Giant magnetoresistive sensor
First Claim
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1. A giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor, comprising:
- a sensor element formed of a plurality of alternating layers of a magnetic material and a nonmagnetic conducting material patterned in a three-dimensional microarchitecture with a length L and a width W and a total thickness B, wherein L≧
W>
B and W is between about 0.1 microns and about 5 microns, and wherein each magnetic layer is a single magnetic domain and the layers of nonmagnetic material have a thickness such that exchange coupling between adjacent magnetic layers is less than magnetostatic coupling;
means for flowing a current through the sensor element and for detecting resistance changes.
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Abstract
A magnetoresistive sensor element with a three-dimensional micro-architecture is capable of significantly improved sensitivity and highly localized measurement of magnetic fields. The sensor is formed of a multilayer film of alternately magnetic and nonmagnetic materials. The sensor is optimally operated in a current perpendicular to plane mode. The sensor is useful in magnetic read/write heads, for high density magnetic information storage and retrieval.
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19 Claims
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1. A giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor, comprising:
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a sensor element formed of a plurality of alternating layers of a magnetic material and a nonmagnetic conducting material patterned in a three-dimensional microarchitecture with a length L and a width W and a total thickness B, wherein L≧
W>
B and W is between about 0.1 microns and about 5 microns, and wherein each magnetic layer is a single magnetic domain and the layers of nonmagnetic material have a thickness such that exchange coupling between adjacent magnetic layers is less than magnetostatic coupling;means for flowing a current through the sensor element and for detecting resistance changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor, comprising:
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a sensor element formed of a plurality of alternating layers of a magnetic material and a nonmagnetic material patterned in a three-dimensional microarchitecture with a length L and a width W and a total thickness B, wherein L≧
W>
B and W is between about 0.1 microns and about 5 microns, and wherein each magnetic layer is a single magnetic domain and the layers of nonmagnetic material have a thickness such that exchange coupling between adjacent magnetic layers is less than magnetostatic coupling;conductive layers formed on a pair of opposed lateral faces of the sensor element for flowing a current through the sensor element in a current perpendicular to plane (CPP) mode and for detecting resistance changes. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification