Patent ID: 7116529

Claim:
A magnetoresistive element, comprising: a magnetoresistive film; and a pair of electrodes electrically connected to upper and lower surfaces of the magnetoresistive film, respectively, so as to flow a sense current in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the magnetoresistive film, in which the magnetoresistive film comprises: a first magnetization free layer of a ferromagnetic film whose magnetization direction is changed in response to the external magnetic field, a second magnetization free layer of a ferromagnetic film whose magnetization direction is changed in response to the external magnetic field, a first magnetization pinned layer of a ferromagnetic film whose magnetization direction is substantially pinned in one direction, a second magnetization pinned layer of a ferromagnetic film whose magnetization direction is substantially pinned in one direction, a first nonmagnetic intermediate layer formed between the first magnetization free layer and the first magnetization pinned layer, and a second nonmagnetic intermediate layer formed between the second magnetization free layer and the second magnetization pinned layer, the first magnetization pinned layer and the second magnetization pinned layer being formed between the first nonmagnetic intermediate layer and the second nonmagnetic intermediate layer; the pinned direction of magnetization of a ferromagnetic layer included in the first magnetization pinned layer which is in contact with the first nonmagnetic intermediate layer being substantially antiparallel to the pinned direction of magnetization of a ferromagnetic layer included in the second magnetization pinned layer which is in contact with the second nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and the magnetization of each of the first magnetization pinned layer and the second magnetization pinned layer being pinned by exchange coupling with one antiferromagnetic layer.