Patent ID: 7894246

Claim:
A magnetoresistive element comprising: a magnetization free layer having a first plane and a second plane located on the opposite side from the first plane, and having a variable magnetization direction; a magnetization pinned layer provided on the first plane side of the magnetization free layer, and having a pinned magnetization direction; a first tunnel barrier layer provided between the magnetization free layer and the magnetization pinned layer; a second tunnel barrier layer provided on the second plane of the magnetization free layer; and a non-magnetic layer provided on a plane on the opposite side of the second tunnel barrier layer from the magnetization free layer, the magnetization direction of the magnetization free layer being variable by applying current between the magnetization pinned layer and the non-magnetic layer, a resistance ratio between the first tunnel barrier layer and the second tunnel barrier layer being in a range of 1:0.25 to 1:4, wherein the magnetization free layer includes a first soft magnetic layer provided on a side of the first tunnel barrier layer, and a second soft magnetic layer provided on a side of the second tunnel barrier layer, the second soft magnetic layer having a smaller film plane area than the first soft magnetic layer.