摘要:
A method for fabricating a soft adjacent layer (SAL) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor element and several soft adjacent layer (SAL) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor elements which may be fabricated employing the method. There is first provided a substrate. There is formed over the substrate a dielectric layer, where the dielectric layer has a first surface of the dielectric layer and a second surface of the dielectric layer opposite the first surface of the dielectric layer. There is also formed over the substrate a magnetoresistive (MR) layer contacting the first surface of the dielectric layer. There is also formed over the substrate a soft adjacent layer (SAL), where the soft adjacent layer (SAL) has a first surface of the soft adjacent layer (SAL) and a second surface of the soft adjacent layer (SAL). The first surface of the soft adjacent layer (SAL) contacts the second surface of the dielectric layer. Finally, there is also formed over the substrate a transverse magnetic biasing layer, where the transverse magnetic biasing layer contacts the second surface of the soft adjacent layer (SAL), and where at least one of the dielectric layer, the magnetoresistive (MR) layer, the soft adjacent layer (SAL) and the transverse magnetic biasing layer is a patterned layer formed employing an etch mask which serves as a lift-off stencil for forming a patterned second dielectric layer adjoining an edge of the patterned layer. The invention also contemplates a soft adjacent layer (SAL) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor element formed with the magnetoresistive (MR) layer interposed between the substrate and the soft adjacent layer (SAL). Similarly, the invention also contemplates a soft adjacent layer (SAL) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor element employing a transverse magnetic biasing layer formed of a hard bias permanent magnet material.
摘要:
A method for fabricating a soft adjacent layer (SAL) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor element and several soft adjacent layer (SAL) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor elements which may be fabricated employing the method. There is first provided a substrate. There is formed over the substrate a dielectric layer, where the dielectric layer has a first surface of the dielectric layer and a second surface of the dielectric layer opposite the first surface of the dielectric layer. There is also formed over the substrate a magnetoresistive (MR) layer contacting the first surface of the dielectric layer. There is also formed over the substrate a soft adjacent layer (SAL), where the soft adjacent layer (SAL) has a first surface of the soft adjacent layer (SAL) and a second surface of the soft adjacent layer (SAL). The first surface of the soft adjacent layer (SAL) contacts the second surface of the dielectric layer. Finally, there is also formed over the substrate a transverse magnetic biasing layer, where the transverse magnetic biasing layer contacts the second surface of the soft adjacent layer (SAL), and where at least one of the dielectric layer, the magnetoresistive (MR) layer, the soft adjacent layer (SAL) and the transverse magnetic biasing layer is a patterned layer formed employing an etch mask which serves as a lift-off stencil for forming a patterned second dielectric layer adjoining an edge of the patterned layer. The invention also contemplates a soft adjacent layer (SAL) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor element formed with the magnetoresistive (MR) layer interposed between the substrate and the soft adjacent layer (SAL). Similarly, the invention also contemplates a soft adjacent layer (SAL) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor element employing a transverse magnetic biasing layer formed of a hard bias permanent magnet material.
摘要:
A high data-rate stitched pole magnetic read/write-head combining sputtered and plated high magnetic moment materials and a method for fabricating same. The plating and stitching aspects of this fabrication allow the formation of a very narrow write-head, while the sputtering permits the use of high magnetic moment materials having high resistivity and low coercivity.
摘要:
A method for forming a thin conductive lead layer of high sheet conductivity, high hardness, high melting point, high corrosion resistance and lacking the propensity for smearing, oozing, electromigration and nodule formation. Said lead layer is formed upon the hard magnetic longitudinal bias layer of an abutted junction spin-valve type magnetoresistive read head and said read head is therefore suitable for reading high density recorded disks at high RPM.
摘要:
A high data-rate stitched pole magnetic read/write-head combining sputtered and plated high magnetic moment materials and a method for fabricating same. The plating and stitching aspects of this fabrication allow the formation of a very narrow write-head, while the sputtering permits the use of high magnetic moment materials having high resistivity and low coercivity.
