Process for producing magnetoresistive transducers
First Claim
1. A process for producing a magnetoresistive transducer, comprising the steps of:
- stacking a magnetic metallic multilayer component on a first conductive layer to form a stack of layers and stacking said stack of layers on a substrate such that said first conductive layer contacts said substrate, said magnetic metallic multilayer component comprising alternating magnetic and non-magnetic metallic layers;
disposing a second conductive layer on the magnetic metallic multilayer component;
disposing a resin mask, having a dimension consistent with a magnetoresistive sensitive element to be produced as a feature of said magnetoresistive transducer, on a portion of said second conductive layer;
etching said second conductive layer and said magnetic metallic multilayer not covered by the resin mask so as to form respective exposed portions of said second conductive layer, said magnetic metallic multilayer component and said first conductive layer;
depositing, after performing said etching step, an insulation layer on the resin mask, and said respective exposed portions of said second conductive layer, magnetic metallic multilayer component and first conductive layer; and
removing the resin mask and a portion of the insulation layer that covers the resin mask so as to form an electrical contact portion on said second conductive layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process for producing magnetoresistive transducers, using microlithographic techniques, where the transducers have magnetic metallic multilayers deposited by sputtering or by molecular beam epitaxy, and forming columns whose side walls will be covered with an insulation and whose tops will be free of this insulation, such that a current is able to flow in the magnetoresistive transducers perpendicular to the plane of the layers so as to exploit a phenomenon of perpendicular giant magnetoresistance. This process includes a step of producing, on one surface of a substrate, a stack including a first conductive layer in contact with a substrate and successive magnetic layers and non-magnetic metallic layers constituting a magnetic metallic multilayer in contact with the conductive layer. The process also includes steps of producing a second conductive layer on the magnetic metallic multilayer, producing a first resin mask having the dimensions of a magnetoresistive sensitive element to be produced and etching, around the mask, the second conductive layer and the magnetic metallic multilayer. Subsequently, the process includes steps of depositing an insulation layer removing the resin mask with the insulation layer lying on the resin mask, and forming an electrical contact on the second conductive layer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for producing a magnetoresistive transducer, comprising the steps of:
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stacking a magnetic metallic multilayer component on a first conductive layer to form a stack of layers and stacking said stack of layers on a substrate such that said first conductive layer contacts said substrate, said magnetic metallic multilayer component comprising alternating magnetic and non-magnetic metallic layers; disposing a second conductive layer on the magnetic metallic multilayer component; disposing a resin mask, having a dimension consistent with a magnetoresistive sensitive element to be produced as a feature of said magnetoresistive transducer, on a portion of said second conductive layer; etching said second conductive layer and said magnetic metallic multilayer not covered by the resin mask so as to form respective exposed portions of said second conductive layer, said magnetic metallic multilayer component and said first conductive layer; depositing, after performing said etching step, an insulation layer on the resin mask, and said respective exposed portions of said second conductive layer, magnetic metallic multilayer component and first conductive layer; and removing the resin mask and a portion of the insulation layer that covers the resin mask so as to form an electrical contact portion on said second conductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification