Detail Of Magnetic Shielding Patents (Class 360/319)
  • Patent number: 9941465
    Abstract: A device includes a seed layer, a magnetic track layer disposed on the seed layer, an alloy layer disposed on the magnetic track layer, a tunnel barrier layer disposed on the alloy layer, a pinning layer disposed on the tunnel barrier layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic layer spacer disposed on the pinning layer, a pinned layer disposed on the synthetic antiferromagnetic spacer layer and an antiferromagnetic layer disposed on the pinned layer, and another device includes a seed layer, an antiferromagnetic layer disposed on the seed layer, a pinned layer disposed on the antiferromagnetic layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic layer spacer disposed on the pinned layer, a pinning layer disposed on the synthetic antiferromagnetic layer spacer, a tunnel barrier layer disposed on the pinning layer, an alloy layer disposed on the tunnel barrier layer and a magnetic track layer disposed on alloy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Cheng-Wei Chien
  • Patent number: 9922672
    Abstract: A magnetic read apparatus has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a read sensor and a rear magnetic bias structure. The read sensor includes first and second free layers, a spacer layer and a rear surface opposite to the ABS. The spacer layer is nonmagnetic and between the first and second free layers. The read sensor has a track width in a cross track direction parallel to the ABS. The rear magnetic bias structure magnetically biases the read sensor a stripe height direction perpendicular to the ABS. The read sensor is between the ABS and the rear magnetic bias structure. The rear magnetic bias structure has a width in the cross track direction and a length in the stripe height direction. The length is greater than the width. The width of the rear magnetic bias structure is substantially equal to the track width of the read sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Daniele Mauri, Savas Gider, Hui Zhao, Ming Mao
  • Patent number: 9892747
    Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a transducer structure having a lower shield and/or an upper shield. A current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor is positioned adjacent the shield(s). An electrical lead layer is positioned between the sensor and the upper or lower shield. The electrical lead layer is in electrical communication with the sensor. A spacer layer is positioned between the electrical lead layer and the upper or lower shield. A conductivity of the electrical lead layer is higher than a conductivity of the spacer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Robert E. Fontana, Jr., Jason Liang, Calvin S. Lo
  • Patent number: 9886974
    Abstract: A reader having a bearing surface, a free layer, and a free layer biasing structure. The free layer biasing structure includes at least one side shield that applies a first bias field level to a front portion of the free layer that is nearest to the bearing surface and applies a second bias field level to a rear portion of the free layer that is farthest from the bearing surface. The second bias field level is greater than the first bias field level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Scott Wilson Stokes, Victor Boris Sapozhnikov
  • Patent number: 9882118
    Abstract: A spin control mechanism includes a spin portion and a first channel portion. The spin portion has a magnetic moment that can be reversed and rotated. The first channel portion is provided in contact with the spin portion, and is configured from ferromagnetic insulator. Then, the spin control mechanism controls a direction of the magnetic moment of the spin portion using a spin current generated by a temperature gradient provided to the first channel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY, THE UNIVERSITY OF YORK
    Inventor: Atsufumi Hirohata
  • Patent number: 9870791
    Abstract: A multi-sensor reader that includes a first sensor that has a first sensor stack, which includes a sensing layer that has a magnetization that changes according to an external magnetic field. The first sensor also includes a first seed layer below the first sensor stack. The multi-sensor reader also includes a second sensor stacked over the first sensor. The second sensor includes a second sensor stack, which includes a sensing layer that has a magnetization that changes according to the external magnetic field. The second sensor also includes a second seed layer below the second sensor stack. A stabilization element is included to maintain a magnetization direction of the second seed layer and to stabilize the second seed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Victor Sapozhnikov, Steven P. Bozeman, Mohammed Shariat Ullah Patwari, LiWen Tan, Jae Young Yi, Eric W. Singleton
  • Patent number: 9865804
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive-based device and method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive-based device using one or more hard masks. The process of manufacture, in one embodiment, includes patterning a mask over a selected portion of the third layer of ferromagnetic material, wherein the mask is a metal hard mask. Thereafter, etching through the third layer of ferromagnetic material to provide sidewalls of the second synthetic antiferromagnetic structure, through the second tunnel barrier layer to form a second tunnel barrier and provide sidewalls thereof and the second layer of ferromagnetic material to provide sidewalls thereof. Thereafter, etching, through the first tunnel barrier layer to form a first tunnel barrier to provide sidewalls thereof and etching the first layer of ferromagnetic material to provide sidewalls thereof. The process may then include oxidizing the sidewalls of (i) the first tunnel barrier and (ii) the first layer of ferromagnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Everspin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarin A. Deshpande, Sanjeev Aggarwal, Kerry Joseph Nagel
  • Patent number: 9837601
    Abstract: Provided is a magnetic shield having improved shielding properties from an external magnetic field. A magnetic shield MS1 has in-plane magnetization as remanent magnetization, and is adapted to generate a perpendicular component in the magnetization direction by applying a magnetic field in the perpendicular direction to the magnetic shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuhiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9812155
    Abstract: A method provides a magnetic read apparatus. A sensor stack is deposited. The read sensor is defined from the stack such that the sensor has sides forming a junction angle of 75 degrees-105 degrees from a sensor bottom. Defining the sensor includes performing a first ion mill at a first angle and a first energy and performing a second ion mill at a second angle greater than the first angle and at a second energy less than the first energy. The first angle is 5 degrees-30 degrees from normal to the top surface. After the first ion mill, less than half of the stack's bottom layer depth remains unmilled. Magnetic bias structure(s) adjacent to the sides may be formed. The magnetic bias structure(s) include a side shielding material having at least one of the saturation magnetization greater than 800 emu/cm3 and an exchange length less than five nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
    Inventors: Anup Ghosh Roy, Guanxiong Li, Daniele Mauri, Ming Mao, Goncalo Albuquerque, Savas Gider
  • Patent number: 9805745
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes first and second shields, a magnetic pole, and a trailing shield. The magnetic pole is provided between the first and second shields. The trailing shield is separated from the magnetic pole. The first shield includes first magnetic layers and first nonmagnetic layers arranged alternately along a first stacking direction. The first nonmagnetic layers include at least one selected from the group consisting of Ru, Cu, and Cr. Thicknesses of the first nonmagnetic layers each is not less than 0.3 nanometers and not more than 2.2 nanometers. The second shield includes second magnetic layers and second nonmagnetic layers arranged alternately along a second stacking direction. The second nonmagnetic layers include at least one selected from the group consisting of Ru, Cu, and Cr. Thicknesses of the second nonmagnetic layers each is not less than 0.3 nanometers and not more than 2.2 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masayuki Takagishi, Naoyuki Narita, Tomoyuki Maeda, Yousuke Isowaki, Katsuya Sugawara
  • Patent number: 9773512
    Abstract: A write pole structure includes a write pole and a trailing shield wherein the write pole includes a high magnetic moment (HMM) material layer on a surface of the write pole facing the trailing shield, wherein the HMM material layer includes a laminated layer including a rare earth material layer and a transition metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Gubbins, Vijayaharan A. Venugopal, Marcus Benedict Mooney, Adam Andrzej Lapicki, Muhammad Asif Bashir, Prim Gangmei
  • Patent number: 9767834
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a magneto-resistance effect element in the form of a multilayer film, a pair of shields between which the magneto-resistance effect element is interposed in the lamination direction of the layers of the magneto-resistance effect element and each functioning as an electrode, a pair of side shields with one of said side shields on each side of the magneto-resistance effect element in the direction perpendicular to the lamination direction of the magneto-resistance effect element interposed between the pair of shields, the side shields magnetically coupled to either of the pair of shields, and an anisotropy-application layer disposed adjacent to the shield magnetically coupled to the pair of side shields. The pair of shields, the magneto-resistance effect element, and the pair of side shields are exposed on the air bearing surface facing a recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Hiraki, Minoru Ota, Hisayoshi Watanabe, Takahiko Machita, Hideyuki Ukita
  • Patent number: 9754613
    Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS). The method includes providing a first shield, a first read sensor, an antiferromagnetically coupled (AFC) shield that includes an antiferromagnet, a second read sensor and a second shield. The read sensors are between the first and second shields. The AFC shield is between the read sensors. An optional anneal for the first shield is in a magnetic field at a first angle from the ABS. Anneals for the first and second read sensors are in magnetic fields in desired first and second read sensor bias directions. The AFC shield anneal is in a magnetic field at a third angle from the ABS. The second shield anneal is in a magnetic field at a fifth angle from the ABS. The fifth angle is selected based on a thickness and a desired AFC shield bias direction for the antiferromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Rongfu Xiao, Shihai He, Daniele Mauri, Ming Mao, Shaoping Li
  • Patent number: 9747931
    Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes an array of magnetic transducers each having: a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor, shields for providing magnetic shielding, and a stabilizing layered structure between at least one of the shields and the sensor. The stabilizing layered structure includes an antiferromagnetic layer, a first ferromagnetic layer adjacent the antiferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and an antiparallel coupling layer between the ferromagnetic layers. A magnetization direction in the second ferromagnetic layer is opposite the magnetization direction in the first ferromagnetic layer. Each transducer also includes an electrical lead layer positioned between the sensor and the stabilizing layered structure and in electrical communication with the sensor. Each transducer also includes a spacer layer between the respective electrical lead layer and the stabilizing layered structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Robert E. Fontana, Jr., Calvin S. Lo
  • Patent number: 9733107
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to xMR sensors, in particular AMR and/or TMR angle sensors with an angle range of 360 degrees. In embodiments, AMR angle sensors with a range of 360 degrees combine conventional, highly accurate AMR angle structures with structures in which an AMR layer is continuously magnetically biased by an exchange bias coupling effect. The equivalent bias field is lower than the external rotating magnetic field and is applied continuously to separate sensor structures. Thus, in contrast with conventional solutions, no temporary, auxiliary magnetic field need be generated, and embodiments are suitable for magnetic fields up to about 100 mT or more. Additional embodiments relate to combined TMR and AMR structures. In such embodiments, a TMR stack with a free layer functioning as an AMR structure is used. With a single such stack, contacted in different modes, a high-precision angle sensor with 360 degrees of uniqueness can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Juergen Zimmer, Klemens Pruegl
  • Patent number: 9720056
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a channel layer, a magnetization free layer placed on a first section of the channel layer, and a magnetization-fixed layer placed on a second section of the channel layer. The areal resistance of the interface between the channel layer and the magnetization free layer is lower than the areal resistance of the interface between the channel layer and the magnetization-fixed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9715889
    Abstract: A magnetic read apparatus has a media-facing surface (MFS) and includes a read sensor, a magnetic bias structure and an insulating layer. The read sensor has a side, a front occupying part of the MFS and a back. The read sensor includes a free layer, a pinned layer and a barrier layer between the free and pinned layers. The barrier layer has a barrier layer coefficient of thermal expansion. The magnetic bias structure is adjacent to the side of the free layer. The insulating layer includes first and second portions. The first portion of the insulating layer is between the read sensor side and the magnetic bias structure. The second portion of the insulating layer adjoins the read sensor back. The insulating layer has an insulating layer coefficient of thermal expansion that is at least ? of and not more than 5/3 of the barrier layer coefficient of thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Shaoping Li, Gerardo A. Bertero, Ming Mao, Shihai He, Steven C. Rudy, Haiwen Xi, Zhipeng Li, Haifeng Wang, Jianxin Fang, Zhihong Zhang, Yingbo Zhang, Qunwen Leng, Christopher L. Beaudry, Ruisheng Liu
  • Patent number: 9704515
    Abstract: A lateral spin valve reader includes a detector located proximate to a bearing surface of the reader, a spin injector located away from the bearing surface, and a channel layer that substantially extends from the detector to the spin injector. The channel layer and the detector are substantially in a same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: David A. Deen, Levent Colak, Thomas Roy Boonstra
  • Patent number: 9691417
    Abstract: A reader includes a bearing surface, a sensor stack and a bottom shield below the sensor stack. The bottom shield has a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structure that includes a first magnetic layer that has a first width at the bearing surface and a second magnetic layer that has a second width at the bearing surface. The second width is less than the first width. The second magnetic layer has a magnetic orientation with at least a component that is substantially orthogonal to the bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Wonjoon Jung, Victor Sapozhnikov
  • Patent number: 9679591
    Abstract: A scissor type magnetic sensor for magnetic data recording having a flux closure magnetic side shield structure. The magnetic sensor has a magnetic side shield structure that includes a non-magnetic layer within a magnetic material layer, with the non-magnetic layer being removed from the sensor stack so as to define upper and lower magnetic portions of the magnetic structure that are separated from one another at a region away from the sensor stack. The upper and lower magnetic portions are connected with one another in a region near the sensor stack so as to magnetic flux closure structure. The novel magnetic side shield structure provides net neutral magnetization that does not provide an inadvertent biasing to the magnetic free layers of the magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Wenqin Hao, Quang Le, Xiaoyong Liu, Suping Song, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 9680089
    Abstract: A magnetic tunnel junction comprises a conductive first magnetic electrode comprising magnetic recording material, a conductive second magnetic electrode spaced from the first electrode and comprising magnetic reference material, and a non-magnetic tunnel insulator material between the first and second electrodes. The magnetic reference material of the second electrode comprises a synthetic antiferromagnetic construction comprising two spaced magnetic regions one of which is closer to the tunnel insulator material than is the other. The one magnetic region comprises a polarizer region comprising CoxFeyBz where “x” is from 0 to 90, “y” is from 10 to 90, and “z” is from 10 to 50. The CoxFeyBz is directly against the tunnel insulator. A non-magnetic region comprising an Os-containing material is between the two spaced magnetic regions. The other magnetic region comprises a magnetic Co-containing material. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Witold Kula, Manzar Siddik, Suresh Ramarajan, Jonathan D. Harms
  • Patent number: 9609792
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an electromagnetic wave shielding film, comprising at least one electromagnetic shielding layer. A printed circuit board comprising the shielding film, is formed by tightly connecting the electromagnetic wave shielding film with the printed circuit board in the direction of thickness, wherein a ground layer is disposed on said printed circuit board. A method for producing the circuit board, including the following steps: (1) hot-pressing and curing the electromagnetic shielding film with the circuit board in the direction of thickness; (2) piercing the adhesive film layer by a rough surface of the electromagnetic shielding layer, to achieve grounding. Or, including the following steps: (1) hot-pressing and curing the electromagnetic shielding film with the circuit board in the direction of thickness; (2) piercing the shielding film by an electrically conductive substance, to achieve grounding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU FANG BANG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhi Su
  • Patent number: 9601136
    Abstract: A data storage device employing a data writer may configure the data writer with at least a write pole that is separated from a front shield on an air bearing surface. The front shield can be arranged to continuously extend from the air bearing surface a first throat height distal the write pole and a second throat height proximal the write pole with the first and second throat heights being different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Muhammad Asif Bashir, JianHua Xue, Beverley R. McConnell, Shengzhou Liao, Wei Tian, Prim Gangmei, Swaraj Basu, Mark A. Gubbins
  • Patent number: 9589583
    Abstract: The CPPGMR element of the present invention has an orientation layer 12 formed on a substrate 11 to texture a Heusler alloy into a (100) direction, an underlying layer 13 that is an electrode for magneto-resistance measurement stacked on the orientation layer 12, a lower ferromagnetic layer 14 and an upper ferromagnetic layer 16 each stacked on the underlying layer 13 and made of a Heusler alloy, a spacer layer 15 sandwiched between the lower ferromagnetic layers 14 and the upper ferromagnetic layers 16, and a cap layer 17 stacked on the upper ferromagnetic layer 16 for surface-protection. This manner makes it possible to provide, inexpensively, an element using a current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magneto-resistance effect (CPPGMR) of a thin film having a trilayered structure of a ferromagnetic metal/a nonmagnetic metal/a ferromagnetic metal, thereby showing excellent performances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE
    Inventors: Ye Du, Takao Furubayashi, Yukiko Takahashi, Kazuhiro Hono
  • Patent number: 9583123
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistance effect element includes first and second shields, first and second side magnetic units, a stacked body, and a hard bias unit. The first side magnetic unit includes a first soft magnetic layer, a first nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a second soft magnetic layer. The second side magnetic unit includes a third soft magnetic layer, a second nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a fourth soft magnetic layer. The stacked body includes a fifth ferromagnetic layer, a third nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a sixth ferromagnetic layer. The hard bias unit is provided between the first and second shields. A first distance between the first and fifth magnetic layers is shorter than a second distance between the second and sixth magnetic layers. A third distance between the third and fifth magnetic layers is shorter than a fourth distance between the fourth and sixth magnetic layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yousuke Isowaki, Satoshi Shirotori, Masayuki Takagishi, Hitoshi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9548069
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for forming a smooth gap of a damascene write pole. An opening having a side wall with a first angle with respect to vertical is formed in a fill layer, and a first non-magnetic layer is deposited into the opening by ion beam deposition. The ion beam is delivered to the side wall at a second angle with respect to vertical. The ratio of the first angle to the second angle ranges from about 250 to about 3.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Ning Shi, Xiaoyu Xu, Sue S. Zhang
  • Patent number: 9523747
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive device includes a carrier, an xMR-sensor, a magnetic layer formed above an active xMR-region of the xMR-sensor and an insulating layer arranged between the xMR-sensor and the magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Raberg
  • Patent number: 9520147
    Abstract: A MR sensor is disclosed that has a free layer (FL) with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) which eliminates the need for an adjacent hard bias structure to stabilize free layer magnetization and minimizes shield-FL interactions. In a TMR embodiment, a seed layer, free layer, junction layer, reference layer, and pinning layer are sequentially formed on a bottom shield. After patterning, a conformal insulation layer is formed along the sensor sidewall. Thereafter, a top shield is formed on the insulation layer and includes side shields that are separated from the FL by a narrow read gap. The sensor is scalable to widths <50 nm when PMA is greater than the FL self-demag field. Effective bias field is rather insensitive to sensor aspect ratio which makes tall stripe and narrow width sensors a viable approach for high RA TMR configurations. Sensor sidewalls may extend into the seed layer or bottom shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuchen Zhou, Kunliang Zhang, Zhigang Bai
  • Patent number: 9508367
    Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a sensor having an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, magnetic shields flanking the tunnel magnetoresistive region, and spacers between the active tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields. The active tunnel magnetoresistive region includes a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a reference layer. At least one of the spacers includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer. The presence of the electrically conductive ceramic layer enables current-perpendicular-to-plane operation, while enhancing wear resistance and resistance to deformities of the thin films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Biskeborn, Calvin S. Lo, Philip M. Rice, Teya Topuria
  • Patent number: 9502642
    Abstract: A method used while forming a magnetic tunnel junction comprises forming non-magnetic tunnel insulator material over magnetic electrode material. The tunnel insulator material comprises MgO and the magnetic electrode material comprises Co and Fe. B is proximate opposing facing surfaces of the tunnel insulator material and the magnetic electrode material. B-absorbing material is formed over a sidewall of at least one of the magnetic electrode material and the tunnel insulator material. B is absorbed from proximate the opposing facing surfaces laterally into the B-absorbing material. Other embodiments are disclosed, including magnetic tunnel junctions independent of method of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 9454979
    Abstract: A reader sensor comprising a sensor stack and a composite top shield. The composite top shield includes a bulk shield portion and a SAF portion, the SAF portion comprising a top magnetic layered structure and a bottom magnetic layered structure with a non-magnetic layer therebetween. Each of the magnetic layered structures has at least one soft magnetic material layer bounded by layers comprising magnetic material having a magnetic moment of at least 1.4 T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Zhengqi Lu, Daniel Hassett, Paula McElhinney, Jiansheng Xu
  • Patent number: 9443541
    Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer. The transducer includes a main pole, a side gap, at least one coil, a side shield and at least one of a leading shield, a trailing shield and a return pole. The coil(s) are configured to energize the main pole. The side gap is between the main pole and the side shield. The main pole is between the leading shield and the trailing shield. The trailing shield is between the main pole and the return pole. The side shield is between the leading shield and the trailing shield. At least one of the leading shield, the trailing shield and the return pole have a gradient in saturation magnetization such that the saturation magnetization varies in a down track direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
    Inventors: Feng Liu, El-Amine Salhi, Ming Sun, Tao Pan
  • Patent number: 9437251
    Abstract: A method of making a magnetic head is provided. The method includes forming a first read sensor and a first electrical contact formed with a first shunt region. The method further includes forming a first mid-shield layer on the first read sensor, the first mid-shield layer being electrically connected to the first electrical contact. Additionally the method also includes forming a second mid-shield layer over the first mid-shield layer. Further, the method also includes forming a second read sensor over the second mid-shield layer, the second read sensor having a second electrical contact formed with a second shunt region electrically connected to the first shunt region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Rudy, Luc Ving Chung, Christopher L. Beaudry, Shaoping Li, Jimmy J. Shen, Guolun Hao, Yingbo Zhang
  • Patent number: 9437225
    Abstract: A MR sensor is disclosed with an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer recessed behind a first stack of layers including a free layer and non-magnetic spacer to reduce reader shield spacing and enable increased areal density. The AFM layer may be formed on a first pinned layer in the first stack that is partially embedded in a second pinned layer having a front portion at an air bearing surface (ABS) to improve pinning strength and avoid a morphology effect. In another embodiment, the AFM layer is embedded in a bottom shield and surrounds the sidewalls and back side of an overlying free layer in the sensor stack to reduce reader shield spacing. Pinning strength is improved because of increased contact between the AFM layer and a pinned layer. The free layer is aligned above a bottom shield center section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Junjie Quan, Kunliang Zhang, Min Li, Ruhang Ding, Yewhee Chye, Glen Garfunkel, Wenyu Chen
  • Patent number: 9437224
    Abstract: A stack having a seed layer structure with a first part having a first cross-track width and a free layer deposited over the seed layer structure and with a second cross-track width, wherein the first cross-track width is greater than the second cross-track width. In one implementation, the seed layer structure further comprises an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer and a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) layer. In one alternate implementation, the cross-track width of the seed layer structure is substantially equal to the combined cross-track width of the free layer and cross-track width of two permanent magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Eric Walter Singleton, Jae-Young Yi, Konstantin Nikolaev, Victor Boris Sapozhnikov, Stacey Christine Wakeham, Shaun Eric McKinlay
  • Patent number: 9431031
    Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS). The method includes providing a first shield, a first read sensor, an antiferromagnetically coupled (AFC) shield that includes an antiferromagnet, a second read sensor and a second shield. The read sensors are between the first and second shields. The AFC shield is between the read sensors. An optional anneal for the first shield is in a magnetic field at a first angle from the ABS. Anneals for the first and second read sensors are in magnetic fields in desired first and second read sensor bias directions. The AFC shield anneal is in a magnetic field at a third angle from the ABS. The second shield anneal is in a magnetic field at a fifth angle from the ABS. The fifth angle is selected based on a thickness and a desired AFC shield bias direction for the antiferromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
    Inventors: Rongfu Xiao, Shihai He, Daniele Mauri, Ming Mao, Shaoping Li
  • Patent number: 9431600
    Abstract: A device includes a seed layer, a magnetic track layer disposed on the seed layer, an alloy layer disposed on the magnetic track layer, a tunnel barrier layer disposed on the alloy layer, a pinning layer disposed on the tunnel barrier layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic layer spacer disposed on the pinning layer, a pinned layer disposed on the synthetic antiferromagnetic spacer layer and an antiferromagnetic layer disposed on the pinned layer, and another device includes a seed layer, an antiferromagnetic layer disposed on the seed layer, a pinned layer disposed on the antiferromagnetic layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic layer spacer disposed on the pinned layer, a pinning layer disposed on the synthetic antiferromagnetic layer spacer, a tunnel barrier layer disposed on the pinning layer, an alloy layer disposed on the tunnel barrier layer and a magnetic track layer disposed on alloy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guohan Hu, Cheng-Wei Chien
