Patent ID: 8715776

Claim:
A method to simultaneously magnetize through exchange pinning fields, in different directions, multiple thin film islands on a common substrate, comprising: depositing a seed layer on a single substrate; depositing an anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) layer, having a blocking temperature, on said seed layer; depositing a layer of magnetizable material on said AFM layer; patterning said layer of magnetizable material into first and second islands each having, in plan view, opposing edges a fixed distance apart; depositing a protective non-magnetic layer on said substrate, including on said first and second islands; depositing a layer of magnetically hard material on said protective non-magnetic layer; then patterning said magnetically hard layer into first and second shapes; said first shape being disposed to fully cover said first island without extending beyond said first island's edges; said second shape comprising two separate sections each having edges that are aligned with said second island's edges and that extend therefrom by amounts that equal or exceed said second island's width, while covering no part of said second island; heating, in the absence of a magnetic field, to a temperature higher than said AFM layer blocking temperature and insufficient to demagnetize said hard magnetic layer; then returning said islands to room temperature whereby said first island is magnetized in a direction normal to said first island's edges and said second island is magnetized in a direction normal to said second island's edges; and then selectively removing all hard magnetic material and, optionally, said protective layer.