Patent ID: 6662432
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making a magnetic read head which has an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising the steps of:making a spin valve sensor comprising the steps of: forming a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a magnetic moment; forming a pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure; forming a free layer; forming a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer between the free layer and the pinned layer structure; forming the free layer with first and second free films wherein the first free film is composed of cobalt (Co) or cobalt iron (CoFe) and the second free film is composed of nickel iron (NiFe); forming the first free film with a magnetic easy axis which is oriented perpendicular to a magnetic easy axis of the second free film; and annealing the first and second free films at a temperature sufficient to harden photoresist in the presence of a magnetic field oriented perpendicular to the ABS.