  • Patent number: 9396741
    Abstract: A data writer can be fabricated by constructing a write pole to continuously extend from an air bearing surface prior to depositing a first gap layer to continuously extend from the ABS in contact with a first write pole sidewall. A first side shield protrusion can then be formed on the air bearing surface to be separated from the write pole by the first gap layer. A second gap layer may be deposited to continuously extend from the first side shield protrusion along the first write pole sidewall to define a dielectric region on which a second side shield protrusion is formed with the second side shield protrusion separated from the write pole by the first and second gap layers and the first and second side shield protrusions each cantilevered from a common side shield body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Wei Tian, XiaoHong Zhang, Joseph M. Mundenar, Dong Lin, Jia Sun
  • Patent number: 9368136
    Abstract: In accordance with one implementation of the described technology, an apparatus comprises a sensor structure including a top shield which includes a top shield synthetic antiferromagnetic layer and a bottom shield including a bottom shield synthetic antiferromagnetic layer, wherein the bottom synthetic antiferromagnetic shield layer acts as a seed layer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Zhengqi Lu, Daniel Hassett, Paula McElhinney, Jiansheng Xu
  • Patent number: 9349388
    Abstract: A data storage device employing a data writer may configure the data writer with at least a write pole that is separated from a front shield on an air bearing surface. The front shield can be arranged to continuously extend from the air bearing surface a first throat height distal the write pole and a second throat height proximal the write pole with the first and second throat heights being different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Muhammad Asif Bashir, JianHua Xue, Beverley Rutherford McConnell, Shengzhou Liao, Wei Tian, Prim Gangmei, Swaraj Basu, Mark Anthony Gubbins
  • Patent number: 9343091
    Abstract: A reader sensor having a composite shield and a sensor stack. The composite shield includes a high magnetic moment layer having a magnetic moment greater than 1.0 T, a low magnetic moment layer, and a spacer therebetween. The high magnetic moment layer is closer to the stack than the low magnetic moment layer. The high magnetic moment layer may be a single layer or have a plurality of layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Victor Boris Sapozhnikov, Kevin McNeill
  • Patent number: 9311936
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a main pole configured to apply a recording magnetic field to a recording layer of a recording medium, a trailing shield opposed to the main pole with a write gap therebetween, and a high-frequency oscillator between the main pole and the trailing shield in a range of a width of the main pole in a track width direction, and configured to generate a high-frequency magnetic field. The high-frequency oscillator includes a spin injection layer, an intermediate layer, and an oscillation layer, and at least the oscillation layer comprises divided oscillation regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kenichiro Yamada, Katsuhiko Koui
  • Patent number: 9305577
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a main pole configured to apply a recording magnetic field to a recording layer of a recording medium, a trailing shield opposed to the main pole with a write gap therebetween, and a high-frequency oscillator between the main pole and the trailing shield in a range of a width of the main pole in a track width direction, and configured to generate a high-frequency magnetic field. The high-frequency oscillator includes a spin injection layer, an intermediate layer, and an oscillation layer, and at least the oscillation layer comprises divided oscillation regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kenichiro Yamada, Katsuhiko Koui
  • Patent number: 9299370
    Abstract: A system, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetic head having sensor structures disposed laterally along a cross-track direction, each sensor structure having a free layer, a soft bias layer positioned laterally to each sensor structure, an antiparallel coupling layer above each soft bias layer, a magnetic layer above each antiparallel coupling layer, wherein magnetic moments of the soft bias layer and the magnetic layer are antiparallel coupled, and a stabilizing layer above each magnetic layer for stabilizing a magnetic orientation of the magnetic layer. Moreover, opposing faces of the magnetic layers are positioned apart by a distance that causes each magnetic layer to form a magnetic circuit with the associated free layer and the associated soft bias layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Sharat Batra, Neil Smith, Petrus A. Van Der Heijden, Howard G. Zolla
  • Patent number: 9251815
    Abstract: An apparatus disclosed herein includes a sensor stack including a first layer and an AFM stabilized bottom shield in proximity to the first layer, wherein the AFM stabilized bottom shield is magnetically coupled to the first layer. The apparatus reduces shield-to-shield spacing. The pinned layer of the bottom shield and a pinned layer of the sensor stack are stabilized using the AFM layer in the bottom shield. In one implementation, the bottom shield is made of the SAF structure, with the top layer of the structure adjacent to a pinned layer in the sensor stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Eric W. Singleton, Konstantin Nikolaev, Liwen Tan, Jae-Young Yi, Victor Boris Sapozhnikov, Mohammed Sharia Ullah Patwari
  • Patent number: 9251816
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor may generally be configured as a data reader capable of sensing data bits from an adjacent data storage medium. Various embodiments of a magnetic element may have at least a magnetic stack that contacts at least a first shield. The first shield can have at least one synthetic antiferromagnetic structure (SAFS) that is pinned by a high-coercivity ferromagnetic (HCFM) layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Adam Andrzej Lapicki, Kevin A. McNeill, Marcus W. Ormston, Sameh Sayed Ali Hassan, Yuqing Du
  • Patent number: 9245966
    Abstract: A thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode, a semiconductor on the gate insulating layer, and a drain electrode and a source electrode on the semiconductor and spaced apart from each other. Each of the drain electrode and the source electrode includes a first metal diffusion preventing layer which prevents diffusion of metal atoms, and a second metal diffusion preventing layer on the first metal diffusion preventing layer. At least one of the first and second metal diffusion preventing layers includes grains in a columnar structure, which are in a direction substantially perpendicular to a lower layer. First grain boundaries of the first metal diffusion preventing layer and second grain boundaries of the second metal diffusion preventing layer are substantially discontinuous in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-Woo Park, Sung-Haeng Cho, Kyong-Sub Kim, Dong-Yeon Cho
  • Patent number: 9218830
    Abstract: A main pole structure is selectively annealed by attaching a lead to a back side thereof and electrically connecting a lead to a front end of a narrow pole tip portion such that when a first current passes between the leads there is resistive heating that raises the temperature in the narrow pole tip to 250° C. to 400° C. As a result, defects and stress level are reduced in the narrow pole tip portion without substantially increasing a temperature in adjacent regions including the read head. Annealing may be performed with a partially completed main pole structure or with a completely fabricated write head. Leads may be removed or left in place after annealing is finished. The extent of annealing may be determined by calculating a difference between resistance measurements taken before and after annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yan Wu, Kowang Liu
  • Patent number: 9214171
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistance effect element includes first and second shields, first and second side magnetic units, a stacked body, and a hard bias unit. The first side magnetic unit includes a first soft magnetic layer, a first nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a second soft magnetic layer. The second side magnetic unit includes a third soft magnetic layer, a second nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a fourth soft magnetic layer. The stacked body includes a fifth ferromagnetic layer, a third nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a sixth ferromagnetic layer. The hard bias unit is provided between the first and second shields. A first distance between the first and fifth magnetic layers is shorter than a second distance between the second and sixth magnetic layers. A third distance between the third and fifth magnetic layers is shorter than a fourth distance between the fourth and sixth magnetic layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yousuke Isowaki, Satoshi Shirotori, Masayuki Takagishi, Hitoshi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9214168
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer is described. The method and system include providing a magnetic structural barrier layer and a crystalline magnetic layer on the magnetic structural barrier layer. The magnetic structural barrier layer may reside on a shield. The method and system also include providing a nonmagnetic layer on the crystalline magnetic layer. A pinning layer is provided on the nonmagnetic layer. Similarly, a pinned layer is provided on the pinning layer. The pinning layer is magnetically coupled with the pinned layer. The method and system also include providing a free layer and a nonmagnetic spacer layer between the pinned layer and the free layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Chando Park, Qunwen Leng, Sangmun Oh, Mahendra Pakala