Patent ID: 7198818
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B

Abstract:
1. A method for fabricating a magnetoresistive sensor, comprising the steps of providing a giant magnetoresistive sensor structure including a free layer deposited upon a lower layered structure; and depositing an oxide structure overlying the free layer and having a thickness of not less than about 25 Angstroms, the step of depositing an oxide structure including the steps of depositing a buffer layer overlying the free layer, the buffer layer being a buffer-layer metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, yttrium, chromium, magnesium and silicon when deposited and having a thickness of not less than about 5 Angstroms, thereafter depositing an overlayer overlying and contacting the buffer layer, the overlayer being an overlayer metallic oxide of an overlayer metal, and simultaneously oxidizing the buffer layer to form a buffer layer metallic oxide.