Patent ID: 6636396
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A magnetic read head, which has an air bearing surface (ABS), a sensor region that is defined as the width of a spin valve sensor and first and second side regions which extend along the ABS and away from the sensor region, the read head comprising:a spin valve sensor having first and second side edges that are spaced apart by said width that defines said sensor region; the spin valve sensor including: a ferromagnetic pinned layer and a ferromagnetic free layer; and a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer located between the pinned layer and the free layer; and ferromagnetic first and second biasing layers located in the first and second side regions respectively and magnetically coupled to the first and second side edges respectively of the spin valve sensor; a first antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer having first and second portions located in the first and second side regions respectively and a third portion located in said sensor region; the first and second portions of the first AFM layer being exchange coupled to the first and second biasing layers respectively; each of the first and second portions of the first AFM layer having magnetic spins that are oriented parallel to the ABS and transverse said first and second side edges; the pinned layer being exchange coupled to the third portion of the first AFM layer; and the third portion of the first AFM layer having magnetic spins that are oriented perpendicular to the ABS.