Patent ID: 6221172
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01F,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a single spin-valve magnetoresistive thin film element, wherein the element includes:an antiferromagnetic layer;a first pinned magnetic layer contacting said antiferromagnetic layer, wherein the magnetization thereof is pinned in a certain direction by an exchange coupling magnetic field generated at the interface between said first pinned magnetic layer and said antiferromagnetic layer;a nonmagnetic intermediate layer disposed between the first pinned magnetic layer and a second pinned magnetic layer; anda nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer formed between a free magnetic layer and said second pinned magnetic layer, wherein the magnetizing direction of said free magnetic layer is aligned so as to intersect with the magnetizing direction of said first pinned magnetic layer;said method comprising the steps of:forming magnetic moments of said first and second pinned magnetic layers to have different values, wherein the magnetic moment is the product of the saturation magnetization and the magnetic film thickness;thermally treating said first and second pinned magnetic layers, while applying a magnetic field to pin said first pinned magnetic layer in a first direction by selecting a process from the group consisting of;a) when the magnetic moment of said first pinned magnetic layer is greater than the magnetic moment of said second pinned magnetic layer, applying said magnetic field having a magnitude selected from the group consisting of about 100 to about 1000 Oe, and no less than about 5000 Oe in said first direction, andb) when said magnetic moment of said first pinned magnetic layer is less than the magnetic moment of said second pinned magnetic layer, selecting a process selected from the group consisting ofi) applying said magnetic field having a magnitude of about 100 to about 1000 Oe in a second direction opposite to said first direction, andii) applying said magnetic field having a magnitude of no less than about 5000 Oe in said first direction.