Patent ID: 6759084
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A process to manufacture a CPP GMR read head, comprising:depositing, in succession, on a substrate, a seed layer, a pinning layer and a pinned layer; on said pinned layer, depositing a lower layer of a non-magnetic conductive material; on said lower layer, depositing, to a thickness, a layer of a non-magnetic material that is more easily oxidized than said non-magnetic conductive material, said thickness being such that said layer of a non-magnetic material has the form of islands that lie on said lower layer; fully oxidizing said islands of non-magnetic material under conditions such that said lower layer is not oxidized; then depositing an upper layer of said first non-magnetic conductive material, on said lower layer, to a thickness sufficient to fully enclose said fully oxidized islands, thereby forming a spacer layer having high transverse resistance; on said spacer layer, depositing a free layer; on said free layer, depositing a contacting layer; and depositing a cap layer on said contacting layer.