Spin valve sensor with in-stack biased free layer and antiparallel (AP) pinned layer pinned without a pinning layer

A magnetic head assembly that has a head surface for facing a magnetic medium comprising:

• a read head that includes a magnetoresistive sensor;
• the magnetoresistive sensor including:
• an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure;
• a ferromagnetic free layer having a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to a field signal;
• and
• a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer located between the free layer and the AP pinned layer structure;
• and
• an in-stack longitudinal biasing layer structure located within a track width of the sensor and magnetostatically coupled to the free layer for longitudinal biasing the magnetic moment of the free layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to major planes of the layers of the sensor;
• the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure including:
• ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers;
• an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer located between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers;
• the second AP pinned layer being Co90Fe10 and the first AP pinned layer having an iron (Fe) content greater than the iron (Fe) content in the second AP pinned layer up to 40% so that the first and second AP pinned layers self pin one another without assistance of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer;
• and
• the biasing layer structure including:
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer that has a magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic electrically conductive coupling layer located between and interfacing the pinned layer and the free layer so that the pinned layer and the free layer are magnetically coupled;
• and
• an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to the major planes of the layers of the sensor.

A magnetic head assembly that has a head surface for facing a magnetic medium comprising:

• a read head that includes:
• nonmagnetic electrically nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• a magnetoresistive 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;
• a write head that includes:
• 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 magnetoresistive sensor including:
• an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure;
• a ferromagnetic free layer having a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to a field signal;
• a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer located between the free layer and the AP pinned layer structure;
• and
• an in-stack longitudinal biasing layer structure located within a track width of the sensor and magnetostatically coupled to the free layer for longitudinal biasing the magnetic moment of the free layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to major planes of the layers of the sensor;
• the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure including:
• ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers;
• an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer located between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers;
• the second AP pinned layer being Co90Fe10 and the first AP pinned layer having an iron (Fe) content greater than the iron (Fe) content in the second AP pinned layer up to 40% so that the first and second AP pinned layers self pin one another without assistance of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer;
• and
• the biasing layer structure including:
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer that has a magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic electrically conductive coupling layer located between and interfacing the pinned layer and the free layer so that the pinned layer and the free layer are magnetically coupled;
• and
• an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to the major planes of the layers of the sensor.

A magnetic disk drive including at least one magnetic head assembly that has a head surface for facing a magnetic medium and that includes a write head and a read head, 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:
• nonmagnetic electrically nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• a magnetoresistive sensor located between the first and second read gap layers;
• ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• and
• the first and second read gap layers located between the first and second shield layers;
• the magnetoresistive sensor including:
• an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure;
• a ferromagnetic free layer having a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to a field signal;
• a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer located between the free layer and the AP pinned layer structure;
• and
• an in-stack longitudinal biasing layer structure located within a track width of the sensor and magnetostatically coupled to the free layer for longitudinal biasing the magnetic moment of the free layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to major planes of the layers of the sensor;
• the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure including:
• ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers;
• an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer located between and interfacing the first and second ALP pinned layers;
• and
• the first AP pinned layer interfacing the antiparallel coupling layer and the second AP pinned layer interfacing the spacer layer;
• the second AP pinned layer being Co90Fe10 and the first AP pinned layer having an iron (Fe) content greater than the iron (Fe) content in the second AP pinned layer up to 40% so that the first and second AP pinned layers self pin one another without assistance of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer;
• a housing;
• the magnetic medium being supported in the housing;
• a support mounted in the housing for supporting the magnetic head assembly with said head surface facing the magnetic medium so that the magnetic head assembly is in a transducing relationship with the magnetic medium;
• a motor for moving the magnetic medium;
• and
• a processor connected to the magnetic head assembly and to the motor for exchanging signals with the magnetic head assembly and for controlling movement of the magnetic medium.

