The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 10, 2007
Filed:
Jul. 01, 2004
Takeo Kagami, Tokyo, JP;
Takumi Uesugi, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Miura, Tokyo, JP;
Norio Takahashi, Tokyo, JP;
Takeo Kagami, Tokyo, JP;
Takumi Uesugi, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Miura, Tokyo, JP;
Norio Takahashi, Tokyo, JP;
TDK Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A magneto-resistive device is provided for contributing to a higher MR ratio and a reduced cleaning time for cleaning the surface of a cap layer. In the magneto-resistive device, a cap layer which serves as a protection layer is formed on a free layer which is the topmost layer of a magneto-resistive layer constituting a TMR devise. An upper electrode which is additionally used as an upper magnetic shield is electrically connected to the free layer through an upper metal layer. The cap layer comprised of a two-layer film made up of a conductive layer closer to the free layer and a topmost conductive layer. The conductive layer closer to the free layer is made of a material having higher oxygen bond energy than Ru, such as Zr, Hf, or the like. The topmost conductive layer is made of a material having lower oxygen bond energy, such as a noble metal or the like.