Patent ID: 7099124

Claim:
A magnetoresistive-effect element comprising: a substrate formed of a nonmagnetic nonconductive material; a base layer formed of a nonmagnetic conductive material on said substrate; a free layer formed on said base layer, said free layer comprising: a first ferromagnetic layer; a non-magnetic intermediate layer formed on said first ferromagnetic layer; a surface oxidation layer formed on a surface of said non-magnetic intermediate layer; a second ferromagnetic layer formed on said surface oxidation layer; and a third ferromagnetic layer formed on said second ferromagnetic layer; a non-magnetic layer formed on said free layer; a pinned layer formed on said non-magnetic layer; said pinned layer comprising: a fourth ferromagnetic layer; a second non-magnetic intermediate layer; a fifth ferromagnetic layer formed on said second non-magnetic intermediate layer; and an antiferromagnetic layer formed on said pinned layer.