Patent ID: 7259943

Claim:
A magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect comprising: a magnetic sensing portion formed of a magnetoresistive effect element, wherein: said magnetic sensing portion includes a lamination layer structure portion in which at least a free layer made of a soft magnetic material in which the magnetization is rotatable in response to an external magnetic field, a fixed layer made of a ferromagnetic material, an antiferromagnetic layer for fixing the magnetization of said fixed layer, and a spacer layer interposed between said free layer and said fixed layer are laminated together in a thickness direction of the magnetic sensing portion; said lamination layer structure portion further includes a magnetic flux introducing layer of which a side end surface is opposed to a surface of the magnetic head which is brought in contact with or opposed to a magnetic recording medium, and said magnetic flux introducing layer formed directly on said free layer; said lamination layer structure portion has along the thickness direction opposing side surfaces of at least said free layer, said magnetic flux introducing, said spacer layer and said fixed layer formed of one flat surface or one continuous curved surface; a hard magnetic layer for maintaining a magnetic stability of said free layer is disposed in direct contact with said opposing surfaces or through an insulating layer; a sense current for said lamination layer structure portion flows through said lamination layer structure portion in the thickness direction; and an external magnetic field is applied to the direction extended along the plane direction of said lamination layer structure portion and which is extended substantially along said opposing side surfaces.