Patent ID: 6901652

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a magnetic sensing element, comprising the steps of: (1a) forming a first composite comprising a first antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic material layer, a free magnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic layer on a substrate; (1b) annealing the first composite at a first annealing temperature in a magnetic field of a first magnitude to pin the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer in a predetermined direction; (1c) depositing a ferromagnetic layer and a second antiferromagnetic layer on the annealed first composite to form a second composite; (1d) forming an indent having side faces penetrating the second antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer and a bottom portion lying in the nonmagnetic layer; and (1e) annealing the second composite at a second annealing temperature in a magnetic field of a second magnitude to pin the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer in a direction substantially orthogonal to the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer.