Patent ID: 7499249

Claim:
A magnetic detecting element comprising: a pinned magnetic layer wherein the magnetization direction is pinned, a free magnetic layer formed on the pinned magnetic layer; wherein a non-magnetic material layer is disposed between the pinned magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer, and wherein the magnetization direction is changed by an external magnetic field, wherein the free magnetic layer has a CoMnXZ alloy layer made of metal compound represented by a composition formula of Co g Mn h X i Z j (element X is at least one element or two elements of Ge, Ga, In, Si, Pb, and Zn, element Z is at least one element or two elements of Al, Sn, and Cr, g, h, i, and j are atomic %, and g+h+i+j=100 atomic %), and wherein the composition ratio of the element Z is modulated from the bottom to the top of the CoMnXZ alloy layer.