Patent ID: 6191926
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B

Abstract:
A spin valve magnetoresistive sensor, comprising:a free layer extending in a sensor plane having a magnetization which changes in the presence of a magnetic field;a spacing layer;an artificial antiferromagnet layer separated from the free layer by the spacing layer, comprising:a first ferromagnetic layer extending in the sensor plane and having a first ferromagnetic layer vector;a second ferromagnetic layer extending in the sensor plane and having a second ferromagnetic layer vector;a spacer layer of nonmagnetic material extending in the sensor plane and positioned between the first and second ferromagnetic layers; andtwo permanent magnet poles providing a DC bias field whereby the first and second magnetization vectors in the first and second ferromagnetic layers include components in a direction perpendicular to the sensor plane.