Patent ID: 7408746

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive device comprising: a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer disposed with a space from each other in a direction of thickness; a magnetoresistive element disposed between the first and second electrode layers and having a first surface touching the first electrode layer and a second surface touching the second electrode layer; and a layered structure disposed between the first and second electrode layers on both sides of the magnetoresistive element, the layered structure including an insulating layer and bias field applying layers for applying a bias magnetic field to the magnetoresistive element, wherein: the magnetoresistive element, the layered structure and the second electrode layer are stacked on the first electrode layer; the second electrode layer has a surface facing toward the first electrode layer, the surface including a first portion touching the second surface of the magnetoresistive element and second portions disposed on both sides of the magnetoresistive element; a difference in level is created between the first portion and the second portions such that the second portions are closer to the first electrode layer than the first portion; and the layered structure includes adjacent portions that are adjacent to side surfaces of the magnetoresistive element and are sandwiched between the second electrode layer and the respective side surfaces of the magnetoresistive element, the adjacent portions including portions of the insulating layer and portions of the bias field applying layers, the method comprising the steps of: forming the first electrode layer; forming the magnetoresistive element on the first electrode layer; forming a layered film so as to cover the first electrode layer and the magnetoresistive element, the layered film including a film to be the bias field applying layers and an insulating film to be the insulating layer; forming the layered structure by removing a portion of the layered film located on the magnetoresistive element and thereby forming the remaining portion of the layered film into the layered structure; and forming the second electrode layer on the magnetoresistive element and the layered structure, wherein the layered film is made to have a thickness smaller than a difference in level between the second surface of the magnetoresistive element and a top surface of a portion of the first electrode layer around the magnetoresistive element.