Patent ID: 7265949

Claim:
A magneto-resistance effect element comprising: a lower conductive layer; a first fixed layer provided on the lower conductive layer and having a pinned orientation of magnetization; a first non-magnetic layer provided on the first fixed layer; a first free layer provided on the first non-magnetic layer and having an orientation of magnetization varied by a magnetic field applied thereto, the first fixed layer, the first non-magnetic layer and the first free layer being etched to form a first vertical pattern; a first insulation layer formed about the first vertical pattern so as to bury the first vertical pattern therein, the first insulation layer having a height equal to the first vertical pattern near the first vertical pattern but slightly lower than the first vertical pattern at a given distance from the first vertical pattern; a magnetic layer provided on the first free layer and magnetically coupled to the first free layer; a second free layer provided on the magnetic layer and magnetically coupled to the magnetic layer; a second non-magnetic layer provided on the second free layer; a second fixed layer provided on the second non-magnetic layer and having a pinned orientation of magnetization, the second free layer, the second non-magnetic layer and the second fixed layer being etched to form a second vertical pattern aligned with the first vertical pattern; a vertical bias layer provided on the first insulation layer for applying a magnetic field to said magnetic layer, and a sense current for detecting a change in electrical resistance of said first and second non-magnetic layers flows substantially in perpendicular relation to said first and second non-magnetic layers; and a second insulation layer formed over the vertical bias layer and about the second vertical pattern so as to bury the second vertical pattern theren.