Magnetoresistive sensor with funnel-shaped free layer, magnetic head, head gimbal assembly, and disk drive unit with the same
US8767356B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 11, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jul 1, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/3932
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An MR sensor includes a first shielding layer, a second shielding layer, an MR element formed therebetween, and a pair of hard magnet layers respectively placed on two sides of the MR element. The MR element includes an AFM layer formed on the first shielding layer, a pinned layer formed on the AFM layer and a free layer formed between the pinned layer and the second shielding layer. The free layer is funnel-shaped, which has a first edge facing an air bearing surface and a second edge opposite the first edge, and the first edge has a narrower width than that of the second edge. The MR sensor can improve MR height control performance, and improve the ESD performance and decrease the PCN and RTN and, in turn, get a more stable performance. The present invention also discloses a magnetic head, an HGA and a disk drive unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.