Patent ID: 6697236
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A magnetoresistive read (MR) sensor comprising:a space layer; a first ferromagnetic layer positioned above the spacer layer; an antiparallel layer positioned above the first ferromagnetic layer; a second ferromagnetic layer positioned above the antiparallel layer, the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer being antiferromagnetically coupled; and a pair of antiferromagnetic layers positioned above the second ferromagnetic layer for defining inner free portions and outer pinned portions of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, the inner free portion of the first ferromagnetic layer having a first thickness tA, the inner free portion of the second ferromagnetic layer having a second thickness tB, the outer pinned portion of the second ferromagnetic layer having a fourth thickness tD; wherein the third thickness tC of the first ferromagnetic layer and the fourth thickness tD of the second ferromagnetic layer are substantially equal to the enhance the pinning of the outer pinned portions of the ferromagnetic layers.