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.

Date of Patent:
Aug. 31, 2004

Filed:

Feb. 04, 2002
Applicant:
Inventors:

Wen-Yaung Lee, San Jose, CA (US);

Tsann Lin, Saratoga, CA (US);

Daniele Mauri, San Jose, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G11B 5/39 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G11B 5/39 ;
Abstract

A read head is provided having having ultrathin read gap layers with improved insulative properties between a magnetoresistive sensor and ferromagnetic shield layers. The read head comprises a magnetoresistive sensor with first and second shield cap layers made of high resistivity permeable magnetic material formed between the first and second ferromagnetic shields and the first and second insulative read gap layers, respectively. The shield cap layers made of Fe—Hf—O material, or alternatively, the Mn—Zn ferrite material provide highly resistive or insulating soft ferromagnetic layers which add to the electrically insulative read gap layers to provide increased electrical insulation of the spin valve sensor from the metallic ferromagnetic shields while not adding to the magnetic read gap of the read head. The extra insulation provided by the highly resistive shield cap layers makes it possible to use ultrathin insulative first and second read gap layers without increased risk of electrical shorting between the spin valve sensor and the ferromagnetic first and second shields.


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