Magnetoresistive read/write head with high-performance gap layers
AssigneeRead-Rite Corporation
InventorJames R. Wiitala
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Abstract
High-performance amagnetic gap layers for electromagnetic transducers are thermally conductive and electrically insulative, as well as providing a dense amorphous surface for forming magnet resistive sensor elements. The amagnetic gap layers include nonmonocrystalline compounds of AIN, SiC, SiO2, Si3N4, BeO and Ta2O3. The layers provide greatly increased thermal conductivity and breakdown voltage as compared with alumina, and are particularly suited for giant magnetoresistive and spin-valve heads.
Claims17
An electromagnetic transducer comprising:
- a magnetoresistive sensor disposed adjacent to a substrate, connected to a pair of sense conductors and having an opposed pair of major surfaces,
- a magnetically permeable layer disposed between one of said major surfaces and said substrate, and
- a thermally-conductive, electrically-insulative, amorphous and substantially hydrogen-free amagnetic layer disposed between said magnetoresistive sensor and said magnetically permeable layer and adjoining said one major surface, said amagnetic layer conducting heat but not electricity from said magnetoresistive sensor to said magnetically permeable layer.
A head for reading or writing information on an associated medium, the head comprising:
- a strata of adjoined solid layers formed on a substrate, including a magnetoresistive sensor and a magnetically permeable shield layer disposed between said magnetoresistive sensor and said substrate, said strata including a plurality of electrically-conductive layers, a plurality of magnetic layers and a plurality of electrically-insulative, amagnetic layers, wherein one of said amagnetic layers is disposed between said sensor and said shield layer, adjoins said sensor, has an amorphous, substantially hydrogen-free structure, and includes a compound selected from a group of compounds including AlN, SiC, Si3N4, BeO and Ta2O5.
A head for an electromagnetic storage system, the head comprising:
- a substrate, and
- an electromagnetic transducer made on said substrate of a plurality of thin films including magnetic, electrically-conductive layers adjoining amagnetic, electrically-insulative, nonmonocrystalline layers, said transducer including a magnetoresistive sensor separated from said substrate by a magnetically permeable shield layer, wherein at least one of said amagnetic layers is composed of a compound selected from the group consisting essentially of AlN, SiC, Si3N4, BeO and Ta2O5.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.