Patent ID: 6639764
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01F,Y10T

Abstract:
A spin-valve magnetoresistive thin film element configured to read a magnetic recording medium, said thin film element comprising:an antiferromagnetic layer, wherein said antiferromagnetic layer comprises one of an Xâ€”Mn alloy, where X is selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Ir, Rh, Ru, Os and combinations thereof, and a Ptâ€”Mnâ€”Xâ€² alloy, where Xâ€² is selected from the group consisting of Pd, Ir, Rh, Ru, Os, Au, Ag and combinations thereof; a pinned magnetic film contacting said antiferromagnetic layer, wherein a magnetizing direction is pinned by an exchange coupling magnetic field between said pinned magnetic film and said antiferromagnetic layer; wherein said pinned magnetic film includes a first pinned magnetic layer contacting said antiferromagnetic layer and a second pinned magnetic layer and a nonmagnetic intermediate layer therebetween, wherein said first pinned magnetic layer and said second pinned magnetic layer have different thicknesses, and wherein a direction of a synthesized magnetic moment formed by adding a magnetic moment of said first pinned magnetic layer and a magnetic moment of said second pinned magnetic layer points away from said magnetic recording medium; a free magnetic layer; and a nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer formed between said free magnetic layer and said pinned magnetic film, wherein a magnetizing direction of said free magnetic layer is aligned so as to intersect with said magnetizing direction of said pinned magnetic film.