Low temperature yoke type tunnel valve sensor

A magnetic head assembly which has an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising:

• a read head including:
• a tunnel valve sensor recessed from the ABS and having top and bottom surfaces;
• ferromagnetic first and second yoke layers;
• a first copper structure interfacing the bottom surface of the tunnel valve sensor;
• a second copper structure interfacing the top surface of the tunnel valve sensor and the second yoke layer;
• a substrate;
• the first copper structure also interfacing the substrate;
• the first yoke layer having first and second yoke layer portions with a space therebetween;
• the tunnel valve sensor being located in said space between the first and second yoke layer portions of the first yoke layer;
• and
• the second copper structure also interfacing each of the first and second yoke layer portions of the first yoke layer.

A magnetic disk drive including at least one magnetic head assembly that has a write head, a read head and an air bearing surface (ABS) 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;
• the read head including:
• a tunnel valve sensor recessed from the ABS and having top and bottom surfaces;
• ferromagnetic first and second yoke layers;
• a first copper structure interfacing the bottom surface of the tunnel valve sensor;
• and
• a second copper structure interfacing the top surface of the tunnel valve sensor and the second yoke layer;
• the tunnel valve sensor including:
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer that has a magnetic moment;
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer;
• a ferromagnetic free layer that has a magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic electrically insulative barrier layer located between the free layer and the pinned layer;
• the first copper structure also interfacing the first yoke layer;
• the top surface of the tunnel valve sensor having a middle top surface portion located between spaced apart front and back top surface portions;
• the second yoke layer having first and second spaced apart yoke layer portions wherein the first yoke layer portion has a front surface that forms a portion of the ABS and interfaces the front top surface portion of the tunnel valve sensor and the second yoke layer portion interfaces the back top surface portion of the tunnel valve sensor;
• and
• the second copper structure interfacing the middle top surface portion of the tunnel valve sensor and each of the first and second yoke layer portions of the second yoke layer;
• 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 assembly to multiple positions with respect to said magnetic disk;
• and
• a processor connected to the magnetic head assembly, to the spindle motor and to the actuator for exchanging signals with the magnetic head assembly, for controlling movement of the magnetic disk and for controlling the position of the magnetic head assembly.

A magnetic disk drive including at least one magnetic head assembly that has a write head, a read head and an air bearing surface (ABS) 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;
• the read head including:
• a tunnel valve sensor recessed from the ABS and having top and bottom surfaces;
• ferromagnetic first and second yoke layers;
• a first copper structure interfacing the bottom surface of the tunnel valve sensor;
• and
• a second copper structure interfacing the top surface of the tunnel valve sensor and the second yoke layer;
• the tunnel valve sensor including:
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer that has a magnetic moment;
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer;
• a ferromagnetic free layer that has a magnetic moment;
• and
• a nonmagnetic electrically insulative barrier layer located between the free layer and the pinned layer;
• a substrate;
• the first copper structure also interfacing the substrate;
• the first yoke layer having first and second yoke layer portions;
• the tunnel valve sensor being located between the first and second yoke layer portions of the first yoke layer;
• and
• the second copper structure also interfacing each of the first and second yoke layer portions of the first yoke layer;
• 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 assembly to multiple positions with respect to said magnetic disk;
• and
• a processor connected to the magnetic head assembly, to the spindle motor and to the actuator for exchanging signals with the magnetic head assembly, for controlling movement of the magnetic disk and for controlling the position of the magnetic head assembly.

A method of making a magnetic head assembly which has an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising the steps of:

• making a read head including the steps of:
• forming a tunnel valve sensor recessed from the ABS and having top and bottom surfaces;
• forming ferromagnetic first and second yoke layers;
• forming a first copper structure interfacing the bottom surface of the tunnel valve sensor;
• and
• forming a second copper structure interfacing the top surface of the tunnel valve sensor and the second yoke layer.

A method of making a magnetic head assembly which has an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising the steps of:

• making a read head including the steps of:
• forming a tunnel valve sensor recessed from the ABS and having top and bottom surfaces;
• forming ferromagnetic first and second yoke layers;
• forming a first copper structure interfacing the bottom surface of the tunnel valve sensor;
• forming a second copper structure interfacing the top surface of the tunnel valve sensor and the second yoke layer;
• forming the first copper structure also interfacing the first yoke layer;
• forming the top surface of the tunnel valve sensor with a middle top surface portion between spaced apart front and back top surface portions;
• forming the second yoke layer with first and second spaced apart yoke layer portions with the first yoke layer portion having a front surface that forms a portion of the ABS;
• forming the first yoke layer portion of the second yoke layer interfacing the front top surface portion of the tunnel valve sensor and the second yoke layer portion of the second yoke layer interfacing the back top surface portion of the tunnel valve sensor;
• and
• forming the second copper structure interfacing the middle top surface portion of the tunnel valve sensor and each of the first and second yoke layer portions of the second yoke layer.

