Magnetic Element with Coupled Side Shield
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsShaun Eric McKinlay, Liwen Tan, Eric Walter Singleton, Mohammed Shariat Ullah Patwari, Victor Boris Sapozhnikov
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Abstract
A magnetic element may be constructed in accordance with various embodiments as a data reader. The magnetic element can have at least a magnetic reader that contacts a top shield and is separated from a side shield on an air bearing surface (ABS). The side shield may be antiferromagnetically coupled to the top shield via a coupling layer disposed between the top and side shields.
Claims20
A magnetic element comprising a magnetic reader contacting a top shield and separated from a side shield on an air bearing surface (ABS), the top shield comprising first and second ferromagnetic layers separated by a first coupling layer that forms a first synthetic antiferromagnet, the side shield antiferromagnetically coupled to the top shield via a second coupling layer of the top shield that forms a second synthetic antiferromagnet with the second ferromagnetic layer, the first and second ferromagnetic layers having different thicknesses to provide different magnetic strengths for the first and second synthetic antiferromagnets.
A data reader comprising:
- a magnetic reader disposed between and separated from first and second side shields on an air bearing surface (ABS);
- and
- a top shield comprising first and second ferromagnetic layers separated by a first coupling layer that forms a first synthetic antiferromagnet, the top shield contacting the first and second side shields and the magnetic reader, each side shield forming a second synthetic antiferromagnetic structure by antiferromagnetically coupling to the top shield via a second coupling layer of the top shield, the first and second ferromagnetic layers having different thicknesses to provide different magnetic strengths for the first and second synthetic antiferromagnets.
The data reader of clam 12, wherein the second coupling layer comprises a transition metal that differs from the first coupling layer.
An apparatus comprising:
- a magnetic reader contacting a top shield and separated from a side shield on an air bearing surface (ABS);
- means for antiferromagnetically coupling the side shield to the top shield with a first magnetic strength;
- and
- means for antiferromagnetically coupling first and second ferromagnetic layers of the top shield with a second magnetic strength that differs from the first magnetic strength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.