Magneto-resistance effect element and sensor

A magneto-resistance effect element, comprising:

• a stack of layers comprising a pinned layer, a free layer, and an intermediate layer between the pinned layer and the free layer;
• the pinned layer having:
• a length direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction, the thickness direction being in a direction of stacking of the stack of layers, the length and width directions being perpendicular to each other and defining a plane that is orthogonal to the thickness direction;
• a fixed magnetization direction that is orthogonal to the thickness direction of the pinned layer and parallel to the length direction of the pinned layer;
• and
• a planar shape in the plane defined by the length and width directions of the pinned layer the planar shape being longer in the length direction than in the width direction of the pinned layer;
• and
• the free layer having:
• a length direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction, the thickness direction being in a direction of stacking of the stack of layers, the length and width directions being perpendicular to each other and defining a plane that is orthogonal to the thickness direction;
• a circular planar shape or an elliptical planar shape within the plane defined by the length and width directions of the free layer;
• and
• a magnetization direction which varies in response to an external magnetic field;
• wherein:
• the pinned layer is divided into a plurality of sections within the plane defined by the length and width directions of the pinned layer, each section being longer in the length direction than in the width direction of the pinned layer;
• an area between the sections of the pinned layer is filled with an insulating layer;
• and
• a total area of the free layer in the plane defined by the length and width directions of the free layer is larger than an area of the pinned layer in the plane defined by the length and width directions of the pinned layer.