Patent ID: 7383626
Filing Date: 2008-06-10
Classification: G11B,G11C,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of fabrication for a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) device, said method comprising: forming a silicon oxide layer; forming a first silicon nitride layer on said silicon oxide layer; forming a plurality of GMR device layers on said first silicon nitride layer, said GMR device layers including a plurality of ferromagnetic layers and a nonmagnetic layer; forming an etch stop on said GMR device layers; forming a second silicon nitride layer on said etch stop; patterning said GMR device layers to define sidewalls of said GMR device layers; patterning said second silicon nitride layer to expose a portion of said etch stop; covering said sidewalls of said GMR device layers with a photoresist layer; while said sidewalls of said GMR device layers are covered by said photoresist layer, etching into said first silicon nitride layer and into said silicon oxide layer to expose at least one electrical contact.