Magneto-resistive device, and magnetic head and head suspension assembly using same

摘要

An upper metal layer made of a non-magnetic metal is formed as a protection layer on the top surface of a free layer positioned topmost of a magneto-resistive layer constituting a TMR device. An upper electrode, serving additionally as an upper magnetic shield layer, is electrically connected to the free layer through an underlying layer of the upper electrode, and the upper metal layer. The thickness of the upper metal layer is chosen to be 10 nm or more.