US Patent 7369375 Magneto-resistance effect element and magneto-resistance effect head

A magneto-resistance effect head is provided with a lower conductive layer which is provided with a recessed portion, and a vertical bias layer is provided in the recessed portion. A first magnetic layer is provided on the lower conductive layer. On the first magnetic layer, layered in the following order are the non-magnetic layer, the fixed layer, the fixing layer, and the upper layer so as not to be placed immediately above the vertical bias layer. The non-magnetic layer, the fixed layer, the fixing layer, and the upper layer are buried in an insulation layer. Furthermore, an upper conductive layer is provided on the upper layer and the insulation layer. In the direction of the magnetic field applied by the vertical bias layer, the free layer is made greater in length than the fixed layer and the free layer is disposed in proximity to the vertical bias layer with the distance between the fixed layer and the vertical bias layer remaining unchanged.