Spin valve sensor having a pinned layer structure composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV)

A magnetic read head comprising:

• a spin valve sensor including:
• a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer located between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure;
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
• the pinned layer structure being composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV);
• the pinned layer structure being a single pinned layer;
• the single pinned layer including first and second films wherein the first film is composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV) and the second film is composed of cobalt (Co) or cobalt iron (CoFe);
• and
• the second film interfacing the spacer layer and having a percentage of cobalt (Co) that is greater than a percentage of cobalt (Co) in the first film.

A magnetic head assembly comprising:

• a write head including:
• ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers that have a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
• a nonmagnetic write gap layer located between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein located between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• and the first and second pole piece layers being connected at their back gap portions;
• and
• a read head including:
• nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• a spin valve sensor located between the first and second read gap layers;
• ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• and
• the first and second read gap layers being located between the first and second shield layers with the first read gap layer interfacing the first shield layer and the second read gap layer interfacing the second shield layer;
• the spin valve sensor including:
• a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer located between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure;
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
• and
• the pinned layer structure being composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV).

A magnetic head assembly comprising:

• a write head including:
• ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers that have a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
• a nonmagnetic write gap layer located between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein located between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• and
• the first and second pole piece layers being connected at their back gap portions;
• and
• a read head including:
• nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• a spin valve sensor located between the first and second read gap layers;
• ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• and
• the first and second read gap layers being located between the first and second shield layers with the first read gap layer interfacing the first shield layer and the second read gap layer interfacing the second shield layer;
• the spin valve sensor including:
• a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer located between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure;
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
• the pinned layer structure being composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV);
• the pinned layer structure being an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure that includes:
• ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers with the first AP pinned layer interfacing the pinning layer and the second AP pinned layer interfacing the spacer layer;
• and
• an antiparallel (AP) coupling layer located between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers.

A magnetic head assembly comprising:

• a write head including:
• ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers that have a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
• a nonmagnetic write gap layer located between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein located between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• and
• the first and second pole piece layers being connected at their back gap portions;
• and
• a read head including:
• nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• a spin valve sensor located between the first and second read gap layers;
• ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• and
• the first and second read gap layers being located between the first and second shield layers with the first read gap layer interfacing the first shield layer and the second read gap layer interfacing the second shield layer;
• the spin valve sensor including:
• a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer located between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure;
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
• the pinned layer structure being composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV);
• the pinned layer structure being a single pinned layer;
• the single pinned layer including first and second films wherein the first film is composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV) and the second film is composed of cobalt (Co) or cobalt iron (CoFe);
• and
• the second film interfacing the spacer layer and having a percentage of cobalt (Co) that is greater than a percentage of cobalt (Co) in the first film.

A magnetic disk drive including at least one magnetic head assembly that includes a write head and a read head, the read head including a spin valve sensor, comprising:

• the write head including:
• ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers that have a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
• a nonmagnetic write gap layer located between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein located between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• and
• the first and second pole piece layers being connected at their back gap portions;
• and
• the read head including:
• nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• a spin valve sensor located between the first and second read gap layers;
• ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• the first and second read gap layers being located between the first and second shield layers with the first read gap layer interfacing the first shield layer and the second read gap layer interfacing the second shield layer;
• the spin valve sensor including:
• a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer located between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure;
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
• and
• the pinned layer structure being composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV);
• a housing;
• a magnetic disk rotatably supported in the housing;
• a support mounted in the housing for supporting the magnetic head assembly with said ABS facing the magnetic disk so that the magnetic head assembly is in a transducing relationship with the magnetic disk;
• a spindle motor for rotating the magnetic disk;
• an actuator positioning means connected to the support for moving the magnetic head to multiple positions with respect to said magnetic disk;
• and
• a processor connected to the magnetic head, to the spindle motor and to the actuator for exchanging signals with the magnetic head, for controlling movement of the magnetic disk and for controlling the position of the magnetic head.

A magnetic disk drive including at least one magnetic head assembly that includes a write head and a read head, the read head including a spin valve sensor, comprising:

• the write head including:
• ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers that have a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
• a nonmagnetic write gap layer located between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein located between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• and
• the first and second pole piece layers being connected at their back gap portions;
• and
• the read head including:
• nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• a spin valve sensor located between the first and second read gap layers;
• ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• the first and second read gap layers being located between the first and second shield layers with the first read gap layer interfacing the first shield layer and the second read gap layer interfacing the second shield layer;
• the spin valve sensor including:
• a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer located between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure;
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
• the pinned layer structure being composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV);
• the pinned layer structure being an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure that includes:
• ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers with the first AP pinned layer interfacing the pinning layer and the second AP pinned layer interfacing the spacer layer;
• and
• an antiparallel (AP) coupling layer located between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers;
• a housing;
• a magnetic disk rotatably supported in the housing;
• a support mounted in the housing for supporting the magnetic head assembly with said ABS facing the magnetic disk so that the magnetic head assembly is in a transducing relationship with the magnetic disk;
• a spindle motor for rotating the magnetic disk;
• an actuator positioning means connected to the support for moving the magnetic head to multiple positions with respect to said magnetic disk;
• and
• a processor connected to the magnetic head, to the spindle motor and to the actuator for exchanging signals with the magnetic head, for controlling movement of the magnetic disk and for controlling the position of the magnetic head.

