Patent ID: 6876527
Filing Date: 2005-04-05
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A spin valve (SV) sensor having first and second passive regions and a central track width region transversely disposed between said first and second passive regions, said SV sensor comprising: a pinned layer; a ferromagnetic free layer; a spacer layer sandwiched between said pinned layer and said free layer; a ferromagnetic bias layer in said first and second passive regions; a non magnetic oxide layer in said central track region transversely disposed between the ferromagnetic bias layer in the first and second passive regions; an antiparallel coupled layer sandwiched between said free layer and said ferromagnetic bias layer for providing strong antiparallel coupling between said bias layer and said free layer in the first and second passive regions; a first cap layer formed on said ferromagnetic bias layer; and a second cap layer formed over said non magnetic oxide layer.