Patent ID: 6716537
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F,Y10T

Abstract:
A magnetoresistive element comprising:a multilayered film comprising a magnetic detecting layer having a magnetoresistive effect; a pair of first antiferromagnetic layers in contact with the magnetic detecting layer of the multilayered film at a predetermined gap in the track width direction, the first antiferromagnetic layers aligning the magnetization direction of the magnetic detecting layer; a pair of conductive layers in contact with the pair of first antiferromagnetic layers, the pair of conductive layers applying a detecting current to the multilayered film; and a first insulating layer provided between the pair of conductive layers, the side faces of the first insulating layer being covered with respective end faces of the conductive layers, a second insulating layer covering the first insulating layer and the conductive layers, the conductive layers being in contact with respective faces of the pair of first antiferromagnetic layers, and the conductive layers extending over the pair of first antiferromagnetic layers toward the magnetic detecting layer, wherein the first antiferromagnetic layers comprise an antiferromagnetic material having higher resistivity than that of the conductive layers, the conductive layers are superimposed with the corresponding first antiferromagnetic layers and are in contact with the magnetic detecting layer in a range of the predetermined gap, and the distance between the pair of conductive layers defines a track width when the multilayered film detects an external magnetic field, and wherein the multilayered film comprises a pinned magnetic layer having a pinned magnetization direction, a nonmagnetic conductive layer, and a free magnetic layer as the magnetic detecting layer having a variable magnetization direction with respect to an external magnetic field, the first antiferromagnetic layers are in contact with a pair of ferromagnetic layers lying at both sides of the free magnetic layer, and the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer is oriented in a direction which is perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer by exchange anisotropic coupling with the first antiferromagnetic layers, and further wherein the free magnetic layer extends to an exterior of the predetermined gap, the first antiferromagnetic layers cover the free magnetic layer in the exterior of the predetermined gap, the ferromagnetic layer is in contact with the first antiferromagnetic layer, the ferromagnetic layer and the antiferromagnetic layer facing each other at two sides of the free magnetic layer.