Shaped spin valve type magnetoresistive transducer and method for fabricating the same incorporating domain stabilization technique
First Claim
1. A spin valve type magnetoresistive sensor incorporating active and pinned ferromagnetic layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer formed on a substrate, wherein the improvement in combination comprises:
- a pinning layer overlying said substrate, said pinning layer underlying said pinned ferromagnetic layer;
said spacer and active ferromagnetic layers comprising a mesa structure overlying said pinned ferromagnetic layer and having tapered opposing sides thereof; and
a separation layer overlying said pinned ferromagnetic layer and said tapered opposing sides of said mesa structure, said separation layer also overlying a predetermined portion of an upper surface of said active ferromagnetic layer adjoining said tapered opposing sides.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetoresistive transducer and method for manufacturing the same includes a spin valve structure comprising a pinned, bottom ferromagnetic layer and an active, top ferromagnetic layer separated by a thin nonmagnetic metal spacer layer. The active ferromagnetic layer and underlying spacer layer are formed into a mesa structure having tapered opposing sides to promote better surface planarization in a thin film fabrication process. A pair of permanent magnet layer portions may be deposited at the end portions of the spin valve structure in a generally coplanar relationship to promote domain stabilization but may also be separated therefrom by a relatively thin separation layer. The magnetic read track width of the device can be accurately and reproducibly determined by photolithographically defining the spacing between the permanent magnet layer portions overlying the active ferromagnetic layer.
130 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A spin valve type magnetoresistive sensor incorporating active and pinned ferromagnetic layers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer formed on a substrate, wherein the improvement in combination comprises:
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a pinning layer overlying said substrate, said pinning layer underlying said pinned ferromagnetic layer; said spacer and active ferromagnetic layers comprising a mesa structure overlying said pinned ferromagnetic layer and having tapered opposing sides thereof; and a separation layer overlying said pinned ferromagnetic layer and said tapered opposing sides of said mesa structure, said separation layer also overlying a predetermined portion of an upper surface of said active ferromagnetic layer adjoining said tapered opposing sides. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A magnetoresistive device comprising:
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a substrate; a pinning layer overlying said substrate; a first ferromagnetic layer overlying said pinning layer; a spacer layer overlying a first selected portion of said first ferromagnetic layer, said spacer layer presenting a first mesa structure having tapered opposing first and second sides thereof; a second ferromagnetic layer overlying said first mesa structure of said spacer layer, said second ferromagnetic layer presenting a second mesa structure having tapered opposing first and second sides thereof; first and second separation layer portions overlying said first ferromagnetic layer and said first and second mesa structures at said first and second sides thereof, said first and second separation layer portions also overlying a preselected portion of an upper surface of said second ferromagnetic layer adjoining said first and second sides thereof; first and second permanent magnet layer portions overlying said first and second separation layer portions; first and second conductor layer portions overlying a selected portion of said first and second permanent magnet layer portions respectively; and a capping layer overlying said first and second conductor layer portions, said first and second permanent magnet layer portions and said upper surface of said second mesa not overlain by said permanent magnet layer portions. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification