Abstract: A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) sensor system and a method for fabricating the same are provided. First provided are a first lead layer and a sensor. The sensor includes a pinned layer, and a free layer adjacent to the pinned layer. The magnetization direction of the pinned layer is substantially perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the free layer at zero applied magnetic field. Further included as a component of the sensor is a tunnel barrier layer positioned between the pinned layer and the free layer. The pinned layer, the free layer, and the tunnel barrier layer define a track width. Further included is a second lead layer, where the pinned layer, the free layer, and the tunnel barrier layer are positioned between the first lead layer and the second lead layer. In use, the first lead layer and the second lead layer are adapted for conducting a current through the sensor.

Abstract: A magnetic head having a helical induction coil. The helical coil is fabricated around a magnetic pole yoke in a series of process steps that include a reactive ion etch (RIE) process step which is utilized to simultaneously form vertical interconnect vias and upper helical coil member trenches. Thereafter, in a single fabrication step, such as by electroplating, the vertical interconnect lines and the upper helical coil traces are created in a single fabrication step, such that they are integrally formed. The vertical interconnect lines provide an electrical connection between outer ends of previously formed lower helical coil traces and outer ends of the integrally formed upper helical coil traces, such that a helical coil is fabricated. In the preferred embodiment, the helical coil is composed of copper.

Abstract: A GMR sensor has a head surface with an active region and first and second inactive regions along the head surface with the active region being located between the first and second inactive regions, and includes an antiparallel (AP) coupled free layer structure having an active portion and first and second inactive portions located in the active region and the first and second inactive regions respectively. The free layer structure has a free layer, an antiparallel (AP) coupling layer and a ferromagnetic bias layer wherein the AP coupling layer is located between the free layer and the bias layer wherein each of the free layer, the AP coupling layer and the bias layer has an active portion and first and second inactive portions which are located in the active region and the first and second inactive regions respectively.

Abstract: A slider 3a is disposed to face a disk-like recording medium and enabled to support a read/write head. The slider 3a has an air bearing surface formed between a leading edge 10 and a trailing edge 11; side rails 20 and 21 formed on the air bearing surface almost like a U-letter so as to dispose its tip at the trailing edge side 11; a cross rail 22; and a pair of landing pads 30a and 31a formed between the tip of each of the side rails and the cross rail 20 to 22 and the trailing edge 11. One of the pair of landing pads 30a and 31a is formed as a convex surface at its side facing the rail of the landing pad 31a disposed at the outer periphery side of the disk-like recording medium while the slider is disposed so as to face the disk-like recording medium.