Patent · US Expired

Testing current perpendicular to plane giant magnetoresistance multilayer devices

US6552554B1 · kind B1 · utility

14Cited by
21References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 6, 2001
Grant dateApr 22, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 6, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S977/852
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A wafer suitable to be tested for current-perpendicular to the plane resistance includes a substrate, a conductive base layer on the substrate, a magnetic multilayer on the conductive base layer, and a top conductive layer. A testing ring is formed on the magnetic multilayer in a manner whereby it is separated from rest of the magnetic multilayer by a trench in the magnetic multilayer. Within the testing ring, the magnetic multilayer includes a hole. The current perpendicular to the plane resistance of the wafer may be determined by passing a predetermined current perpendicular through the testing ring by contacting a probe to the testing ring and measuring the voltage at the conductive base layer. The probe used in the present invention may be an AFM or a STM probe.

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