A magnetic disk drive including at least one magnetic head assembly that has a head surface for facing a magnetic medium and that includes a write head and a read head, 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:
• nonmagnetic electrically nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• a magnetoresistive sensor located between the first and second read gap layers;
• ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• and
• the first and second read gap layers located between the first and second shield layers;
• the magnetoresistive sensor including:
• an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure;
• a ferromagnetic free layer having a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to a field signal;
• a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer located between the free layer and the AP pinned layer structure;
• and
• an in-stack longitudinal biasing layer structure located within a track width of the sensor and magnetostatically coupled to the free layer for longitudinal biasing the magnetic moment of the free layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to major planes of the layers of the sensor;
• the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure including:
• ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers;
• an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer located between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers;
• the second AP pinned layer being Co90Fe10 and the first AP pinned layer having an iron (Fe) content greater than the iron (Fe) content in the second AP pinned layer up to 40% so that the first and second AP pinned layers self pin one another without assistance of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer;
• and
• the biasing layer structure including:
• a ferromagnetic pinned layer that has a magnetic moment;
• a nonmagnetic electrically conductive coupling layer located between and interfacing the pinned layer and the free layer so that the pinned layer and the free layer are magnetically coupled;
• and
• an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to the major planes of the layers of the sensor;
• a housing;
• the magnetic medium being supported in the housing;
• a support mounted in the housing for supporting the magnetic head assembly with said head surface facing the magnetic medium so that the magnetic head assembly is in a transducing relationship with the magnetic medium;
• a motor for moving the magnetic medium;
• and
• a processor connected to the magnetic head assembly and to the motor for exchanging signals with the magnetic head assembly and for controlling movement of the magnetic medium.

A method of making a magnetic head assembly which has a head surface for facing a magnetic medium comprising the steps of:

• forming a read head that includes a magnetoresistive sensor;
• a making of the magnetoresistive sensor including the steps of:
• forming an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure;
• forming a ferromagnetic free layer that has a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to a field signal;
• and
• forming a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer between the free layer and the AP pinned layer structure;
• the forming of the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure including the steps of
• forming ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers;
• forming an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers;
• forming the first AP pinned layer interfacing the antiparallel coupling layer and the second AP pinned layer interfacing the spacer layer;
• forming the second AP pinned layer of Co90Fe10 and forming the first AP pinned layer with an iron (Fe) content greater than the iron (Fe) content in the second AP pinned layer up to 40% so that the first and second AP pinned layers self pin one another without assistance of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer;
• and
• forming an in-stack longitudinal biasing layer structure within a track width of the sensor and magnetostatically coupled to the free layer for longitudinal biasing the magnetic moment of the free layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to major planes of the layers of the sensor.

A method of making a magnetic head assembly which has a head surface for facing a magnetic medium comprising the steps of:

• forming a read head that includes a magnetoresistive sensor;
• a making of the magnetoresistive sensor including the steps of:
• forming an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure;
• forming a ferromagnetic free layer that has a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to a field signal;
• forming a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer between the free layer and the AP pinned layer structure;
• and
• forming an in-stack longitudinal biasing layer structure within a track width of the sensor and magnetostatically coupled to the free layer for longitudinal biasing the magnetic moment of the free layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to major planes of the layers of the sensor;
• the forming of the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure including the steps of:
• forming ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers;
• forming an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers;
• forming the second AP pinned layer of Co90Fe10 and forming the first AP pinned layer with an iron (Fe) content greater than the iron (Fe) content in the second AP pinned layer up to 40% so that the first and second AP pinned layers self pin one another without assistance of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer;
• and
• a making of the biasing layer structure including the steps of:
• forming a ferromagnetic pinned layer that has a magnetic moment;
• forming a nonmagnetic electrically conductive coupling layer between and interfacing the pinned layer and the free layer so that the pinned layer and the free layer are magnetostatically coupled;
• and
• forming an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to the major planes of the layers of the sensor.

A method of making a magnetic head assembly which has a head surface for facing a magnetic medium comprising the steps of:

