Patent ID: 7158352
Filing Date: 2007-01-02
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A magnetoresistive device comprising: a magnetoresistive element having two surfaces that face toward opposite directions and two side portions; a pair of bias field applying layers that are adjacent to the side portions of the magnetoresistive element and apply a bias magnetic field to the magnetoresistive element; and a pair of electrode layers that feed a current used for signal detection to the magnetoresistive element, each of the electrode layers being adjacent to one of surfaces of each of the bias field applying layers and overlapping one of the surfaces of the magnetoresistive element, wherein: the pair of electrode layers include: a pair of first layers each being laid over part of the one of the surfaces of the magnetoresistive element; and a pair of second layers overlapping the pair of first layers and electrically connected to the pair of first layers; the pair of first layers have a pair of top surfaces, a pair of end portions opposed to each other, and a pair of side portions located at positions corresponding to the side portions of the magnetoresistive element; and the pair of first layers each do not extend onto the one of the surfaces of each of the bias field applying layers, the magnetoresistive device further comprises a pair of covering layers for covering the pair of second layers, the pair of covering layers having a pair of end portions that are opposed to each other and located at positions corresponding to the pair of end portions of the pair of first layers, and the pair of top surfaces of the pair of first layers include: a pair of first portions touching the pair of second layers; and a pair of second portions touching the pair of covering layers, the pair of second portions being closer to the pair of end portions of the pair of first layers than the pair of first portions.