Method of increasing CPP GMR in a spin valve structure
US7016168B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 20, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 21, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 27, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B2005/3996
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor of the synthetic spin valve type is provided, the sensor comprising a GMR stack having a substantially square lateral cross-section, a Cu spacer layer of smaller square cross-section formed centrally on the GMR stack and a capped ferromagnetic free layer of substantially square, but even smaller cross-sectional area, formed centrally on the spacer layer. The stepped, reduced area geometry of the sensor provides a significant improvement in its GMR ratio (DR/R), a reduced resistance, R, and elimination of Joule heating hot-spots in regions of high resistance such as the antiferromagnetic pinning layer and its seed layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.