Scissor magnetic read head with wrap-around magnetic shield

Abstract

A magnetic scissor type magnetic read head having magnetic side shielding for reduced effective track width and having side biasing for improved stability. The read head includes first and magnetic side shields that each include first and second magnetic layers and an anti-parallel exchange coupling layer sandwiched there-between. The magnetic layers of the side shields are anti-parallel coupled with one another such that one of the magnetic layers has its magnetization oriented in a first direction parallel with the air bearing surface and the second magnetic layer has its magnetization oriented in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction and also parallel with the air bearing surface. These magnetizations of the first and second magnetic layers provide a bias field that stabilizes the magnetization of the free magnetic layers of the sensor stack to prevent flipping of the magnetizations of these layers.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to magnetic data recording and more particularly to a scissor style magnetic read sensor with a wrap around shield for reduced track width and reduced gap thickness.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The heart of a computer is an assembly that is referred to as a magnetic disk drive. The magnetic disk drive includes a rotating magnetic disk, write and read heads that are suspended by a suspension arm adjacent to a surface of the rotating magnetic disk and an actuator that swings the suspension arm to place the read and write heads over selected circular tracks on the rotating disk. The read and write heads are directly located on a slider that has an air bearing surface (ABS). The suspension arm biases the slider into contact with the surface of the disk when the disk is not rotating, but when the disk rotates air is swirled by the rotating disk. When the slider rides on the air bearing, the write and read heads are employed fo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a magnetic side shield that helps improve track density and data density in sensors by reducing the effective track-width. The side shield also provides a magnetic biasing that prevents flipping of the magnetizations of the sensor's free layers, which makes the sensor more stable and reliable.

Problems solved by technology

However, physical limitations as well as manufacturing limitations have constrained the amount by which the track width and gap thickness of the magnetic read head can be reduced.

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