• forming a read head including the steps of:
• forming nonmagnetic electrically nonconductive first and second read gap layers with a magnetoresistive sensor located therebetween;
• and
• forming ferromagnetic first and second shield layers with the first and second read gap layers located therebetween;
• making a write head including the steps of:
• forming ferromagnetic first and second pole piece layers in pole tip, yoke and back gap regions wherein the yoke region is located between the pole tip and back gap regions;
• forming a nonmagnetic electrically nonconductive write gap layer between the first and second pole piece layers in the pole tip region;
• forming an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein between the first and second pole piece layers in the yoke region;
• and
• connecting the first and pole piece layers at said back gap region;
• a making of the magnetoresistive sensor including the steps of:
• forming an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure;
• forming a ferromagnetic free layer that has a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to a field signal;
• forming a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer between the free layer and the AP pinned layer structure;
• and
• forming an in-stack longitudinal biasing layer structure within a track width of the sensor and magnetostatically coupled to the free layer for longitudinal biasing the magnetic moment of the free layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to major planes of the layers of the sensor;
• the forming of the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure including the steps of:
• forming ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers;
• forming an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers;
• forming the second AP pinned layer of Co90Fe10 and forming the first AP pinned layer with an iron (Fe) content greater than the iron (Fe) content in the second AP pinned layer up to 40% so that the first and second AP pinned layers self pin one another without assistance of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer;
• and
• a making of the biasing layer structure including the steps of:
• forming a ferromagnetic pinned layer that has a magnetic moment;
• forming a nonmagnetic electrically conductive coupling layer between and interfacing the pinned layer and the free layer so that the pinned layer and the free layer are magnetostatically coupled;
• and
• forming an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to the major planes of the layers of the sensor.

A magnetic head assembly that has a head surface for facing a magnetic medium comprising:

• a read head that includes a magnetoresistive sensor;
• the magnetoresistive sensor including:
• an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure;
• a ferromagnetic free layer having a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to a field signal;
• and
• a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer located between the free layer and the AP pinned layer structure;
• the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure including:
• ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers;
• an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer located between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers;
• the first AP pinned layer interfacing the antiparallel coupling layer and the second AP pinned layer interfacing the spacer layer;
• the first AP pinned layer being Co60Fe40 and the second AP pinned layer being Co90Fe10 so that the first and second AP pinned layers self pin one another without assistance of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer;
• and
• an in-stack longitudinal biasing layer structure located within a track width of the sensor and magnetostatically coupled to the free layer for longitudinal biasing the magnetic moment of the free layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to major planes of the layers of the sensor.

A magnetic disk drive including at least one magnetic head assembly that has a head surface for facing a magnetic medium and that includes a write head and a read head, 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:
• nonmagnetic electrically nonconductive first and second read gap layers;
• a magnetoresistive sensor located between the first and second read gap layers;
• ferromagnetic first and second shield layers;
• and
• the first and second read gap layers located between the first and second shield layers;
• the magnetoresistive sensor including:
• an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure;
• a ferromagnetic free layer having a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to a field signal;
• a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer located between the free layer and the AP pinned layer structure;
• and
• an in-stack longitudinal biasing layer structure located within a track width of the sensor and magnetostatically coupled to the free layer for longitudinal biasing the magnetic moment of the free layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to major planes of the layers of the sensor;
• the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure including:
• ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers;
• an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer located between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers;
• and
• the first AP pinned layer interfacing the antiparallel coupling layer and the second AP pinned layer interfacing the spacer layer;
• the first AP pinned layer being Co60Fe40 and the second AP pinned layer being Co90Fe10 so that the first and second AP pinned layers self pin one another without assistance of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer;
• and
• a housing;
• the magnetic medium being supported in the housing;
• a support mounted in the housing for supporting the magnetic head assembly with said head surface facing the magnetic medium so that the magnetic head assembly is in a transducing relationship with the magnetic medium;
• a motor for moving the magnetic medium;
• and
• a processor connected to the magnetic head assembly and to the motor for exchanging signals with the magnetic head assembly and for controlling movement of the magnetic medium.

A method of making a magnetic head assembly which has a head surface for facing a magnetic medium comprising the steps of:

• forming a read head that includes a magnetoresistive sensor;
• a making of the magnetoresistive sensor including the steps of:
• forming an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure;
• forming a ferromagnetic free layer that has a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to a field signal;
• and
• forming a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer between the free layer and the AP pinned layer structure;
• the forming of the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure including the steps of:
• forming ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers;
• forming an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers;
• forming the first AP pinned layer interfacing the antiparallel coupling layer and the second AP pinned layer interfacing the spacer layer;
• the first AP pinned layer being formed of Co60Fe40 and the second AP pinned layer being formed of Co90Fe10 so that the first and second AP pinned layers self pin one another without assistance of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer;
• and
• forming an in-stack longitudinal biasing layer structure within a track width of the sensor and magnetostatically coupled to the free layer for longitudinal biasing the magnetic moment of the free layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to major planes of the layers of the sensor.