Patent ID: 6885527
Filing Date: 2005-04-26
Classification: G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A process for manufacturing a top spin valve structure, comprising: providing a lower primary magnetic shield on which is a first dielectric layer; on said first dielectric layer, depositing a layer of magnetic material suitable for use as a free layer in said spin valve; on the free layer depositing a layer of non-magnetic material; on the layer of non-magnetic material, depositing a layer of magnetic material suitable for use as a pinned layer in said spin valve; on the pinned layer, depositing a layer of an anti-ferromagnetic material suitable for use as a pinning layer in said spin valve, thereby completing formation of the top spin valve; on the anti-ferromagnetic layer, depositing a layer of material suitable for use as a decoupling layer; and on the decoupling layer, depositing a layer of high permeability ferromagnetic material for use as a thin film shield, said material having an electrical resistivity greater than about 125 micro-ohm-cm and a thickness such that the product of its moment and thickness is 2 to 5 times that of the free layer; then patterning and etching the structure to form therein a trench that extends through the thin film shield as far as said first dielectric layer, said trench having a sidewall that slopes; on the first dielectric layer and on the sidewall, selectively depositing a layer of a ferromagnetic material suitable for use as a permanent magnet for providing longitudinal bias to the structure; on the permanent magnet layer selectively depositing a layer of conductive material suitable for use as a connecting lead to the structure; on the thin film shield and on the conductive lead layer, depositing a second dielectric layer; and on the second dielectric layer, depositing an upper primary magnetic shield.