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US 8,711,528 B1Granted
Tunnel magnetoresistance read head with narrow shield-to-shield spacing
AssigneeWestern Digital (Fremont), LLC
InventorsRongfu Xiao, Guanxiong Li, Zhihong Zhang, Ming Mao, Chen-Jung Chien
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Abstract
A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.
Claims7
A read sensor comprising:
- a shield layer intersecting an air bearing surface plane;
- an antiferromagnetic layer disposed over the shield layer;
- an antiferromagnet exchange biased first pinned layer disposed over the antiferromagnetic layer, the antiferromagnetic layer and antiferromagnet exchange biased first pinned layer being recessed from the air bearing surface plane;
- a second pinned layer disposed over and magnetically coupled to the antiferromagnet exchange biased first pinned layer, the second pinned layer intersecting the air bearing surface plane;
- a barrier layer disposed over the second pinned layer and intersecting the air bearing surface plane;
- a free layer disposed over the barrier layer and intersecting the air bearing surface plane;
- and
- a capping layer disposed over the free layer and intersecting the air bearing surface plane.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.