IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,205,446
Granted Patent B1
US 11,205,446 · App. 16/803,958 · Granted Dec 21, 2021

Spin-orbit torque induced magnetization switching in a magnetic recording head

Inventors: Zhanjie Li (Pleasanton, CA); Suping Song (Fremont, CA); Kuok San Ho (Emerald Hills, CA)
Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
G11B5/1278G11B5/02G11B5/314G11B5/3912G11B5/3116G11B5/3133G11B5/3909G11B2005/0024
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,205,446
App. No.
16/803,958
Granted
Dec 21, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to magnetic media devices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The recording head includes a main pole, a trailing shield hot seed layer, a spin Hall layer disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield hot seed layer, and a spin-torque layer disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield hot seed layer. Spin-orbit torque (SOT) is generated from the spin Hall layer. The spin-torque layer magnetization switching or precession is induced by the SOT. The SOT based head reduces the switching current and the V jump due to higher spin polarization ratio, which improves energy efficiency. In addition, the spin Hall layer and the spin-torque layer are easier to form compared to the conventional pseudo spin-valve structure.

Claims (32)

1. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a main pole;

a trailing shield;

a spin Hall means for generating a spin-orbital torque; and

a spin torque means for precessing from the spin-orbital torque, wherein the spin Hall means and the spin torque means are disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield.

2. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the spin Hall means and the spin torque means wrapped around at least three sides of the main pole.

3. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the trailing shield is a notchless trailing shield.

4. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the spin Hall means is recessed from a media facing surface of the main pole.

5. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the spin Hall means comprises beta phase tantalum, beta phase tungsten, platinum, hafnium, an alloy of tungsten with hafnium, iridium, or bismuth doped copper, (Bi,Sb)Te, MnIr, XMn (X=Fe, Pd, Ir, and Pt), or antiferromagnets.

6. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the spin torque means is disposed on the spin Hall means.

7. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the spin Hall means is configured to injected electrical current to a spin current at a spin injection efficiency (β) of 0.3 to 1.75.

8. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , further comprising a dielectric material between the spin torque means and the main pole.

9. A method of writing data to a magnetic medium, comprising:

providing a spin torque structure proximate a main pole and a trailing shield, the spin torque structure disposed over a spin Hall structure;

injecting an electrical current to the spin Hall structure;

generating a spin-orbit torque from the spin Hall structure; and

inducing precession of the spin torque structure from the spin-orbital torque.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the spin Hall structure is recessed from a media facing surface of the main pole.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the spin Hall structure comprises beta phase tantalum, beta phase tungsten, platinum, hafnium, an alloy of tungsten with hafnium, iridium, or bismuth doped copper, (Bi,Sb)Te, MnIr, XMn (X=Fe, Pd, Ir, and Pt), or antiferromagnets.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the spin torque structure is disposed on the spin Hall structure.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the electrical current injected to the spin Hall structure is converted to a spin current at a spin injection efficiency (β) of 0.3 to 1.75.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing a dielectric material between the spin torque structure and the main pole.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the spin Hall structure and the spin torque structure are wrapped around at least three sides of the main pole.

16. A method of writing data to a magnetic medium, comprising:

providing a spin torque structure between a main pole and a notchless trailing shield, the spin torque structure disposed over a spin Hall structure;

injecting an electrical current to the spin Hall structure;

generating spin-orbit torque from the spin Hall structure; and

inducing precession of the spin torque structure from the spin-orbital torque.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the spin Hall structure is recessed from a media facing surface of the main pole.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the spin Hall structure comprises beta phase Tantalum, beta phase tungsten, platinum, hafnium, an alloy of tungsten with hafnium, iridium, or bismuth doped copper, (Bi,Sb)Te, MnIr, XMn (X=Fe, Pd, Ir, and Pt), or antiferromagnets.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the spin torque structure is disposed to the spin Hall structure.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the electrical current injected to the spin Hall structure is converted to a spin current at a spin injection efficiency (β) of 0.3 to 1.75.

Assignments (5)
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 →
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 053482 FRAME 0453 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058966/0279 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2020
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 053482/0453 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2020
From: LI, ZHANJIE; SONG, SUPING; HO, KUOK SAN
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 051984/0879 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62824821 · Mar 27, 2019