IP Library Granted Patent US 10,789,977
Granted Patent B1
US 10,789,977 · App. 16/453,986 · Granted Sep 29, 2020

Spin orbital torque via spin hall effect based energy assisted magnetic recording

Inventors: Suping Song (Fremont, CA); Zhanjie Li (Pleasanton, CA); Terence Lam (Cupertino, CA); Lijie Guan (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
G11B5/3906G11B5/6082G11B2005/0005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,789,977
App. No.
16/453,986
Granted
Sep 29, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

A magnetic recording head includes a trailing shield, a main pole, and a spin Hall layer. The spin Hall layer is disposed between the trailing shield and the main pole. A first spin torque layer is disposed between the spin Hall layer and the trailing shield. A second spin torque layer is disposed between the spin Hall layer and the main pole.

Claims (64)

1. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a trailing shield;

a main pole;

a spin Hall layer between the trailing shield and the main pole;

a first spin torque layer (STL) between the spin Hall layer and the trailing shield; and

a second spin torque layer (STL) between the spin Hall layer and the main pole.

2. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the first STL and the second STL each comprises a negative magnetic anisotropy material.

3. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the first STL and the second STL each have a thickness from about 3 nm to about 5 nm.

4. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the spin Hall layer comprises a heavy metal selected from a group consisting of beta phase tungsten (β-W), beta phase tantalum (β-Ta), platinum (Pt), hafnium (Hf), an alloy of tungsten, an alloy of tellurium (Te), bismuth doped copper, antiferromagnetic materials, and multiple layers thereof.

5. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the spin Hall layer is from about 3 nm to about 8 nm.

6. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the spin Hall layer, the first STL, and the second STL form a flat surface at a media facing surface of the magnetic recording head.

7. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the spin Hall layer, the first STL, the second STL, the trailing shield, and the main pole form a flat surface at a media facing surface of the magnetic recording head.

8. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first charge current blocking layer between the first STL and the spin Hall layer and the trailing shield; and

a second charge current blocking layer between the second STL and the spin Hall layer and the trailing shield.

9. A magnetic media drive, comprising:

a magnetic recording head, the magnetic recording head comprising:

a trailing shield;

a main pole;

a spin Hall layer between the trailing shield and the main pole;

a first spin torque layer (STL) between the spin Hall layer and the trailing shield; and

a second spin torque layer (STL) between the spin Hall layer and the main pole.

10. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a trailing shield;

a main pole;

a coil around the main pole:

a spin Hall layer between the trailing shield and the main pole;

a trailing-shield-facing spin torque layer (STL) between the spin Hall layer and the trailing shield; and

a main-pole-facing spin torque layer (STL) between the spin Hall layer and the main pole,

wherein the spin Hall layer is adapted to transmit a charge current in a cross-track direction between the trailing shield and the main pole.

11. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein the coil is adapted to excite the main pole in a main pole magnetization direction and to excite the trailing shield in a trailing shield magnetization direction.

12. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein the spin Hall layer is adapted to transmit a spin orbital torque to switch a magnetization of the trailing-shield-facing STL in a direction similar to a trailing shield magnetization direction and to switch a magnetization of the main-pole-facing STL in a direction similar to a main pole magnetization direction.

13. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein the spin Hall layer is adapted to transmit a spin orbital torque to cause in-plane switching of a magnetization direction of the trailing-shield-facing STL and to cause in-plane switching of a magnetization direction of the main-pole-facing STL.

14. The magnetic recording head of claim 13 , wherein the in-plane switching of the magnetization direction of the trailing-shield-facing STL and the in-plane switching of the magnetization direction of the main-pole-facing STL generates a DC field in a same direction as a write field between the main pole and the trailing shield.

15. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein the spin Hall layer comprises beta phase tungsten (β-W), beta phase Tantalum (β-Ta), platinum (Pt), or combinations thereof.

16. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein the trailing-shield-facing STL and the main-pole-facing STL each comprises a negative magnetic anisotropy material.

17. A magnetic media drive, comprising:

a magnetic recording head, the magnetic recording head comprising:

a trailing shield;

a main pole;

a coil around the main pole:

a spin Hall layer between the trailing shield and the main pole;

a trailing-shield-facing spin torque layer (STL) between the spin Hall layer and the trailing shield; and

a main-pole-facing spin torque layer (STL) between the spin Hall layer and the main pole,

wherein the spin Hall layer is adapted to transmit a charge current in a cross-track direction between the trailing shield and the main pole.

18. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a trailing shield;

a main pole;

a spin Hall layer between the trailing shield and the main pole;

a first spin torque layer (STL) between the spin Hall layer and the trailing shield;

a second spin torque layer (STL) between the spin Hall layer and the main pole; a first charge current blocking layer between the first STL and the spin Hall layer; and a second charge current blocking layer between the second STL and the spin Hall layer.

19. The magnetic recording head of claim 18 , wherein the first charge current blocking layer and the second charge current blocking layer each comprises a material that is a charge current insulator and a spin current conductor.

20. The magnetic recording head of claim 18 , wherein the first charge current blocking layer and the second charge current blocking layer each comprises a material selected from a group consisting of magnesium oxide and yttrium iron garnet.

21. The magnetic recording head of claim 18 , wherein the first charge current blocking layer and the second charge current blocking layer are each formed to a thickness from about 0.5 nm to about 1.5 nm.

22. The magnetic recording head of claim 18 , wherein the spin Hall layer comprises beta phase tungsten (β-W), beta phase Tantalum (β-Ta), platinum (Pt), or combinations thereof, and wherein the first STL and the second STL each comprises one or more layers of CoFe, CoIr, NiFe, CoFeX alloy wherein X is chosen from B, Ta, Re, Ir, or combinations thereof.

23. A magnetic media drive, comprising:

a magnetic recording head, the magnetic recording head comprising:

a trailing shield;

a main pole;

a spin Hall layer between the trailing shield and the main pole;

a first spin torque layer (STL) between the spin Hall layer and the trailing shield;

a second spin torque layer (STL) between the spin Hall layer and the main pole;

a first charge current blocking layer between the first STL and the spin Hall layer; and

a second charge current blocking layer between the second STL and the spin Hall layer.

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 052915 FRAME 0566 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 059127/0001 →
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 Jul 22, 2019
From: SONG, SUPING; LI, ZHANJIE; LAM, TERENCE; GUAN, LIJIE
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 049814/0709 →
Cited By (4)
US 12,249,358 US 12,315,538 US 12,380,923 US 12,444,434