Magnetoresistance effect element, magnetic head and magnetic recording and/or reproducing system
US7046489B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 16, 2005 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 16, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/1114
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
There is provided a practical magnetoresistance effect element which has an appropriate value of resistance, which can be sensitized and which has a small number of magnetic layers to be controlled, and a magnetic head and magnetic recording and/or reproducing system using the same. In a magnetoresistance effect element wherein a sense current is caused to flow in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the film, a resistance regulating layer is provided in at least one of a pinned layer, a free layer and an non-magnetic intermediate layer. The resistance regulating layer contains, as a principal component, an oxide, a nitride, a fluoride, a carbide or a boride. The resistance regulating layer may be a continuous film or may have pin holes. Thus, it is possible to provide a practical magnetoresistance effect element which has an appropriate value of resistance, which can be sensitized and which has a small number of magnetic layers, while effectively utilizing the scattering effect depending on spin.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.