Mr sensors having layer orientation control using sot current

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for an MR device having a ferromagnetic material, a heavy metal layer configured to flow a charge current, and an insulating layer between the ferromagnetic material and the heavy metal layer. The insulating layer is configured to electrically insulate and to magnetically couple the heavy metal layer and the ferromagnetic layer for generating a field like (FL) field in the ferromagnetic material in response to the charge current. In some embodiments, the MR device comprises a TMR device having a free layer or a reference layer oriented by the charge current. In other embodiments, the MR device comprises a GMR device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.