Patent ID: 6621665
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A magnetic read head comprising:a spin valve sensor including: a ferromagnetic free layer; a triple antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure; a pinned layer; a nonmagnetic conductive first spacer layer between the triple AP pinned layer structure and the free layer and a nonmagnetic conductive second spacer layer between the free layer and the pinned layer; an antiferromagnetic first pinning layer exchange coupled to the triple AP pinned layer structure for pinning a magnetic moment of the triple AP pinned layer structure in a first direction; an antiferromagnetic second pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer for pinning a magnetic moment of the pinned layer in a second direction; and the triple AP pinned layer structure including: ferromagnetic first, second and third AP pinned layers; first and second AP coupling layers; and the second AP pinned layer being located between the first and second AP coupling layers and the first and second AP coupling layers being located between the first and third AP pinned layers; a net demagnetizing field, a net ferromagnetic coupling field and a net sense current field being exerted on the free layer wherein the net demagnetizing field is due to a demagnetizing field from the pinned layer or the pinned layer and the AP pinned layer structure, the net ferromagnetic coupling field is a combination of ferromagnetic coupling fields exerted by the pinned layer and the third AP pinned layer and the net sense current field is a combination of sense current fields from conductive layers on each side of the free layer when a sense current is conducted through the spin valve sensor; and the net demagnetizing field being counterbalanced by the net sense current field and the net ferromagnetic coupling field.