Patent ID: 7227728
Filing Date: 2007-06-05
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
1. A Current-Perpendicular-to-Plane (CPP) Giant Magneto-Resistance (GMR) sensor comprising: a ferromagnetic keeper layer having a first magnetic orientation; a ferromagnetic reference layer having a second magnetic orientation anti-parallel to the first magnetic orientation; a ferromagnetic sense layer having a magnetic orientation that varies in response to an external magnetic field; a cap layer formed over and in contact with the ferromagnetic sense layer; and a composite film, disposed between other layers forming the ferromagnetic keeper layer or the ferromagnetic reference layer, the composite film comprising: a ferromagnetic metal having a first predetermined volume fraction of the composite film for providing a conducting phase; and a non-magnetic oxide having a second predetermined volume fraction of the composite film for providing an insulating phase; wherein a sense current is confined to flow only though the ferromagnetic metal of the composite film and the first and second predetermined volume fractions are selected to provide a predetermined junction resistance and area.