Patent ID: 7050273
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A longitudinally biased bottom spin valve GMR read sensor having a lead overlay configuration and narrow trackwidth comprising: a substrate; a bottom spin valve stack formed on the substrate, said stack having a barrier layer capped by a bilayer formed of an upper layer and a lower layer and said stack being bounded laterally by edges; a longitudinal bias layer of permanent magnetic material (hard bias layer) formed contiguous to said stack edges; a second capping layer formed on said bias layer; a blanket conducting lead overlay layer (LOL) formed over said stack and bias layer; an opening formed within a central portion of said lead overlay layer (LOL), the lateral extension of said opening defining a physical trackwidth and the opening extending vertically through the LOL and the upper layer of the capping bilayer and reaching at least to the upper surface of the lower layer of said capping bilayer but not reaching its lower surface and the remaining thickness of said lower layer being oxidized thereby to form a specularly reflecting layer; and the sensor so formed having its pinned layer transversely magnetized and its free layer and its bias layer longitudinally magnetized.