Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane structure magnetoresistive element having sufficient sensitivity

A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane structure magnetoresistive element comprising:

• a magnetoresistive film defining a front end at a medium-opposed surface of a head slider, said magnetoresistive film extending rearward from the front end along a predetermined datum plane intersecting the medium-opposed surface of the head slider;
• an upper electrode layer extending rearward along an upper boundary of the magnetoresistive film from a front end exposed at the medium-opposed surface of the head slider;
• a lower electrode allowing at least a tip end to contact a lower boundary of the magnetoresistive film, said tip end exposed at the medium-opposed surface of the head slider, wherein
• said upper electrode layer includes:
• a low resistance region extending rearward along the upper boundary from a front end exposed at the medium-opposed surface of the head slider;
• and
• a high resistance region extending rearward along the upper boundary from the rear end of the low resistance region, said high resistance region having a resistivity higher than that of the low resistance region.

A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane structure magnetoresistive element comprising:

• a magnetoresistive film defining a front end at a medium-opposed surface of a head slider, said magnetoresistive film extending rearward from the front end along a predetermined datum plane intersecting the medium-opposed surface of the head slider;
• an electrode allowing a tip end to contact a boundary of the magnetoresistive film, said tip end exposed at the medium-opposed surface;
• and
• a high resistance layer extending rearward along the boundary from a tip end retreating from the medium-opposed surface, said high resistance layer having a resistivity higher than that of the electrode.

A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane structure magnetoresistive element comprising:

• a magnetoresistive film defining a front end at a medium-opposed surface of a head slider, said magnetoresistive film extending rearward from the front end along a predetermined datum plane intersecting the medium-opposed surface of the head slider;
• an upper electrode allowing a tip end to contact an upper boundary of the magnetoresistive element, said tip end exposed at the medium-opposed surface of the head slider;
• a high resistance layer extending rearward along the upper boundary from a tip end retreating from the medium-opposed surface, said high resistance layer having a resistivity higher at least than that of the upper electrode;
• and
• a lower electrode allowing at least a tip end to contact a lower boundary of the magnetoresistive film, said tip end exposed at the medium-opposed surface of the head slider.