Magnetoresistive sensor having a shape enhanced pinned layer
US7369371B2 · kind B2 · utility
25Cited by
12References
21Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 2005 |
| Grant date | May 6, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 16, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/398
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A magnetoresistive sensor having a pinned layer that extends beyond the stripe height defined by the free layer of the sensor. The extended pinned layer has a strong shape induced anisotropy that maintains pinning of the pinned layer moment. The extended portion of the pinned layer has sides beyond the stripe height that are perfectly aligned with the sides of the sensor within the stripe height. This perfect alignment is made possible by a manufacturing method that uses a mask structure for more than one manufacturing phase, eliminating the need for multiple mask alignments.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.