A method of making a magnetic head assembly which has an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising the steps of:

• making a read head including the steps of:
• forming a tunnel valve sensor recessed from the ABS and having top and bottom surfaces;
• forming ferromagnetic first and second yoke layers;
• forming a first copper structure interfacing the bottom surface of the tunnel valve sensor;
• forming a second copper structure interfacing the top surface of the tunnel valve sensor and the second yoke layer;
• forming a substrate;
• forming the first copper structure also interfacing the substrate;
• forming the first yoke layer with first and second yoke layer portions;
• forming the tunnel valve sensor between the first and second yoke layer portions of the first yoke layer;
• and
• forming the second copper structure also interfacing each of the first and second yoke layer portions of the first yoke layer.

A magnetic head assembly which has an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising:

• a read head including:
• a tunnel valve sensor recessed from the ABS and having top and bottom surfaces;
• ferromagnetic first and second yoke layers;
• a first copper structure interfacing the bottom surface of the tunnel valve sensor;
• a second copper structure interfacing the top surface of the tunnel valve sensor and the second yoke layer;
• a substrate;
• the first copper structure also interfacing the substrate;
• the first yoke layer having first and second yoke layer portions;
• the tunnel valve sensor being located between the first and second yoke layer portions of the first yoke layer;
• the second copper structure also interfacing each of the first and second yoke layer portions of the first yoke layer;
• and
• the substrate being nickel phosphorous (NiP).

A magnetic head assembly which has an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising:

• a read head including:
• a tunnel valve sensor recessed from the ABS and having top and bottom surfaces;
• ferromagnetic first and second yoke layers;
• a first copper structure interfacing the bottom surface of the tunnel valve sensor;
• a second copper structure interfacing the top surface of the tunnel valve sensor and the second yoke layer;
• a substrate;
• the first copper structure also interfacing the substrate;
• the first yoke layer having first and second yoke layer portions;
• the tunnel valve sensor being located between the first and second yoke layer portions of the first yoke layer;
• the second copper structure also interfacing each of the first and second yoke layer portions of the first yoke layer;
• the substrate being nickel phosphorous (NiP);
• the first and second yoke layers extending from the tunnel valve sensor to the ABS and being spaced apart by a distance that defines a read gap of the head assembly;
• the second yoke layer having a width at the ABS that defines a read track of the magnetic head assembly;
• the second yoke layer increasing in width as it recesses in the head from the ABS;
• the tunnel valve sensor including:
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer that has a magnetic moment;
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer;
• a ferromagnetic free layer that has a magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic electrically insulative barrier layer located between the free layer and the pinned layer;
• 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.

A magnetic disk drive including at least one magnetic head assembly that has a write head, a read head and an air bearing surface (ABS) 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;
• the read head including:
• a tunnel valve sensor recessed from the ABS and having top and bottom surfaces;
• ferromagnetic first and second yoke layers;
• a first copper structure interfacing the bottom surface of the tunnel valve sensor;
• a second copper structure interfacing the top surface of the tunnel valve sensor and the second yoke layer;
• a substrate;
• the first copper structure also interfacing the substrate;
• the first yoke layer having first and second yoke layer portions;
• the tunnel valve sensor being located between the first and second yoke layer portions of the first yoke layer;
• the second copper structure also interfacing each of the first and second yoke layer portions of the first yoke layer;
• the substrate being nickel phosphorous (NiP);
• the tunnel valve sensor including:
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer that has a magnetic moment;
• an antiferromagnetic pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer;
• a ferromagnetic free layer that has a magnetic moment;
• and
• a nonmagnetic electrically insulative barrier layer located between the free layer and the pinned layer;
• 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 assembly to multiple positions with respect to said magnetic disk;
• and
• a processor connected to the magnetic head assembly, to the spindle motor and to the actuator for exchanging signals with the magnetic head assembly, for controlling movement of the magnetic disk and for controlling the position of the magnetic head assembly.