MAGNETIC READ HEAD WITH REDUCED SHUNTING
First Claim
1. A method for manufacturing a magnetic read head, the method comprising:
- providing the magnetic read head comprising a pinning layer disposed over a substrate of the magnetic read head, a pinned layer disposed over the pinning layer, a reference layer disposed over the pinned layer, a tunneling barrier layer disposed over the reference layer, and a free layer disposed over the tunneling barrier layer, wherein the free layer is in contact with the tunneling barrier layer;
milling partially through the free layer from a back surface opposite an air bearing surface of the magnetic read head, thereby creating an exposed face of the free layer which is coplanar with the substrate;
oxidizing a portion of the free layer between the exposed face and the tunneling barrier layer; and
milling through the free layer, tunneling barrier layer, reference layer, pinned layer, and pinning layer along lateral sides of the magnetic read head, wherein the lateral sides are perpendicular with respect to the back surface and wherein the lateral sides of the magnetic read head do not have a face of the free layer coplanar with the substrate which is oxidized.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic read head and a method for manufacturing a magnetic read head are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing the magnetic read head comprising a pinning layer disposed over a substrate of the magnetic read head, a pinned layer, a reference layer, a tunneling barrier layer, and a free layer, wherein the free layer is in contact with the tunneling barrier layer. The method further includes milling partially through the free layer from a back surface, thereby creating an exposed face of the free layer which is coplanar with the substrate and oxidizing a portion of the free layer between the exposed face and the tunneling barrier layer. The method further includes milling through the free layer, tunneling barrier layer, reference layer, pinned layer, and pinning layer along lateral sides of the magnetic read head.
25 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing a magnetic read head, the method comprising:
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providing the magnetic read head comprising a pinning layer disposed over a substrate of the magnetic read head, a pinned layer disposed over the pinning layer, a reference layer disposed over the pinned layer, a tunneling barrier layer disposed over the reference layer, and a free layer disposed over the tunneling barrier layer, wherein the free layer is in contact with the tunneling barrier layer; milling partially through the free layer from a back surface opposite an air bearing surface of the magnetic read head, thereby creating an exposed face of the free layer which is coplanar with the substrate; oxidizing a portion of the free layer between the exposed face and the tunneling barrier layer; and milling through the free layer, tunneling barrier layer, reference layer, pinned layer, and pinning layer along lateral sides of the magnetic read head, wherein the lateral sides are perpendicular with respect to the back surface and wherein the lateral sides of the magnetic read head do not have a face of the free layer coplanar with the substrate which is oxidized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A magnetic read head, comprising:
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a substrate; a pinning layer deposited over the substrate; a pinned layer deposited over the pinning layer; a reference layer deposited over the pinned layer; a tunneling barrier layer deposited over the reference layer; a free layer deposited over the tunneling barrier layer, wherein the free layer is in contact with the tunneling barrier layer; a back surface opposite an air bearing surface of the magnetic read head, wherein the back surface has been milled from a top side of the magnetic read head opposite the substrate partially through the free layer, thereby creating an exposed face of the free layer which is coplanar with the substrate; a portion of the free layer between the exposed face and the tunneling barrier layer which is oxidized; and lateral sides of the read head which are perpendicular with respect to the back surface, wherein the free layer, tunneling barrier layer, reference layer, pinned layer, and pinning layer have been milled along the lateral sides of the magnetic read head, and wherein the lateral sides of the magnetic read head do not have a face of the free layer coplanar with the substrate which is oxidized. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A hard drive, comprising:
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a magnetic disk; an arm rotatably mounted to move over the magnetic disk; and a magnetic read head connected to an end of the arm comprising; a substrate; a pinning layer deposited over the substrate; a pinned layer deposited over the pinning layer; a reference layer deposited over the pinned layer; a tunneling barrier layer deposited over the reference layer; a free layer deposited over the tunneling barrier layer, wherein the free layer is in contact with the tunneling barrier layer; a back surface opposite an air bearing surface of the magnetic read head, wherein the air bearing surface of the magnetic read head faces the magnetic disk, wherein the back surface has been milled from a top side of the magnetic read head opposite the substrate partially through the free layer, thereby creating an exposed face of the free layer which is coplanar with the substrate; a portion of the free layer between the exposed face and the tunneling barrier layer which is oxidized; and lateral sides of the read head which are perpendicular with respect to the back surface, wherein the free layer, tunneling barrier layer, reference layer, pinned layer, and pinning layer have been milled along the lateral sides of the magnetic read head, and wherein the lateral sides of the magnetic read head do not have a face of the free layer coplanar with the substrate which is oxidized. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification