Resettable symmetric spin valve

• US 5,748,399 A
• Filed: 05/13/1997
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gill, Hardayal Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Tupper, Robert S.
• Application Number:
  US08/855,141
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 360/113, 360/66, 324/252, 338/32 R
• US Class Current: 360/66
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 25/00 Nanomagnetism, e.g. magnetoimpedance, anisotropic magnetoresistance, giant magnetoresistance or tunneling magnetoresistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2005/3996 large or giant magnetoresistive effects [GMR], e.g. as generated in spin-valve [SV] devices
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3906 Details related to the use of magnetic thin film layers or to their effects

Abstract

A read sensor includes first and second symmetric spin valves with resettable magnetization directions. The first spin valve includes an antiferromagnetic layer, a ferromagnetic pinned layer, a non-magnetic conductor layer, then a ferromagnetic free layer. The ferromagnetic free layer is shared by the first and second spin valves. Upon the ferromagnetic free layer lies a non-magnetic conductor layer, then an inner ferromagnetic pinned layer and an outer ferromagnetic pinned layer sandwiching an exchange coupling layer. The exchange coupling layer exhibits sufficient exchange coupling with the sandwiching ferromagnetic pinned layers to pin these layers'"'"' magnetization directions in antiparallel directions. A second antiferromagnetic layer may be provided adjacent the second spin valve'"'"'s outer ferromagnetic pinned layer. Directing a current pulse of suitable duration and magnitude through the conductors heats the antiferromagnetic layers beyond their blocking temperatures, providing the antiferromagnetic layers with a magnetization direction in accordance with the pulse'"'"'s magnetic field. The newly established magnetization directions of the antiferromagnetic layers pins the first spin valve'"'"'s ferromagnetic pinned layer as well as the second spin valve'"'"'s outer ferromagnetic pinned layer. Furthermore, pinning of the second spin valve'"'"'s outer ferromagnetic pinned layer establishes the magnetization direction of the second spin valve'"'"'s inner ferromagnetic pinned layer due to the high exchange coupling between these two layers. Alternatively, the second antiferromagnetic layer may be omitted, with the second spin valve'"'"'s inner and outer ferromagnetic pinned layers having uneven thicknesses to facilitate biasing of these layers using an external magnetic field.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reading data, comprising:

a first antiferromagnetic layer having magnetic spin structure aligned in a first direction;

a first ferromagnetic pinned layer abutting the first antiferromagnetic layer and having a magnetization direction pinned parallel to the first direction by the first antiferromagnetic layer;

a first non-magnetic conductor layer abutting the first antiferromagnetic layer;

a ferromagnetic free layer abutting the first non-magnetic conductor layer;

a second non-magnetic conductor layer abutting the ferromagnetic free layer;

a second ferromagnetic pinned layer abutting the second non-magnetic conductor layer and having a magnetization direction pinned parallel to the first direction;

an exchange coupling layer abutting the second ferromagnetic layer; and

a third ferromagnetic pinned layer abutting the exchange coupling layer and having a magnetization direction pinned antiparallel to the first direction;

the exchange coupling layer exhibiting a predetermined level of exchange coupling with the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers sufficient to pin magnetization directions of the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers in antiparallel directions relative to each other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the first antiferromagnetic layer comprising NiO.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the ferromagnetic pinned layers each comprising Co.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the conductor layers each comprising Cu.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the ferromagnetic free layer comprising NiO.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the exchange coupling layer comprising Ru.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second antiferromagnetic layer abutting the third ferromagnetic pinned layer, the second antiferromagnetic layer having a magnetic spin structure aligned antiparallel to the first direction.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the second antiferromagnetic layer comprising FeMn.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, the second antiferromagnetic layer comprising NiO.

10. A magnetic storage system, comprising:

a magnetic storage medium having a plurality of tracks for recording data; and

a suspension assembly including;

a disk access arm mounted in a predetermined relationship to the magnetic storage medium, the arm having a distal end and a proximal end; and

a read head mounted to the arm proximate the distal end, said read head including a dual spin valve sensor that comprises;

a first antiferromagnetic layer having magnetic spin structure aligned in a first direction;

a first ferromagnetic pinned layer abutting the first antiferromagnetic layer and having a magnetization direction pinned parallel to the first direction by the first antiferromagnetic layer;

a first non-magnetic conductor layer abutting the first antiferromagnetic layer;

a ferromagnetic free layer abutting the first non-magnetic conductor layer;

a second non-magnetic conductor layer abutting the ferromagnetic free layer;

a second ferromagnetic pinned layer abutting the second non-magnetic conductor layer and having a magnetization direction pinned parallel to the first direction;

an exchange coupling layer abutting the second ferromagnetic layer;

a third ferromagnetic pinned layer abutting the exchange coupling layer and having a magnetization direction pinned antiparallel to the first direction; and

the exchange coupling layer exhibiting a predetermined level of exchange coupling with the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers sufficient to pin magnetization directions of the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers in antiparallel directions relative to each other.

