The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 28, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 17, 2000
Shuxiang Li, Saku, JP;
Satoru Araki, Saku, JP;
TDK Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A current perpendicular-to-the-plane magnetoresistance (CPP-MR) read head includes a top shield, a bottom shield, and a giant magnetoresistance structure. Top and bottom shields are formed of magnetically shielding, electrically conductive material. The GMR structure is disposed between the top shield and the bottom shield with the GMR structure being in electrical contact with the top and bottom shield such that a sense current flows from one of the top and bottom shields through the GMR structure to the other one of the top and bottom shields. A metal pillar is electrically connected to one of the top and bottom shields. The metal pillar carries the sense current and is disposed such that the current flows in a direction generally perpendicular-to-the-plane of the GMR structure. Depending on the particular application, the read head can be configured so that current flowing in the metal pillar provides either a longitudinal or a transverse bias to the giant magnetoresistance structure.