Patent · US Expired

Spin-valve type magnetoresistance sensor and thin-film magnetic head

US7026063B2 · kind B2 · utility

152Cited by
9References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 23, 2001
Grant dateApr 11, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 13, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/1129
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus of a spin-type magnetoresistance sensor having a free and pinned magnetic layer stacked with a non-magnetic interposed layer are disclosed. Specifically, the spin-valve type magnetoresistance sensor of the present invention is equipped with a free ferromagnetic layer, a pinned ferromagnetic layer, a non-magnetic spacer layer which is sandwiched between the aforementioned ferromagnetic layers, an anti-ferromagnetic layer which is disposed adjacent to the aforementioned pinned ferromagnetic layer and which is used to pin the direction of magnetization of said pinned ferromagnetic layer, a non-magnetic back layer which is disposed adjacent to the aforementioned free ferromagnetic layer and which is stacked on the opposite side the free ferromagnetic layer from the aforementioned nonmagnetic spacer layer, and an electron-reflective layer which is disposed adjacent to the aforementioned back layer and which is stacked on the opposite side of the back layer from the aforementioned free ferromagnetic layer.

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