Patent · US Expired

Magnetoresistance effect multilayer film with ferromagnetic film sublayers of different ferromagnetic material compositions

US6011674A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
14References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 2, 1996
Grant dateJan 4, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 2, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49155
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The magnetoresistance effect element is of a multilayered structure having at least magnetic layers and an intermediate layer of an insulating material, a semiconductor or an antiferromagnetic material against the magnetic layers, and the magnetoresistance effect element has terminals formed at least on the opposite magnetic layers, respectively, so that a current flows in the intermediate layer. The film surfaces of all the magnetic layers constituting the magnetoresistance effect element are opposed substantially at right angles to the recording surface of a magnetic recording medium. Therefore, the area of the magnetic layers facing the recording surface of the magnetic recording medium can be extremely reduced, and thus the magnetic field from a very narrow region of the high-denisity recorded magnetic recording medium can be detected by the current which has a tunneling characteristic and passes through the intermediate layer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.