Patent ID: 7045224

Claim:
A magnetic detecting element comprising: a multilayer film comprising a pair of first antiferromagnetic layers, a pinned magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic material layer and a free magnetic layer, which are laminated in that order on a substrate; and a pair of magnetization control layers for controlling magnetization of the free magnetic layer, wherein the pair of magnetization control layers has a predetermined space in the track width direction which faces the free magnetic layer, wherein the pinned magnetic layer comprises a first magnetic layer extending in a track width direction in contact with the pair of first antiferromagnetic layers, a second magnetic layer facing the first magnetic layer in a thickness direction, and a nonmagnetic intermediate layer interposed between the first and second magnetic layers, magnetizations of the first and second magnetic layers being antiparallel to each other; the pair of first antiferromagnetic layers has a predetermined space in the track width direction so that the pair of first antiferromagnetic layers is in contact with both side portions of the first magnetic layer in the thickness direction; an electric resistance in the space changes in relation to a magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer and a magnetization direction of the second magnetic layer; wherein a minimum dimension of the space between the pair of magnetization control layers is the same as or smaller than a minimum dimension of the predetermined space in the track width direction of the pair of first antiferrromagnetic layers.