MAGNETIC SENSOR HAVING AN EXTENDED PINNED LAYER AND SHAPE ENHANCED BIAS STRUCTURE

摘要

A magnetic read sensor having an extended pinned layer structure and also having an extended free layer structure. The extended pinned layer structure and extended free layer structure both extend beyond the strip height of the free layer of the sensor to provide improved pinning strength as well as improved free layer biasing reliability and bias field strength.

主权项

1. A magnetic read sensor, comprising:
a sensor stack comprising a magnetic pinned layer structure, a magnetic free layer structure and a non-magnetic layer disposed between the magnetic pinned layer structure and magnetic free layer structure, the sensor stack having first and second sides, the free layer having a back edge terminating at a first stripe height as measured from an air bearing surface, and the pinned layer structure having an extended portion that extends beyond the stripe first height to a second stripe height; and first and second hard bias structures separated from the first and second sides of the sensor stack by first and second insulation layers the hard bias structures having a back edge that defines a hard bias stripe height that is longer than the first stripe height, but shorter than the second stripe height.