Patent ID: 7950136
Filing Date: 2011-05-31
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A process to manufacture a TMR read head, comprising: providing a substrate and depositing thereon a seed layer; depositing an antiferromagnetic layer on said seed layer; on said antiferromagnetic layer, depositing an AP2 layer in the form of a first layer of soft magnetic material and then depositing an antiferromagnetic coupling layer on said AP2 layer; depositing on said antiferromagnetic coupling layer, a first part of an AP1 layer in the form of a second layer of soft magnetic material having a top surface; exposing said top surface to a gaseous plasma and thereby smoothing said top surface; then depositing on said smoothed top surface, a third layer of soft magnetic material, said second and third layers of soft magnetic material together becoming said AP1 layer; then depositing a non magnetic dielectric tunneling layer on said AP1 layer; depositing a free layer on said tunneling layer; and depositing a capping layer on said free layer.