Patent ID: 6178072
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A spin valve sensor that has an air bearing surface (ABS) comprising:an antiferromagnetic pinning layer that has magnetic spins oriented in a first direction;a ferromagnetic pinned layer exchange coupled to the pinning layer and having a magnetic moment that is pinned by the pinning layer in said first direction;a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer film;a ferromagnetic free layer that has a magnetic moment;the spacer film being located between the pinned layer and the free layer;a ferromagnetic keeper layer having a magnetic that is directed antiparallel to said first direction; anda nonmagnetic electrically insulative insulation layer between the keeper layer and the free layer and electrically insulating the keeper layer from all other layers of the sensor so that keeper layer does not shunt a sense current.