Patent ID: 6340520
Filing Date: 2002-01-22
Classification: B82Y,C23C,G11B,H01F,H01L,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A magnetoresistive material film comprising:a coercive force increasing layer; a first ferromagnetic layer formed on the coercive force increasing layer; a nonmagnetic layer formed on the first ferromagnetic layer; and a second ferromagnetic layer formed on the nonmagnetic layer; wherein magnetization of the first ferromagnetic layer is pinned by the coercive force increasing layer which is provided adjacent to the first ferromagnetic layer so as to increase the coercive force of the first ferromagnetic layer, wherein the second ferromagnetic layer has free magnetization such that a change in a magnetoresistance of the second ferromagnetic layer is produced at a low magnetic field, wherein the coercive force increasing layer comprises &agr;-Fe2O3, the coercive force in an applied magnetic field direction is substantially symmetrical with respect to an origin of an M-H curve, and wherein the first ferromagnetic layer comprises Co, and the second ferromagnetic layer comprises a two-layer structure comprising a Co layer disposed between the nonmagnetic layer and a NiFe alloy layer.