IP Library Granted Patent US 9,830,936
Granted Patent B2
US 9,830,936 · App. 14/943,211 · Granted Nov 28, 2017

Magnetic read head with antiferromagentic layer

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,830,936
App. No.
14/943,211
Granted
Nov 28, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (22)

1. A magnetic read head, comprising:

a first shield layer;

a seed layer deposited on the first shield layer;

a tabbed antiferromagnetic (AFM) stack layer formed over the seed layer, wherein the tabbed AFM stack layer is recessed along both sides of a read track of the magnetic read head;

first and second pinned layers formed over the tabbed AFM stack layer;

a free layer formed over the first pinned layer; and

a second shield layer formed over the first pinned layer.

2. The magnetic read head of claim 1 , wherein the tabbed AFM stack layer comprises:

an AFM layer; and

a soft magnetic stitching layer.

3. A hard disk drive, comprising:

at least one rotatable disk having a disk surface;

a disk drive base;

a spindle motor attached to the disk drive base and configured to support the at least one rotatable disk for rotating the at least one rotatable disk with respect to the disk drive base; and

a magnetic reader configured to read data on the disk surface, the magnetic reader comprising:

a first shield layer; and

a seed layer deposited on the first shield layer;

a tabbed antiferromagnetic (AFM) stack layer formed over the seed layer, wherein the tabbed AFM stack layer is recessed along both sides of a read track of the magnetic reader;

first and second pinned layers deposited over the tabbed AFM stack layer;

a free layer deposited over the first pinned layer; and

a second shield layer deposited over the first pinned layer.

4. The hard disk drive of claim 3 , wherein the magnetic reader comprises a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) reader.

Assignments (11)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052915 FRAME 0566 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 059127/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 038710 FRAME 0845 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC; WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058965/0445 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2020
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 052915/0566 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2019
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 050450/0582 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
Reel/Frame 045501/0158 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0755 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0675 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038710/0845 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2016
From: LI, SHAOPING; ZHENG, YUANKAI; BERTERO, GERARDO A.; LENG, QUNWEN; MALLARY, MICHAEL L.; XIAO, RONGFU; MAO, MING; ZHANG, ZHIHONG; ROY, ANUP G.; CHEN, CHEN JUNG; DIAO, ZHITAO; WANG, LING
To: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
Reel/Frame 037536/0370 →