Patent ID: 6954342
Filing Date: 2005-10-11
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B

Abstract:
1. A spin valve (SV) sensor, comprising: a pinned layer having a pinned layer magnetization; a free layer disposed towards the pinned layer, the free layer having a free layer magnetization perpendicular to the pinned layer magnetization in the absence of an external field; a spacer layer disposed between the free layer and the pinned layer; a pinning layer disposed towards the pinned layer for fixing the pinned layer magnetization; an underlayer disposed towards the pinning layer, the underlayer comprising NiFeX; and an upper layer disposed adjacent the underlayer and the pinning layer, the upper layer comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of NiFe and CoFe for increasing a GMR ratio associated with the SV sensor; wherein the sensor provides an increase of ΔR/R of at least 5% when compared to an otherwise identical sensor not having the upper layer; wherein the upper layer is doped with a material other than NiFe or CoFe for decreasing an electrical conductivity of the upper layer.