Patent ID: 6548114
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of fabricating a spin valve sensor comprising:sequentially depositing, without breaking vacuum, a seed layer and an antiferromagnetic layer, wherein sequentially depositing the seed layer and the antiferromagnetic layer further comprises: depositing a seed layer on a substrate; depositing a Mn-alloy layer of the antiferromagnetic layer directly on top of the seed layer; and depositing a buffer layer of the antiferromagnetic layer directly on top of the Mn-alloy layer; annealing the seed layer, the Mn-alloy layer and the buffer layer; etching a portion of the buffer layer; depositing a synthetic antiferromagnetic layer on top of the buffer layer of the antiferromagnetic layer, wherein depositing the synthetic antiferromagnetic layer further comprises: depositing a first CoFe layer directly on top of the buffer layer; depositing an Ru layer directly on top of the first CoFe layer; and depositing a second CoFe layer directly on top of the Ru spacer layer; depositing a spacer layer directly on top of the second CoFe layer; and depositing a free layer directly on top of the spacer layer.