Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane structure magnetoresistive head
First Claim
1. A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane structure magnetoresistive element comprising:
- a free magnetic layer;
a pinned magnetic layer;
a non-magnetic intermediate layer interposed between the free and pinned magnetic layers, said non-magnetic intermediate layer including a plurality of electrically-conductive layers; and
an insulating material existing on a boundary defined between at least a pair of the electrically-conductive layers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) structure magnetoresistive element includes a spin valve film. A boundary is defined between electrically-conductive layers included in a non-magnetic intermediate layer in the spin valve film. A magnetic metallic material and an insulating material exist on the boundary. The insulating material serves to reduce the sectional area of the path for the sensing electric current. The CPP structure magnetoresistive element realizes a larger variation in the electric resistance in response to the rotation of the magnetization in the free magnetic layer. A sensing electric current of a smaller level is still employed to obtain a sufficient variation in the voltage. Accordingly, the CPP structure magnetoresistive element greatly contributes to a further improvement in the recording density and reduction in the electric consumption.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane structure magnetoresistive element comprising:
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a free magnetic layer;
a pinned magnetic layer;
a non-magnetic intermediate layer interposed between the free and pinned magnetic layers, said non-magnetic intermediate layer including a plurality of electrically-conductive layers; and
an insulating material existing on a boundary defined between at least a pair of the electrically-conductive layers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane structure magnetoresistive element comprising:
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a free magnetic layer;
a pinned magnetic layer;
a non-magnetic intermediate layer interposed between the free and pinned magnetic layers; and
an insulating material existing on a boundary defined on the non-magnetic intermediate layer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane structure magnetoresistive element comprising:
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a free magnetic layer;
a pinned magnetic layer;
an electrically-conductive non-magnetic intermediate layer interposed between the free and pinned magnetic layers; and
a magnetic metal existing on a boundary defined on the electrically-conductive non-magnetic intermediate layer. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification