Spin valve read head with antiferromagnetic oxide film as longitudinal bias layer and portion of first read gap

A magnetic read head that has an air bearing surface (ABS), a read region that has first and second sides that extend substantially perpendicular to the ABS, first and second end regions that are adjacent said first and second sides respectively and the read region and the first and second end regions being adjacent said ABS, the magnetic read head comprising:

• a read sensor located in the read region and having first and second side edges that define said first and second sides of the read region;
• said read sensor including:
• a ferromagnetic free layer and a ferromagnetic pinned layer;
• and
• an electrically conductive non-magnetic spacer layer sandwiched between the free and pinned layers;
• first and second lead layers located in the first and second end regions, each lead layer having a first side edge wherein the first side edge of the first lead layer is adjacent the first side edge of the read sensor and the first side edge of the second lead layer is adjacent the second side edge of the read sensor;
• first and second read gap layers wherein each read gap layer is located in the read region and the first and second end regions;
• first and second shield layers;
• the read sensor and the first and second read gap layers being sandwiched between the first and second shield layers;
• the first read gap layer comprising a bi-layer of an insulation film and an antiferromagnetic oxide film sandwiched between the first shield layer and the first lead layer in the first end region, sandwiched between the first shield layer and the read sensor in the read region, and sandwiched between the first shield layer and the second lead layer in the second end region;
• the free layer being located between the antiferromagnetic oxide film and the pinned layer;
• and
• the first and second lead layers exchange coupling to the antiferromagnetic oxide film and magnetostatically coupling to the read sensor.

A merged magnetic head that has a read head and a write head wherein each head forms a portion of an air bearing surface (ABS) comprising:

• said read head including:
• a read region that has first and second sides that extend substantially perpendicular to the ABS, first and second end regions that are adjacent said first and second sides respectively and the read region and the first and second end regions being adjacent said ABS;
• a read sensor located in the read region and having first and second side edges that define said first and second sides of the read region;
• said read sensor including:
• a ferromagnetic free layer and a ferromagnetic pinned layer;
• and
• an electrically conductive non-magnetic spacer layer sandwiched between the free and pinned layers;
• first and second lead layers located in the first and second end regions, each lead layer having a first side edge wherein the first side edge of the first lead layer is adjacent the first side edge of the read sensor and the first side edge of the second lead layer is adjacent the second side edge of the read sensor;
• first and second gap layers wherein each gap layer is located in the read region and the first and second end regions;
• ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• the read sensor and the first and second gap layers being sandwiched between the first and second shield layers;
• the first read gap layer comprising a bi-layer of an insulation film and an antiferromagnetic oxide film sandwiched between the first shield layer and the first lead layer in the first end region, sandwiched between the first shield layer and the read sensor in the read region, and sandwiched between the first shield layer and the second lead layer in the second end region;
• the free layer being located between the antiferromagnetic oxide film and the pinned layer;
• and
• the first and second lead layers exchange coupling to the antiferromagnetic oxide film and magnetostatically coupling to the read sensor;
• and said write head including:
• first and second pole piece layers wherein the first pole piece layer is a common layer with said second shield layer;
• a write gap layer;
• the first and second pole piece layers being separated by the write gap layer at the ABS and connected together at a back gap;
• an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein;
• and
• the insulation stack being sandwiched between the first and second pole piece layers and being located between the ABS and said back gap.

A magnetic disk drive that includes at least one merged magnetic head that has an air bearing surface (ABS), the disk drive comprising:

• the merged magnetic head having a read head portion that includes:
• a read region that has first and second sides that extend substantially perpendicular to the ABS, first and second end regions that are adjacent said first and second sides respectively and the read region and the first and second end regions being adjacent said ABS;
• a read sensor located in the read region and having first and second side edges that define said first and second sides of the read region;
• said read sensor including:
• a ferromagnetic free layer and a ferromagnetic pinned layer;
• an electrically conductive non-magnetic spacer layer sandwiched between the free and pinned layers;
• first and second lead layers located in the first and second end regions, each lead layer having a first side edge wherein the first side edge of the first lead layer is adjacent the first side edge of the read sensor and the first side edge of the second lead layer is adjacent the second side edge of the read sensor;
• first and second gap layers wherein each gap layer is located in the read region and the first and second end regions;
• ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• the read sensor and the first and second gap layers being sandwiched between the first and second shield layers;
• the first read gap layer comprising a bi-layer of an insulation film and an antiferromagnetic oxide film sandwiched between the first shield layer and the first lead layer in the first end region, sandwiched between the first shield layer and the read sensor in the read region and sandwiched between the first shield layer and the second lead layer in the second end region;
• the free layer being located between the antiferromagnetic oxide film and the pinned layer;
• and
• the first and second lead layers exchange coupling to the antiferromagnetic oxide film and magnetostatically coupling to the read sensor;
• and the merged magnetic head having a write head portion that includes:
• first and second pole piece layers wherein the first pole piece layer is a common layer with said second shield layer;
• a write gap layer;
• the first and second pole piece layers being separated by the write gap layer at the ABS and connected together at a back gap;
• an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein;
• and the insulation stack being sandwiched between the first and second pole piece layers and being located between the ABS and said back gap;
• a frame;
• a magnetic disk rotatably supported on the frame;
• a support mounted on the frame for supporting the merged magnetic head in a transducing relationship with the magnetic disk;
• means for rotating the magnetic disk;
• positioning means connected to the support for moving the merged magnetic head to multiple positions with respect to said magnetic disk;
• and
• means connected to the merged magnetic head, to the means for rotating the magnetic disk and to the positioning means, for exchanging signals with the merged magnetic head, for controlling movement of the magnetic disk and for controlling the position of the merged magnetic head.