Magnetic sensing element with improved sensitivity and method for making the same
US6893734B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 14, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 17, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/265
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A magnetic sensing element includes a laminate, the laminate including a first antiferromagnetic layer; a pinned magnetic layer, the magnetization direction thereof being pinned by the first antiferromagnetic layer; a nonmagnetic conductive layer; a free magnetic layer, the magnetization direction thereof being variable in response to an external magnetic field; a nonmagnetic interlayer; a ferromagnetic layer; and a second antiferromagnetic layer. The laminate has a recess extending through the second antiferromagnetic layer and the ferromagnetic layer, a bottom face of the recess lying in the nonmagnetic interlayer, the width of the bottom face in a track width direction being equal to a track width. The free magnetic layer is magnetized in a direction substantially orthogonal to the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer as a result of magnetic coupling with the ferromagnetic layer. A method for making such a magnetic sensing element is also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.