Patent ID: 7206173

Claim:
A magnetoresistance-effect element comprising: a substrate; a primary-coat layer formed directly on a surface of the substrate; an anti-ferromagnetic layer formed directly on a surface of the primary-coat layer that is opposite the substrate; a multilayer pinned layer formed directly on a surface of the anti-ferromagnetic layer that is opposite the primary-coat layer; a nonmagnetic metal layer formed directly on a surface of the multilayer pinned layer that is opposite the anti-ferromagnetic layer; a magnetism-sensing section the electric resistance of which changes in accordance with an external magnetic field formed directly on a surface of the nonmagnetic metal layer that is opposite the multilayer pinned layer; a low-resistance metal layer formed directly on a surface of the magnetism-sensing section that is opposite the nonmagnetic metal layer; an oxide layer provided on that surface of the low-resistance metal layer which faces away from the magnetism-sensing section; and a non-magnetic protective layer provided on that surface of the oxide layer which faces away from the low-resistance metal layer, wherein a total thickness of the low-resistance metal layer and oxide layer ranges from 0.5 nm to 1.5 nm.