Patent ID: 8796793

Claim:
A magnetoresistive element comprising: a lower magnetic layer; a barrier layer configured to be provided on said lower magnetic layer; and an upper magnetic layer configured to be provided on said barrier layer, wherein one of magnetization directions of said lower magnetic layer and said upper magnetic layer is fixed, wherein said barrier layer has a first surface which includes a surface contacted with an upper surface of said lower magnetic layer, wherein said upper magnetic layer has a second surface which includes a surface contacted with an upper surface of said barrier layer, wherein each of said first surface and said second surface is greater than said upper surface of the lower magnetic layer in area, wherein the lower magnetic layer is formed on a substrate below the barrier layer and the upper magnetic layer, wherein the substrate is larger than the lower magnetic layer in area, wherein said lower magnetic layer is embedded in an interlayer insulating layer, and wherein said barrier layer is provided to cover said lower magnetic layer and a part of said interlayer insulating layer, wherein said interlayer insulating layer includes a silicon nitride film configured to be formed on a side surface of said lower magnetic layer, and wherein said interlayer insulating layer includes a laminated layer of the silicon nitride film formed along the side surface of said lower magnetic layer as a sidewall and a top surface of the substrate and an oxide film, the silicon nitride film being formed between the oxide film and the lower magnetic layer, and the silicon nitride film being formed between the oxide film and the substrate.