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:
May. 26, 2009
Filed:
Jul. 03, 2003
Hideo Fujiwara, Tuscaloosa, AL (US);
Keiichi Nagasaka, Kawasaki, JP;
Tong Zhao, Milpitas, CA (US);
William H. Butler, Tuscaloosa, AL (US);
Julian Velev, Tuscaloosa, AL (US);
Amrit Bandyopadhyay, Tuscaloosa, AL (US);
Hideo Fujiwara, Tuscaloosa, AL (US);
Keiichi Nagasaka, Kawasaki, JP;
Tong Zhao, Milpitas, CA (US);
William H. Butler, Tuscaloosa, AL (US);
Julian Velev, Tuscaloosa, AL (US);
Amrit Bandyopadhyay, Tuscaloosa, AL (US);
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (US);
Fujitsu, Ltd., Kawasaki-shi, JP;
Abstract
A CPP spin-valve element formed on a substrate including a free layer structure including at least one ferromagnetic layer and a pinned layer structure including at least one ferromagnetic layer. The free layer is magnetically softer than the pinned layer. A thin non-magnetic spacer layer structure configured to separate the free layer and the pinned layer is provided in order to prevent a magnetic coupling between the free and pinned layer structures, and to allow an electric current to go there through. At least two current-confining (CC) layer structures including at least two parts having significantly different current conductivities are incorporated therein.