A magnetic disk drive including at least one magnetic head assembly that includes a write head and a read head, the read head including a spin valve sensor, comprising:

• the write head including:
• ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers that have a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
• a nonmagnetic write gap layer located between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein located between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• and
• the first and second pole piece layers being connected at their back gap portions;
• and
• the read head including:
• nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• a spin valve sensor located between the first and second read gap layers;
• ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• the first and second read gap layers being located between the first and second shield layers with the first read gap layer interfacing the first shield layer and the second read gap layer interfacing the second shield layer;
• the spin valve sensor including:
• a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer located between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure;
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
• the pinned layer structure being composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV);
• the pinned layer structure being a single pinned layer;
• the single pinned layer including first and second films wherein the first film is composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV) and the second film is composed of cobalt (Co) or cobalt iron (CoFe);
• and
• the second film interfacing the spacer layer and having a percentage of cobalt (Co) that is greater than a percentage of cobalt (Co) in the first film;
• a housing;
• a magnetic disk rotatably supported in the housing;
• a support mounted in the housing for supporting the magnetic head assembly with said ABS facing the magnetic disk so that the magnetic head assembly is in a transducing relationship with the magnetic disk;
• a spindle motor for rotating the magnetic disk;
• an actuator positioning means connected to the support for moving the magnetic head to multiple positions with respect to said magnetic disk;
• and
• a processor connected to the magnetic head, to the spindle motor and to the actuator for exchanging signals with the magnetic head, for controlling movement of the magnetic disk and for controlling the position of the magnetic head.

A method of making a magnetic read head comprising the steps of:

• making a spin valve sensor as follows:
• forming a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
• forming a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment;
• forming a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure;
• forming an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
• forming the pinned layer structure of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV);
• the pinned layer structure being an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure that is formed comprising the steps of:
• forming ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers with the first AP pinned layer interfacing the first pinning layer and the second AP pinned layer interfacing the spacer layer;
• and
• forming an antiparallel (AP) coupling layer between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers;
• forming nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• forming the spin valve sensor between the first and second read gap layers;
• forming ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• and
• forming the first and second read gap layers between the first and second shield layers with the first read gap layer interfacing the first shield layer and the second read gap layer interfacing the second shield layer.

A method of making a magnetic read head comprising the steps of:

• making a spin valve sensor as follows:
• forming a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
• forming a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment;
• forming a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure;
• forming an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
• forming the pinned layer structure of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV);
• forming the pinned layer structure as a single pinned layer;
• forming the single pinned layer with first and second films wherein the first film is composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV) and the second film is composed of cobalt (Co) or cobalt iron (CoFe);
• and
• forming the second film interfacing the spacer layer and with a percentage of cobalt (Co) that is greater than a percentage of cobalt (Co) in the first film;
• forming nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• forming the spin valve sensor between the first and second read gap layers;
• forming ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• and
• forming the first and second read gap layers between the first and second shield layers with the first read gap layer interfacing the first shield layer and the second read gap layer interfacing the second shield layer.

A method of making a magnetic head assembly comprising the steps of:

• making a write head as follows:
• forming ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers that have a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
• forming a nonmagnetic write gap layer between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• forming an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• and
• connecting the first and second pole piece layers at their back gap portions;
• and
• making a read head as follows:
• forming nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• forming a spin valve sensor between the first and second read gap layers;
• forming ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• and
• forming the first and second read gap layers between the first and second shield layers with the first read gap layer interfacing the first shield layer and the second read gap layer interfacing the second shield layer;
• making the spin valve sensor as follows:
• forming a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
• forming a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment;
• forming a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure;
• forming an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
• and
• forming the pinned layer structure of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV).

A method of making a magnetic head assembly comprising the steps of:

• making a write head as follows:
• forming ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers that have a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
• forming a nonmagnetic write gap layer between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• forming an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• and
• connecting the first and second pole piece layers at their back gap portions;
• and
• making a read head as follows:
• forming nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• forming a spin valve sensor between the first and second read gap layers;
• forming ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• and
• forming the first and second read gap layers between the first and second shield layers with the first read gap layer interfacing the first shield layer and the second read gap layer interfacing the second shield layer;
• making the spin valve sensor as follows:
• forming a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
• forming a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment;
• forming a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure;
• forming an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
• forming the pinned layer structure of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV);
• the pinned layer structure being an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure that is formed comprising the steps of:
• forming ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers with the first AP pinned layer interfacing the first pinning layer and the second AP pinned layer interfacing the spacer layer;
• and
• forming an antiparallel (AP) coupling layer between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers.

A method of making a magnetic head assembly comprising the steps of:

• making a write head as follows:
• forming ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers that have a yoke portion located between a pole tip portion and a back gap portion;
• forming a nonmagnetic write gap layer between the pole tip portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• forming an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein between the yoke portions of the first and second pole piece layers;
• and
• connecting the first and second pole piece layers at their back gap portions;
• and
• making a read head as follows:
• forming nonmagnetic nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• forming a spin valve sensor between the first and second read gap layers;
• forming ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• and
• forming the first and second read gap layers between the first and second shield layers with the first read gap layer interfacing the first shield layer and the second read gap layer interfacing the second shield layer;
• making the spin valve sensor as follows:
• forming a free layer structure that has a magnetic moment;
• forming a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a net magnetic moment;
• forming a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure;
• forming an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the net magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure;
• forming the pinned layer structure of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV);
• forming the pinned layer structure as a single pinned layer;
• forming the single pinned layer with first and second films wherein the first film is composed of cobalt iron vanadium (CoFeV) and the second film is composed of cobalt (Co) or cobalt iron (CoFe);
• and
• forming the second film interfacing the spacer layer and with a percentage of cobalt (Co) that is greater than a percentage of cobalt (Co) in the first film.