Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor structure with multiple stacked sensors and improved center shield
US9042059B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 2014 |
| Grant date | May 26, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B2005/3996
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A two-dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) read head has upper and lower read sensors wherein the lower read sensor has its magnetization biased by side shields of soft magnetic material. The center shield between the lower and upper sensors may be an antiparallel structure (APS) with two ferromagnetic layers separated by an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer. The center shield has a central region and two side regions, but there is no antiferromagnetic (AF) layer in the central region. Instead the two side regions of the upper ferromagnetic layer in the APS are pinned by AF tab layers that are electrically isolated from the upper sensor. The upper ferromagnetic layer and the APC layer in the APS may also be located only in the side regions. The thickness of the center shield can thus be made thinner, which reduces the free layer to free layer spacing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.