Patent · US Expired

Magneto-resistive tunnel junction head with biasing elements abutting free layer extended portions

US6469879B1 · kind B1 · utility

36Cited by
24References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 2, 2000
Grant dateOct 22, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 2, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B5/3932
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Magneto-resistive tunnel junction head having a tunnel multilayered film with a tunnel barrier layer, a ferromagnetic free layer, and a ferromagnetic pinned layer formed as a sandwich. A magnetic field is applied to the free layer in a longitudinal direction by biasing elements at opposite ends, and a length of the free layer is greater than a length of the pinned layer such that the free layer has portions extending beyond opposite ends of the pinned layer. A head output suitable for ultra-high density recording can be obtained with less reduction of TMR ratio. Selection of the biasing element is flexible. A hard material and also an antiferromagnetic material can be selected and the biasing elements can be disposed on either an upper or lower side of the free layer at a desired distance.

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