Appeal No. 95-1626
Application 07/804,013
attached to the MR element or as one of the layers thereof.
Either way, a bias field can be applied to the multilayer MR
element. In addition, we note that the bias field is applied
by a permanent magnet in claim 1. The bias field is applied
by a current flowing in the nonferromagnetic metal layer in
claim 3. It does not matter how the current was generated for
claim definiteness. Claim 5 specifically recites a means for
applying a bias field. Thus, the scope of the claims is not
rendered indefinite by the recitation of a bias field or of a
current.
B) The examiner questions whether an external magnetic
field is required in claims 4 and 5. With respect to claim 4,
we agree with appellants that it simply recites the
relationship between hard axis direction of a multilayer film
and an external magnetic field to be detected by the MR
element. With respect to claim 5, the specification makes it
clear that the bias field changes the characteristics of the
MR element such as by attaching a permanent magnet thereto,
whereas the magnetic field to be detected refers to an
externally applied magnetic field. The scope of these claims
is clear when they are read in light of the specification.
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