11. The system of claim 10, the first antiferromagnetic layer comprising NiO.

12. The system of claim 10, the ferromagnetic pinned layers each comprising Co.

13. The system of claim 10, the conductor layers each comprising Cu.

14. The system of claim 10, the ferromagnetic free layer comprising NiO.

15. The system of claim 10, the exchange coupling layer comprising Ru.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a second antiferromagnetic layer abutting the third ferromagnetic pinned layer, the second antiferromagnetic layer having a magnetic spin structure aligned antiparallel to the first direction.

17. The system of claim 16, the second antiferromagnetic layer comprising FeMn.

18. The system of claim 16, the second antiferromagnetic layer comprising NiO.

19. The system of claim 10, the magnetic storage medium comprising a disk medium.

20. A method for biasing a dual spin valve sensor that comprises:

a first antiferromagnetic layer having a blocking temperature;

a first ferromagnetic pinned layer abutting the first antiferromagnetic layer;

a first non-magnetic conductor layer abutting the first antiferromagnetic layer;

a ferromagnetic free layer abutting the first non-magnetic conductor layer;

a second non-magnetic conductor layer abutting the ferromagnetic free layer;

a second ferromagnetic pinned layer abutting the second non-magnetic conductor layer;

an exchange coupling layer abutting the second ferromagnetic layer;

a third ferromagnetic pinned layer abutting the exchange coupling layer;

the exchange coupling layer exhibiting a predetermined level of exchange coupling between the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers sufficient to pin magnetization directions of the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers in relatively antiparallel directions;

a second antiferromagnetic layer abutting the third ferromagnetic pinned layer and having a blocking temperature;

said method comprising;

directing a current pulse through at least one of the conductors and the free layer in a first direction, the current pulse generating a predetermined level of heat in the sensor and also generating a magnetic field;

in response to the heat of the current pulse, the antiferromagnetic layers exceeding their blocking temperatures;

in response to the magnetic field of the current pulse;

orienting a magnetic spin structure of the first antiferromagnetic layer with a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;

orienting a magnetic spin structure of the second antiferromagnetic layer with a third direction antiparallel to the second direction;

in response to orienting of the magnetic spin structure of the first antiferromagnetic layer with the second direction, pinning the first ferromagnetic pinned layer with a magnetization direction parallel to the second direction;

in response to orienting of the magnetic spin structure of the second antiferromagnetic layer with the third direction, pinning the third ferromagnetic pinned layer with a magnetization direction parallel to the third direction; and

in response to pinning of the third ferromagnetic pinned layer with a magnetization direction parallel to the third direction, the exchange coupling layer pinning the second ferromagnetic pinned layer with a magnetization direction parallel to the second direction.

21. The method of claim 20, the current pulse having a duration of about 50-100 nanoseconds.

22. The method of claim 20, the current pulse having a magnitude of about 17-18 milliamperes.

23. The method of claim 20, the current pulse having a substantially rectangular shape.

24. A method for biasing a dual spin valve sensor that comprises:

an antiferromagnetic layer having a blocking temperature;

a first ferromagnetic pinned layer abutting the antiferromagnetic layer;

a first non-magnetic conductor layer abutting the antiferromagnetic layer;

a ferromagnetic free layer abutting the first non-magnetic conductor layer;

a second non-magnetic conductor layer abutting the ferromagnetic free layer;

a second ferromagnetic pinned layer abutting the second non-magnetic conductor layer;

an exchange coupling layer abutting the second ferromagnetic layer;

a third ferromagnetic pinned layer abutting the exchange coupling layer;

the exchange coupling layer exhibiting a predetermined level of exchange coupling between the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers sufficient to pin magnetization directions of the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers in relatively antiparallel directions;

wherein the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers have unequal thicknesses relative to each other;

said method comprising;

directing a current pulse through at least one of the conductors and the free layer in a first direction, the current pulse generating a predetermined level of heat in the sensor and also generating a magnetic field;

in response to the heat of the current pulse, the antiferromagnetic layer exceeding its blocking temperature;

in response to the magnetic field of the current pulse, orienting a magnetic spin structure of the first antiferromagnetic layer with a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;

in response to orienting of the magnetic spin structure of the first antiferromagnetic layer with the second direction, pinning the first ferromagnetic pinned layer with a magnetization direction parallel to the second direction;

applying an external magnetic field to the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers, the magnetic field being oriented in one of the following directions parallel to the second direction, or antiparallel to the second direction; and

in response to the external magnetic field, pinning magnetization directions of the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers in opposite directions to each other.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the pinning of magnetization directions of the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers comprises:

pinning a magnetization direction of a thicker one of the second and third ferromagnetic pinned layers in a direction parallel to the external magnetic field;

in response to pinning of the thicker ferromagnetic pinned layer, the exchange coupling layer pinning the thinner ferromagnetic pinned layer with a magnetization direction antiparallel to the external magnetic field.

26. The method of claim 25, the external magnetic field being oriented in the second direction, the second ferromagnetic pinned layer being thicker than the third ferromagnetic pinned layer.

27. The method of claim 25, the external magnetic field being oriented antiparallel to the second direction, the third ferromagnetic pinned layer being thicker than the second ferromagnetic pinned layer.

28. The method of claim 24, the current pulse having a duration of about 50-100 nanoseconds.

29. The method of claim 24, the current pulse having a magnitude of about 17-18 milliamperes.

30. The method of claim 24, the current pulse having a substantially rectangular shape.