Method for providing a magnetic recording transducer
First Claim
1. A method for fabricating a magnetic recording transducer comprising:
- providing a pinned layer of a magnetic element;
providing a portion of a tunneling barrier layer for the magnetic element;
annealing a part of the magnetic recording transducer that includes the pinned layer and the portion of the tunneling barrier layer after the portion of the tunneling barrier layer is provided at an annealing temperature higher than a room temperature;
providing a remaining portion of the tunneling barrier layer, the remaining portion being provided after the annealing of the part of the magnetic recording transducer; and
providing a free layer for the magnetic element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for providing a magnetic recording transducer is described. The method includes providing a pinned layer for a magnetic element. In one aspect, a portion of a tunneling barrier layer for the magnetic element is provided. The magnetic recording transducer annealed is after the portion of the tunneling barrier layer is provided. The annealing is at a temperature higher than room temperature. A remaining portion of the tunneling barrier layer is provided after the annealing. In another aspect, the magnetic transducer is transferred to a high vacuum annealing apparatus before annealing the magnetic transducer. In this aspect, the magnetic transducer may be annealed before any portion of the tunneling barrier is provided or after at least a portion of the tunneling barrier is provided. The annealing is performed in the high vacuum annealing apparatus. A free layer for the magnetic element is also provided.
173 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for fabricating a magnetic recording transducer comprising:
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providing a pinned layer of a magnetic element; providing a portion of a tunneling barrier layer for the magnetic element; annealing a part of the magnetic recording transducer that includes the pinned layer and the portion of the tunneling barrier layer after the portion of the tunneling barrier layer is provided at an annealing temperature higher than a room temperature; providing a remaining portion of the tunneling barrier layer, the remaining portion being provided after the annealing of the part of the magnetic recording transducer; and providing a free layer for the magnetic element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for fabricating a magnetic recording transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) comprising:
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providing a pinned layer of a magnetic element; providing a portion of a tunneling barrier layer of the magnetic element, the tunneling barrier layer a total thickness upon completion, the portion of the tunneling barrier layer being at least twenty percent and less than one hundred percent of the total thickness; transferring a part of the magnetic recording transducer that includes the pinned layer and the portion of the tunneling barrier layer to a high vacuum annealing apparatus; annealing the part of the magnetic recording transducer that includes the pinned layer and the portion of the tunneling barrier layer in the high vacuum annealing apparatus after the portion of the tunneling barrier layer is provided at an annealing temperature of at least one hundred degrees centigrade and not more than two hundred degrees centigrade, the high vacuum annealing apparatus having a pressure of not more than 5×
10˜
8 Torr during the anneal;providing a remaining portion of the tunneling barrier layer after the annealing of the part of the magnetic recording transducer; and providing a free layer of the magnetic element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification