Patent ID: 7436635
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A current perpendicular to plane (CPP) magnetoresistive sensor, comprising: a sensor stack having first and second laterally opposed sides, the sensor stack further having a free magnetic layer, and a capping layer, wherein the capping layer further comprises a layer of Ta adjacent to the free magnetic layer and a first non-corrosive electrically conductive layer formed adjacent to the layer of Ta, the entire capping layer extending between and terminating at the first and second sides of the sensor stack; a non-corrosive, electrically conductive lead layer formed adjacent to and in electrical contact with the capping layer, the non-corrosive, electrically conductive lead layer comprising a second layer of non-corrosive, electrically conductive material that extends beyond the first and second sides of the sensor stack, and an electrically conductive, magnetic shield layer contacting the electrically conductive lead, the electrically conductive, magnetic shield layer extending beyond the first and second sides of the sensor stack.