Method and system for providing an improved hard bias structure
View Patent ↗A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer is described. The method and system define a magnetoresistive sensor in a track width direction, provide hard bias material(s) adjacent to the sensor in the track width direction, and provide sacrificial capping layer(s) on a portion of the hard bias material(s). The sacrificial capping layer(s) have a first height in a stripe height direction. The method and system also provide a mask for defining a stripe height of the sensor. The mask covers at least part of the sensor and has a second height in the stripe height direction. The second height is less than the first height. The method and system define the stripe height of the sensor while the mask covers the sensor. The sacrificial capping layer(s) are configured to prevent removal of the portion of the hard bias material(s) while the stripe height is defined.
1. A method for providing a magnetic transducer comprising:
defining a magnetoresistive sensor in a track width direction;
providing at least one hard bias material, a first portion of the at least one hard bias material being substantially adjacent to the magnetoresistive sensor in the track width direction;
providing at least one sacrificial capping layer on a second portion of the at least one hard bias material, the at least one sacrificial capping layer having a first height in a stripe height direction substantially perpendicular to the track width direction, the sacrificial capping layer including an insulating layer, the at least one sacrificial capping layer adjoining the at least one hard bias material;
providing a mask for defining a stripe height of the magnetoresistive sensor in the stripe height direction, the mask covering at least a portion of the magnetoresistive sensor, the mask having a second height in the stripe height direction, the second height being less than the first height; and
defining the stripe height of the magnetoresistive sensor while the mask covers the at least the portion of the magnetoresistive sensor, the at least one sacrificial capping layer being configured to prevent removal of the second portion of the at least one hard bias material during the step of defining the stripe height.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the magnetoresistive sensor has a first removal rate in the step of defining the magnetoresistive sensor, the at least one sacrificial capping layer has a second removal rate in the step of defining the magnetoresistive sensor.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the magnetoresistive sensor has a first thickness, the at least one sacrificial capping layer has a second thickness, the second thickness being at least the first thickness multiplied by the first removal rate and divided by the second removal rate.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the second removal rate is less than the first removal rate.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one sacrificial capping layer is at least one insulating layer including at least one of aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, and diamond-like carbon.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing a metallic capping layer on the at least one sacrificial capping layer.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of defining the stripe height further includes:
performing an ion milling at an angle.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the magnetoresistive sensor includes at least one side, the method further comprising:
providing an additional insulating layer, a portion of the additional insulating layer residing on the at least one side of the magnetoresistive sensor, the portion of the additional insulating layer being between the magnetoresistive sensor and the first portion of the at least one hard bias material.
9. A method for providing a magnetic transducer comprising:
defining a magnetoresistive sensor in a track width direction, the magnetoresistive sensor including a plurality of sides and having a sensor thickness;
providing an insulating layer, a portion of the insulating layer covering the plurality of sides of the magnetoresistive sensor;
providing at least one hard bias material, the portion of the insulating layer residing between the magnetoresistive sensor and a first portion of the at least one hard bias material in the track width direction;
providing at least one sacrificial capping layer on a second portion of the at least one hard bias material, the at least one sacrificial capping layer being an insulator and having a first height in a stripe height direction substantially perpendicular to the track width direction and a thickness, the at least one sacrificial capping layer adjoining the at least one hard bias material;
providing a metallic hard bias capping layer on the at least one sacrificial capping layer;
providing a mask for defining a stripe height of the magnetoresistive sensor in the stripe height direction, a portion of the mask residing on a portion of the magnetoresistive sensor, the mask having a second height in the stripe height direction, the second height being less than the first height; and
defining the stripe height of the magnetoresistive sensor while the portion of the mask covers the portion of the magnetoresistive sensor, the magnetoresistive sensor having a first removal rate in the step of defining the stripe height, the at least one sacrificial capping layer having a second removal rate in the step of defining the stripe height, the thickness being configured based on the first removal rate, the second removal rate, and the sensor thickness to prevent removal of the second portion of the at least one hard bias material during the step of defining the stripe height.