Patent ID: 7245461

Claim:
A magnetoresistance effect element comprising: a stacked film including a magnetization fixed layer in which the direction of magnetization is substantially fixed to one direction, and a magnetization free layer in which the direction of magnetization varies in response to an external magnetic field, the magnetoresistance effect element having a resistance varying in response to a relative angle between the direction of magnetization in the magnetization fixed layer and the direction of magnetization in the magnetization free layer; an electrode connected to a part of a principal plane of the stacked film, the electrode comprising a pillar electrode portion substantially perpendicularly extending from the principal plane of the stacked film, and a feed portion extending substantially in parallel to the principal plane of the stacked film, a sense current detecting the variation of the resistance being applied to the film planes of the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer via the electrode in a direction substantially perpendicular to the magnetization fixed layer and the magnetization free layer; and a magnetic shield provided to surround lateral sides of the pillar electrode portion; the area of a contact portion of a principal plane of the second stacked film contacting the non-magnetic intermediate layer being smaller than the area of the principal plane of the second stacked film; a sense current detecting the variation of the resistance being applied to the film planes of the magnetization fixed layer, the non-magnetic intermediate layer and the magnetization free layer in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto; and the shape of a connecting portion for connecting the non-magnetic intermediate layer to the principal plane of the first stacked film having an edge portion inclined in a magnetization rotating direction of the magnetization free layer from a direction perpendicular to the magnetizing direction of the yokes.