Hgst Netherlands, B.v.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.v.

Tsutomu Yasuda

Hideki Mashima

Nobuo Yoshida

Iwata Norihiro

Koji Sakamoto

Koichi Nishioka

Takahiro Ibusuki

Masashi Hattori

The embodiments disclosed generally relate to a magnetic recording head having three magnetoresistive effect elements. The structure comprises a first magnetoresistive effect element on a lower magnetic shield layer. Additionally, two lower electrodes are disposed on the two sides of the first magnetoresistive effect element. A second magnetoresistive effect element is disposed on a lower electrode while a third magnetoresistive effect element on another lower electrode. An upper magnetic shield layer is disposed between the second magnetoresistive effect element and the third magnetoresistive effect element. The upper magnetic shield also serves as an electrode of the first magnetoresistive effect element.

Zig-zag MIMO head reducing space between three sensors

A magnetic sensor having reduced read gap thickness, reduced signal noise and improved signal to noise ratio. The sensor includes a sensor stack and hard bias structures formed at either side of the sensor stack for biasing the free layer of the sensor. A protective layer is formed over a portion of the hard bias structure, however a portion of the hard bias structure extends upward toward the upper shield and is disposed between the protective layer and the sensor stack as a result of the process used to form the magnetic bias structure. This portion of the hard bias structure that extends toward the upper shield has a reduced magnetization relative to the rest of the hard bias structure so that it will not magnetically couple with the upper shield.

Read sensor having a structure for reducing magnetic coupling between a magnetic bias layer and an upper magnetic shield

In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a magnetoresistive free layer, wherein a width of the free layer nearest an air bearing surface (ABS) is less than a width of the free layer at a point away from the ABS in a track width direction, with the magnetic head being configured to pass a sense current in a direction perpendicular to a plane of deposition of the free layer. In another embodiment, a method includes forming a magnetoresistive film above a shield, forming a masking layer above the magnetoresistive film, patterning the masking layer such that it exposes portions of the magnetoresistive film, wherein the masking layer defines an area which is narrow near an area that forms an ABS side of a free layer and wider at an area away from the ABS, and removing the exposed portions of the magnetoresistive film to form the free layer.

Magnetic head with wide sensor back edge, low resistance, and high signal to-noise ratio and methods of production thereof

Growing community of inventors

Odawara, Japan

Tsutomu Yasuda