity layer, the enhancement layer being disposed closer to the nonmagnetic material layer than the low-coercivity layer, the enhancement layer including a first enhancement layer and a second enhancement layer, the first enhancement layer being disposed closer to the nonmagnetic material layer than the second enhancement layer, the overall enhancement layer having a lower magnetostriction coefficient λ in absolute value than the first enhancement layer, wherein the first enhancement layer comprises Co or a CoFe-containing alloy, and the second enhancement layer comprises a CoFe-containing alloy having a lower Co content than the material for the first enhancement layer, the first enhancement layer comprises a Co