Patent ID: 7220499
Filing Date: 2007-05-22
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A CPP giant magnetoresistive head comprising: lower and upper shield layers with a predetermined shield distance therebetween; and a giant magnetoresistive element comprising a pinned magnetic layer, a free magnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic layer interposed between the pinned magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer, which are disposed between the upper and lower shield layers, a current flowing perpendicularly to the film plane of the giant magnetoresistive element; wherein a height direction is defined as the direction of leakage magnetic field from a recording medium and is perpendicular to the track width direction and the lamination direction of the layers comprising the giant magnetoresistive element; wherein the pinned magnetic layer possesses a portion exposed at the surface facing the recording medium and a rear portion extending in the height direction beyond at least one other layer comprising the giant magnetoresistive element; wherein an antiferromagnetic layer is provided in the rear of the giant magnetoresistive element in a height direction, for pinning the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer in the height direction; wherein the antiferromagnetic layer is in contact with the upper surface or the lower surface of the rear portion of the pinned magnetic layer extending in the height direction to produce an exchange coupling magnetic field at the interface with the upper or lower surface, so that the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer is pinned by the exchange coupling magnetic field; and wherein the antiferromagnetic layer is not exposed at the surface facing the recording medium.