A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.

Tunnel magnetoresistance read head with narrow shield-to-shield spacing

This invention describes a novel tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) deposition process that can enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a TMR reader. A method of manufacturing a tunnel magnetoresistive sensor includes providing a substrate; forming a first portion of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure on the substrate; forming a second portion of the MTJ structure on the substrate; forming a tunnel barrier layer of the MTJ structure between the first portion and the second portion; heating the first portion of the MTJ structure before forming the tunnel barrier layer or after forming at least a portion of the tunnel barrier layer; and cooling the tunnel barrier layer.

Methods for manufacturing a magnetoresistive structure utilizing heating and cooling

A method and system for providing a magnetic recording transducer having a pole are disclosed. The pole has side(s), a bottom, and a top wider than the bottom. The method and system include providing at least one side gap layer that covers the side(s) and the top of the pole. At least one sacrificial layer is provided on the side gap layer(s). The sacrificial layer(s) are wet etchable and cover the side gap layer(s). The magnetic recording transducer is planarized after the sacrificial layer(s) are provided. Thus, a portion of the side gap and sacrificial layer(s) is removed. A remaining portion of the sacrificial layer(s) is thus left. The method and system also include wet etching the sacrificial layer(s) to remove the remaining portion of the sacrificial layer(s). A wrap around shield is provided after the remaining portion of the sacrificial layer(s) is removed.

Method and system for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording head

A method fabricates a side shield for a magnetic transducer having a nonmagnetic layer and an ABS location corresponding to an ABS. The nonmagnetic layer has a pole trench therein. The pole trench has a shape and location corresponding to the pole. A wet etchable layer is deposited. Part of the wet etchable layer resides in the pole trench. A pole is formed. The pole has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom in the pole tip region. Part of the pole in the pole tip region is in the pole trench on at least part of the wet etchable layer. At least parts of the wet etchable layer and the nonmagnetic layer are removed, forming an air bridge. The air bridge is between part of the pole at the ABS location and an underlying layer. Side shield layer(s) that substantially fill the air bridge are deposited.

Method for providing a side shield for a magnetic recording transducer using an air bridge

A tunneling magnetoresistive read head produced thereby are disclosed. A shield layer is provided. A magnetic etch-stop layer is formed over the shield layer, where the magnetic etch-stop layer comprises a nonmagnetic metal and a soft magnetic material with overall property still being magnetically soft. A sensor stack is formed over the magnetic etch-stop layer. A patterned mask layer is formed over the sensor stack. Material from a portion of the sensor stack not covered by the patterned mask is removed.

Magnetic etch-stop layer for magnetoresistive read heads

A thin film read-write magnetic head useful in a tape apparatus includes a magnetic circuit consisting of two thin film magnetic layers which form a magnetic yoke that is divided into three closely spaced sections, the central section of at least one of the magnetic layers containing an interspace in which a flux sensing element, such as a magnetoresistive device or Hall effect device, is located. The three section yoke forms a continuous magnetic circuit, except for the transducing gap, which circuit consists of three sections corresponding to the three sections of the yoke. The total gap width determines the width of the data track being recorded. During the write mode, a magnetic valve including an electrical conductor provides a shunt path to bypass the flux sensing means so that all three sections of the head operate for recording. During the read mode, only the central yoke section and its transducing gap portion sense the data signal recorded on the magnetic tape, and the read element detects the sensed signal. A saturation current is directed to the valve conductor during the read mode so that the shunt path is open, thereby allowing the flux sensing means to operate and sense the readout signal.

Magnetic tape head with flux sensing element

A thin film read-write magnetic head useful in a tape apparatus includes a magnetic circuit consisting of two thin film magnetic layers (P1, P2) which form a magnetic yoke that is divided into three closely spaced sections (22, 24, 26), the central section (24) of at least one of the magnetic layers (P1, P2) containing an interspace in which a flux sensing element (199), such as a magnetoresistive device or Hall effect device, is located. The three section yoke forms a continuous magnetic circuit, except for the transducing gap (G), which circuit consists of three sections corresponding to the three sections (22, 24, 26) of the yoke. The total gap width determines the width (Ww) of the data track (30) being recorded. During the write mode, a magnetic valve (18) including an electronical conductor provides a shunt path to bypass the flux sensing means (19) so that all three sections (22, 24, 26) of the head operate for recording. During the read mode, only the central yoke section (24) and its transducing gap (G) portion sense the data signal recorded on the magnetic tape, and the read element detects the sensed signal. A saturation current is directed to the valve conductor (18) during the read mode so that the shunt path is open, thereby allowing the flux sensing means (19) to operate and sense the readout signal.

Derek Jan Kroes

Papers

Magnetic tape head with flux sensing element

Magnetic head with flux sensing element for recording/reproducing on tape.