Patent ID: 6580588
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A magnetic read head having an air bearing surface (ABS) comprising:a spin valve sensor including: a ferromagnetic free layer, first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structures; a nonmagnetic conductive first spacer layer between the free layer and the first AP pinned layer structure and a nonmagnetic conductive second spacer layer between the free layer and the second AP pinned layer structure; an antiferromagnetic first pinning layer exchange coupled to the first AP pinned layer structure for pinning a net magnetic moment of the first AP pinned layer structure in a first direction; an antiferromagnetic second pinning layer exchange coupled to the second AP pinned layer structure for pinning a net magnetic moment of the second AP pinned layer structure in a second direction; the first AP pinned layer structure consisting of only a first antiparallel (AP) coupling layer and ferromagnetic first and second AP pinned layers with the AP coupling layer located between the ferromagnetic first and second AP pinned layers; the second AP pinned layer structure consisting of only a second antiparallel (AP) coupling layer and ferromagnetic third and fourth AP pinned layers with the second AP coupling layer located between the ferromagnetic third and fourth AP pinned layers; the first AP pinned layer interfacing the first pinning layer and the third AP pinned layer interfacing the second pinning layer; the second AP pinned layer interfacing the first spacer layer and the fourth AP pinned layer interfacing the second spacer layer; and the first, second, third and fourth AP pinned layers of the first and second AP pinned layer structures having thicknesses which urge the net magnetic moment of the first AP pinned layer structure in said first direction, urge the net magnetic moment of the second AP pinned layer structure in said second direction and orient the magnetic moments of the second and fourth AP pinned layers parallel with respect to one another when a current pulse is conducted through the spin valve sensor in a direction parallel to said ABS and parallel to major planes of the layers of the spin valve sensor and then not conducted through the spin valve sensor.