Patent · US Expired

Method of forming a second antiferromagnetic exchange-coupling layer for magnetoresistive (MR) and giant MR (GMR) applications

US6129957A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
5References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 12, 1999
Grant dateOct 10, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 12, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/1129
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive head comprises forming a magnetoresistive structure with a magnetoresistive element with a first AFM element. Perform a first annealing step at a high temperature with a high magnetic field. Form the remaining MR structure including second AFM elements. Perform a low magnetic field (H.sub.ann) annealing step following the fabrication of the second AFM elements. Then perform a no externally applied field (H.sub.ann =0) annealing step at a high temperature to increase the H.sub.ex of the second AFM element to full strength, whereby the stability of the first AFM element is enhanced or increases its H.sub.ex if there were a decrease during the low magnetic field annealing step.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.