Patent ID: 7336070

Claim:
A magnetic sensor comprising; at least one magneto-resistive element; and at least one fixed resistor, wherein the magneto-resistive element and the fixed resistor all have an antiferromagnetic layer, a plurality of magnetic layers, a non-magnetic layer, and a protection layer serving as the uppermost layer; wherein the magneto-resistive element is provided with a fixed layer that has at least one magnetic layer and a magnetization direction thereof is fixed in one direction, and a magneto-sensitive layer which has the remaining magnetic layers and the magnetization direction thereof varies in accordance with an exterior magnetic field, the non-magnetic layer being interposed between the fixed layer and the magneto-sensitive layer, and the antiferromagnetic layer being formed in contact with a surface opposite to the surface where the non-magnetic of the fixed layer is formed; and wherein in the fixed resistor, at least one magnetic layer is formed in contact with the antiferromagnetic layer, and the magnetization directions of all the magnetic layers are fixed in one direction.