Patent ID: 6856494

Claim:
A spin-valve type thin film magnetic element comprising: a laminate comprising an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer in contact with an antiferromagnetic layer in which the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer is fixed by an exchange anisotropic magnetic field with the antiferromagnetic layer, and a non-magnetic conductive layer formed between the pinned magnetic layer and a free magnetic layer; bias layers for aligning the magnetization direction of the free magnetic layer in the direction substantially perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer; ferromagnetic layers formed in contact with the bias layers; and conductive layers for applying a sensing current to the free magnetic layer, wherein each of the ferromagnetic layers is divided into two sub-layers separated by a first non-magnetic intermediate layer, the sub-layers being in a ferrimagnetic state in which the magnetization direction of one sub-layer is 180 degrees different from the magnetization direction of the other sub-layer, and wherein the free magnetic layer is divided into two sub-layers separated by a second non-magnetic intermediate layer, the sub-layers being in a ferrimagnetic state in which the magnetization direction of one sub-layer is 180 degrees different from the magnetization direction of the other sub-layer, and wherein the bias layers comprise at least one material selected from the group consisting of α-Fe 2 O 3 and CoO, and wherein the antiferromagnetic layer comprises an alloy containing at least one element selected from the group of Pt, Pd, Rh, Fe, Ru, Ir, Os, Au, Ag, Cr, Ni, Ne, Ar, Xe and Kr, and Mn.