Patent ID: 7495870
Filing Date: 2009-02-24
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A magnetoresistive effect element comprising: a magnetization pinned layer including a magnetic-material film in which a magnetization direction is substantially pinned in one direction; a magnetization free layer including a magnetic-material film in which a magnetization direction changes in response to an external magnetic field; a nonmagnetic metal layer disposed between the magnetization pinned layer and the magnetization free layer; a resistance increasing layer that includes an insulation portion and a conductive portion electrically connecting both film faces of the resistance increasing layer, and is disposed in at least one of the magnetization pinned layer, the magnetization free layer, and the nonmagnetic metal layer; a spin filter layer that is disposed to be adjacent to the magnetization free layer and has a thickness in a range of 5 nm to 20 nm, the magnetization free layer being disposed between the spin filter layer and the nonmagnetic metal layer; and a pair of electrodes between which the magnetization pinned layer, the magnetization free layer, the nonmagnetic layer, the resistance increasing layer, and the spin filter layer are disposed, current that flows between the pair of electrodes flowing in a direction substantially perpendicular to film faces of the magnetization pinned layer, the magnetization free layer, the nonmagnetic metal layer, the resistance increasing layer, and the spin filter layer.