Patent ID: 7672092
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing a magnetic field detecting element having a free layer whose magnetization direction changes in accordance with an external magnetic field, a pinned layer whose magnetization direction is fixed with respect to said external magnetic field, and a non-magnetic spacer layer which is interposed between said free layer and said pinned layer, wherein sense current is adapted to flow in a direction that is perpendicular to layer surfaces, said method comprising the steps of: forming stacked layers by sequentially depositing said pinned layer, said spacer layer, a spacer adjoining layer which is adjacent to said spacer layer, a metal layer, and a Heusler alloy layer in this order, such that said layers adjoin each other; and heat treating said stacked layers in order to form said free layer out of said spacer adjoining layer, said metal layer, and said Heusler alloy layer, wherein said spacer adjoining layer is mainly formed of cobalt and iron, and has a body centered cubic structure, and wherein said metal layer is formed of an element selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, copper, palladium, or platinum, or is formed of an alloy thereof.