Patent ID: 7676904
Filing Date: 2010-03-16
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing a magnetoresistive sensor, comprising: depositing a first layer of magnetoresistive sensor material, the first layer of magnetoresistive sensor material having a horizontally disposed uppermost surface; applying a low energy ion beam at the horizontally disposed uppermost surface of the first layer of magnetoresistive sensor material to smoothen the horizontally disposed uppermost surface, the low energy ion beam being at an energy that is below a sputtering threshold of the first layer of the magnetoresistive sensor material so as not to remove a significant portion of the first layer of magnetoresistive sensor material, the sputtering threshold of the first layer of magnetoresistive sensor material being a point at which atoms of the first layer of magnetoresistive sensor material begin to be emitted; and after applying the low energy ion beam at the horizontally disposed uppermost surface of the first layer of magnetoresistive sensor material, depositing a second layer of material onto the smoothened horizontally disposed uppermost surface.