Patent ID: 7606009
Filing Date: 2009-10-20
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
1. A read sensor with a longitudinal flux-closure structure, the read sensor comprising: an antiferromagnetic pinning layer; a ferromagnetic bias layer adjacent to the antiferromagnetic pinning layer; a nonmagnetic spacer layer adjacent to the ferromagnetic bias layer; and a ferromagnetic sense layer adjacent to the nonmagnetic spacer layer forming the longitudinal flux-closure structure; wherein a magnetization of the ferromagnetic bias layer is pinned in a longitudinal direction by the antiferromagnetic pinning layer, and the longitudinal magnetization of the ferromagnetic bias layer biases the ferromagnetic sense layer across the nonmagnetic spacer layer in the longitudinal direction; wherein exchange coupling between the antiferromagnetic pinning layer and the ferromagnetic bias layer is stronger than antiparallel coupling across the nonmagnetic spacer layer between the ferromagnetic bias layer and the ferromagnetic sense layer.