Patent ID: 7974048

Claim:
A magneto-resistive effect device of a CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure, comprising a magneto-resistive effect unit, and a first shield layer and a second shield layer located and formed such that the magneto-resistive effect unit is sandwiched between them, with a sense current applied in a stacking direction, wherein said magneto-resistive effect unit comprises a non-magnetic intermediate layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked and formed such that said non-magnetic intermediate layer is interposed between them, said first shield layer and said second shield layer are controlled by magnetization direction control means in terms of magnetization direction, and said first ferromagnetic layer and said second ferromagnetic layer receive magnetic actions such that there is an antiparallel magnetization state created, in which mutual magnetizations are in opposite directions, under influences of magnetic actions of said first shield layer and said second shield layer.