METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSOR HAVING A NOVEL JUNCTION STRUCTURE FOR IMPROVED TRACK WIDTH DEFINITION AND PINNED LAYER STABILITY

摘要

A method for manufacturing a magnetoresistive sensor having improved pinned layer stability at small track widths. The sensor has substantially vertical side walls that define the track width of the sensor. The free layer terminates at the substantially vertical side walls, but the pinned layer structure or a portion thereof extends beyond the track width region into the field. The extended pinned layer structure provides improved resistance to amplitude flipping, while allowing the track width to remain small.