Patent ID: 6358332
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for establishing magnetic orientations of a spin valve sensor in a read head, the spin valve sensor including multiple substantially parallel layers including:an antiferromagnetic layer; a ferromagnetic pinned layer adjacent the antiferromagnetic layer; a conductive layer adjacent the ferromagnetic pinned layer; and a ferromagnetic free layer adjacent the conductive layer; a hard bias layer adjacent the free layer and comprising a magnetic material providing the free layer with a quiescent magnetization in a first direction; the method comprising: applying a first external magnetic field to the spin valve sensor, the first external magnetic field having a first field direction relative to the spin valve sensor; during application of the first external magnetic field, directing a waveform of electrical current through the spin valve sensor so as to heat the antiferromagnetic layer past a blocking temperature thereof and thereby permit orientation of a magnetic spin structure of the antiferromagnetic layer in a direction parallel to said first field direction and a pinning of a magnetic moment of the ferromagnetic pinned layer parallel to said first field direction; terminating the electrical current; and removing the first external magnetic field; applying a second external magnetic field to the spin valve sensor for a period of time and then removing the second external magnetic field, the second external magnetic field having a second field direction substantially perpendicular to the first field direction.