Patent ID: 6816347
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F,H01L

Abstract:
A magnetoresistive element comprisinga magnetically free layer; a first magnetically pinned layer; a non-magnetic intermediate layer interposed between the magnetically free layer and the first magnetically pinned layer; a non-magnetic coupling layer located on one side of the first magnetically pinned layer opposite from the non-magnetic intermediate layer; and a second magnetically pinned layer located on one side of the non-magnetic coupling layer opposite from the first magnetically pinned layer, the first magnetically pinned layer and the second magnetically pinned layer do not contain niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta) or (hafnium (Hf) and are fixed in magnetization in anti-parallel to each other via the non-magnetic coupling layer, the first magnetically pinned layer including at least a first layer region located relatively remoter from the non-magnetic intermediate layer and a second layer region located relatively nearer to the non-magnetic intermediate layer, the first layer region being made of a ferromagnetic material containing any one selected from the group consisting of Co, CoFe, CoFeNi and CoNi, as a major component and the ferromagnetic material containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr (chrome), Rh (rhodium), Os (osmium), Re (rhenium), Si (silicon), Al (aluminum), Be (beryllium), Ga (gallium), Ge (germanium), Te (tellurium), V (vanadium), Ru (ruthenium), Ir (iridium), W (tungsten), Mo (molybdenum), Au (gold), Pt (platinum), Ag (silver) and Cu (copper).