Patent ID: 6751845
Filing Date: 2004-06-22
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making a magnetic read head having a spin valve sensor that has a sensor region located between first and second side regions comprising:making a spin valve sensor as follows: forming a ferromagnetic free layer that has a first sensor portion located in the sensor region and first and second side portions located in the first and second side regions wherein the first sensor portion has a magnetic moment that is free to rotate; forming a ferromagnetic pinned layer that has a second sensor portion located in the sensor region and third and fourth side portions located in the first and second side regions wherein the second sensor portion has a magnetic moment; forming an antiferromagnetic pinning layer that has a third sensor portion in the sensor region and fifth and sixth side portions in the first and second side regions wherein the third sensor portion is exchange coupled to the second sensor portion of the pinned layer for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer; forming a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer between the free and pinned layers with a fourth sensor portion in the sensor region and seventh and eighth side portions in the first and second side regions; forming first and second antiferromagnetic biasing layers in the first and second side regions that are exchange coupled to the first and second side portions of the free layer for magnetically biasing the first sensor portion of the free layer; forming the magnetic head with an elongated air bearing surface (ABS) for facing a rotating magnetic disk wherein the elongated ABS has a longitudinal axis and is formed in part by edge surfaces of the free, pinned, pinning and spacer layers; stacking the free, pinned, pinning and spacer layers in a direction which is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; forming each of the side portions of the free, pinned, pinning and spacer layers with top and bottom surfaces that lie in planes which are parallel to said longitudinal axis; and forming first and second antiferromagnetic biasing layers in the first and second side regions with bottom surfaces which interface and are exchange coupled to the top surfaces of the first and second side portions of the free layer for magnetically biasing the first sensor portion of the free layer.