Patent ID: 6826021
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B

Abstract:
A spin valve (SV) sensor, comprising:a cap layer made of tantalum (Ta); a copper (Cu) layer formed beneath the cap layer; a freelayer structure which includes: a first layer made of nickel-iron (NiFe); a second layer made of ruthenium (Ru); a third layer made of nickel-iron (NiFe); the second layer of Ru formed between the first and third layers of NiFe; a nanolayer made of cobalt-iron (CoFe); a spacer layer made of copper (Cu) adjacent the nanolayer of CoFe; wherein the first layer of NiFe is no greater than each one of the third layer of NiFe and the nanolayer of CoFe; wherein the nanolayer has a thickness that is no more than 30 Angstroms; and wherein a net freelayer thickness of the SV sensor, determined based on subtracting a thickness of the first layer of NiFe from a sum of thicknesses of the third layer of NiFe and the nanolayer of CoFe, is less than 50 Angstroms.