Patent ID: 8077436

Claim:
A magnetoresistance effect element comprising: a magnetoresistive stack including: first, second and third magnetic layers whose magnetization directions change in accordance with an external magnetic field, said second magnetic layer being located between said first magnetic layer and the third magnetic layer; a first non-magnetic intermediate layer sandwiched between said first and second magnetic layers, said first non-magnetic intermediate layer allowing said first magnetic layer and said second magnetic layer to be exchange-coupled such that the magnetization directions thereof are anti-parallel to each other when no magnetic field is applied; and a second non-magnetic intermediate layer sandwiched between said second and third magnetic layers, said second non-magnetic intermediate layer producing a magnetoresistance effect between said second magnetic layer and said third magnetic layer; wherein sense current is adapted to flow in a direction perpendicular to a film plane; a bias magnetic layer provided on an opposite side of said magnetoresistive stack from an air bearing surface, said bias magnetic layer applying a bias magnetic field to said magnetoresistive stack in a direction perpendicular to the air bearing surface.