Magnetoresistive read sensor including a carbon barrier layer and method for making same
US6330137A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 11, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 11, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 11, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B2005/3996
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A magnetoresistive device includes an insulating barrier formed of carbon. In particular, the carbon can be diamond-like carbon, and more particularly, the carbon can be tetrahedral amorphous carbon (t-aC). The insulating barrier can be disposed between the free layer and pinned layer of a spin valve read sensor or otherwise incorporated with other various read sensor configurations. The insulating barrier is configured to increase a resistance of the read sensor with which it is incorporated, and thereby to increase the read signal. Such a barrier can be formed by cathodic arc deposition techniques, with substantially defect-free thicknesses from about 5 .ANG. and above, and band gap values in the range of about 1 eV to about 5.4 eV.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.