Patent ID: 7043823
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for making a sensor comprising: depositing over a substrate in succession a layer of antiferromagnetic material, a first layer of ferromagnetic material, a spacer layer of non-ferromagnetic material, a second layer of ferromagnetic material, and a layer of capping material; providing a mask over a central region of the capping layer, the central region of the capping layer overlying a central region of the second ferromagnetic layer; removing side regions of the capping layer not covered by the mask and removing only a portion of the second ferromagnetic layer in side regions not covered by the mask, so that there is material remaining in the second ferromagnetic layer in the side regions not covered by the mask; oxidizing the material remaining in the second ferromagnetic layer in the side regions not covered by the mask without oxidizing the material in the central region of the second ferromagnetic layer; and removing the mask.