MR sensor having thick active region between two thinner inactive MR regions topped with respective permanent magnets

US5712565A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Seagate Technology LLC · US

Inventors

• Allan E. Schultz · Windom, US
• Peter K. George · Placentia, US
• Arthur Calderon · Minnetonka, US
• Jumna P. Ramdular · Brooklyn Park, US
• Juan J. Fernandez-De Castro · Lakeville, US
• Leroy L. Longworth · Waconia, US
• Peter I. Bonyhard · Edison, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 13, 1994
• Grant date: Jan 27, 1998
• Expiry date: Sep 13, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/096
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A magnetoresistive sensor (10) having permanent magnet stabilization includes a magnetoresistive layer (12), at least one permanent magnet (14a or 14b), and first and second current contacts (16a and 16b). The magnetoresistive layer (12) has an active sensing region (18) having a first thickness, and at least one under layer region (26a or 26b), with each under layer region (26a or 26b) having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. Each permanent magnet (14a or 14b) is formed upon an under layer region (26a or 26b) of the magnetoresistive layer (12), and the first and second contacts (16a and 16b) are electrically coupled to the active region (18).