Patent ID: 7876537

Claim:
A magnetoresistive element comprising a layered structure, the layered structure including: a spacer layer having a first surface and a second surface that face toward opposite directions; a free layer disposed adjacent to the first surface of the spacer layer and having a direction of magnetization that changes in response to an external magnetic field; and a pinned layer disposed adjacent to the second surface of the spacer layer and having a fixed direction of magnetization, wherein: the spacer layer is a layer at least part of which is made of a material other than a conductor, and the spacer layer intercepts the passage of currents or limits the passage of currents as compared with a layer entirely made of a conductor; and the layered structure has a peripheral surface formed of peripheral surfaces of the foregoing layers, the magnetoresistive element further comprising a conductive film that is disposed on the peripheral surface of the layered structure and allows conduction between the free layer and the pinned layer, wherein a current is fed between the free layer and the pinned layer such that at least part of the current passes through the conductive film.