US 12,374,356 B1 · Pinned shield with controllable exchange bias field

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a two-dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) read head. The TDMR read head comprises a first sensor, a second sensor, and a middle shield (MS) disposed between the first and second sensors. The MS comprises a seed layer, an IrMn layer disposed on the seed layer, an insertion layer comprising Ru or CoFe disposed on the IrMn layer, a first NiFe layer having a pinned magnetization, and a cap layer disposed over the first NiFe layer. In one embodiment, the MS further comprises an Ru layer disposed on the first NiFe layer and a second NiFe layer disposed on the Ru layer, the second NiFe layer having a pinned magnetization in a direction antiparallel to the first NiFe layer. The insertion layer comprising Ru decreases an exchange energy of the MS. The insertion layer comprising CoFe increases an exchange energy of the MS.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A two dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) read head, comprising:

a first read sensor comprising a first lower shield, the first lower shield comprising:
a first seed layer;
an IrMn layer disposed on the first seed layer;
a first insertion layer disposed on the IrMn layer, the first insertion layer comprising Ru or CoFe;
and
a first NiFe layer disposed on the first insertion layer, the first NiFe layer having a pinned magnetization in a first direction;
and
a second read sensor disposed over the first read sensor;
and
a middle shield disposed between the first read sensor and the second read sensor, the middle shield comprising:
a second seed layer;
an antiferromagnetic layer disposed on the second seed layer, the antiferromagnetic layer comprising IrMn, PtMn, NiMn, FeMn, IrMnCr, or combinations thereof;
a second insertion layer disposed on the antiferromagnetic layer, the second insertion layer comprising Ru or CoFe;
and
a ferromagnetic layer disposed on the second insertion layer, the ferromagnetic layer comprising NiFe or NiCoFe.

12 more elements

A two dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) read head, comprising:

a first lower shield;
a first dual free layer (DFL) read sensor disposed over the first lower shield;
a first upper shield disposed over the first DFL read sensor;
a middle shield disposed over the first upper shield, the middle shield comprising:
a seed layer comprising Ta and Ru;
an IrMn layer disposed on the seed layer;
an insertion layer disposed on the IrMn layer, the insertion layer comprising Ru or CoFe;
a first NiFe layer disposed on the insertion layer, the first NiFe layer having a pinned magnetization in a first direction;
a Ru, Rh, or Ir layer disposed on the first NiFe layer;
a second NiFe layer disposed on the Ru, Rh, or Ir layer, the second NiFe layer having a pinned magnetization in a second direction antiparallel to the first direction;
and
a cap layer disposed over the second NiFe layer;
a second DFL read sensor disposed over the middle shield;
and
a second upper shield disposed over the second DFL read sensor.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pinned shield with controllable exchange bias field

Life of this patent

Pinned shield with controllable exchange bias field

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20