Giant magnetoresistive sensor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsDaniel G. Stearns, Stephen P. Vernon, Natale M. Ceglio, Andrew M. Hawryluk
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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.
Claims19
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.gtoreq.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.
A giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor, comprising:
- 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.gtoreq.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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.