Patent ID: 6807034
Filing Date: 2004-10-19
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B

Abstract:
A magnetic sensing element comprising a multilayer film comprising:a free magnetic layer; an upper nonmagnetic interlayer placed on the free magnetic layer; a lower nonmagnetic interlayer placed under the free magnetic layer; an upper pinned magnetic layer placed on the upper nonmagnetic interlayer; a lower pinned magnetic layer placed under the lower nonmagnetic interlayer; an upper antiferromagnetic layer placed on the upper pinned magnetic layer; and a lower antiferromagnetic layer placed under the lower pinned magnetic layer, each of the upper antiferromagnetic layer and the lower antiferromagnetic layer pinning a magnetization direction of each of the upper pinned magnetic layer and the lower pinned magnetic layer in a predetermined direction by an exchange coupling magnetic field, wherein a current flows perpendicular to planes of the individual layers of the multilayer film; the free magnetic layer comprises at least two magnetic sublayers and an intermediate sublayer placed between the two magnetic sublayers; each of the upper pinned magnetic layer and the lower pinned magnetic layer comprises two magnetic sublayers and an intermediate sublayer placed therebetween; in the lower pinned magnetic layer, a magnetic moment of the magnetic sublayer in contact with the lower nonmagnetic interlayer is larger than a-magnetic moment of the magnetic sublayer in contact with the lower antiferromagnetic layer; and in the upper pinned magnetic layer, a magnetic moment of the magnetic sublayer in contact with the upper nonmagnetic interlayer is larger than a magnetic moment of the magnetic sublayer in contact with the upper antiferromagnetic layer.