摘要:
A MTJ in an MRAM array is disclosed with a composite free layer having a lower crystalline layer contacting a tunnel barrier and an upper amorphous NiFeX layer for improved bit switching performance. The crystalline layer is Fe, Ni, or FeB with a thickness of at least 6 Angstroms which affords a high magnetoresistive ratio. The X element in the NiFeX layer is Mg, Hf, Zr, Nb, or Ta with a content of 5 to 30 atomic %. NiFeX thickness is preferably between 20 to 40 Angstroms to substantially reduce bit line switching current and number of shorted bits. In an alternative embodiment, the crystalline layer may be a Fe/NiFe bilayer. Optionally, the amorphous layer may have a NiFeM1/NiFeM2 configuration where M1 and M2 are Mg, Hf, Zr, Nb, or Ta, and M1 is unequal to M2. Annealing at 300° C. to 360° C. provides a high magnetoresistive ratio of about 150%.
摘要:
A cladding structure for a conductive line used to switch a free layer in a MTJ is disclosed and includes two cladding sidewalls on two sides of the conductive line, a top cladding portion on a side of the conductive line facing away from the MTJ, and a highly conductive, non-magnetic spacing control layer formed between the MTJ and conductive line. The spacing control layer has a thickness of 0.02 to 0.12 microns to maintain the distance separating free layer and conductive line between 0.03 and 0.15 microns. The spacing control layer is aligned parallel to the conductive line and contacts a plurality of MTJ elements in a row of MRAM cells. Half-select error problems are avoided while maintaining high write efficiency. A spacing control layer may be formed between a word line and a bottom electrode in a top pinned layer or dual pinned layer configuration.
摘要:
A cladding structure for a conductive line used to switch a free layer in a MTJ is disclosed and includes two cladding sidewalls on two sides of the conductive line, a top cladding portion on a side of the conductive line facing away from the MTJ, and a highly conductive, non-magnetic spacing control layer formed between the MTJ and conductive line. The spacing control layer has a thickness of 0.02 to 0.12 microns to maintain the distance separating free layer and conductive line between 0.03 and 0.15 microns. The spacing control layer is aligned parallel to the conductive line and contacts a plurality of MTJ elements in a row of MRAM cells. Half-select error problems are avoided while maintaining high write efficiency. A spacing control layer may be formed between a word line and a bottom electrode in a top pinned layer or dual pinned layer configuration.
摘要:
A method for forming a specularly reflecting bottom spin valve magnetoresistive (SVMR) sensor element with continuous spacer exchange hard bias and a specularly reflecting bottom spin valve magnetoresistive (SVMR) sensor element fabricated according to that method. To practice the method, there is provided a substrate upon which is formed a seed layer, upon which is formed an antiferromagnetic pinning layer, upon which is formed a ferromagnetic pinned layer, upon which is formed a non-magnetic spacer layer, upon which is formed a ferromagnetic free layer, upon which is formed a specularly reflecting and capping layer. The width of the sensor element is defined by a pair of conducting leads aligned upon a pair of continuous spacer exchange hard bias layers.
摘要:
A magnetic head assembly includes a read head having an active central region and two inactive side regions contiguously formed relative to the central region. The central region includes a magnetoresistive (MR) transducer for enabling active sensing of data recorded on a magnetic medium. Protective layers encapsulate the central region and separate it from the side regions, such that diffusion and electromigration are reduced. Each end region includes a longitudinal bias layer, and a multilayered conductive section. The longitudinal bias layer may be formed of alternating layers of antiferromagnetic material and layers of soft magnetic material and/or hard magnetic longitudinal bias. The multilayered conductive section includes conductive leads that do not contact either the MR element or the soft bias layer. The conductive layers are interlayered between a plurality of spacers that provide structural support to the conductive section, and that increase the overall mechanical hardness of the conductive section. Some or all of the protective layers as well as the spacers of the conductive sections may be made from selected refractory materials.