Patent ID: 8624590

Claim:
A magnetoresistive sensor comprising; a first pinned-magnetization magnetic layer; a free-magnetization magnetic layer with a magnetization, in an absence of an external magnetic field, that is substantially orthogonal to a magnetization of the first pinned-magnetization magnetic layer; a first separating layer that separates and magnetically uncouples the first pinned-magnetization layer and the free-magnetization magnetic layer; a lateral coupling layer, located on a side of the free-magnetization magnetic layer opposite that of the first separating layer, wherein the lateral coupling layer causes a backscattering of electrons, with conservation of spin, to the free-magnetization magnetic layer, and said backscattering aligns a second local magnetization direction within a second part of the free-magnetization magnetic layer with a first local magnetization direction within a first part of the free-magnetization magnetic layers; and a current source that circulates a continuous current from the lateral coupling layer to the first pinned-magnetization magnetic layer.