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US4972284A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Deposited permanent magnet for hard and easy axes biasing of a magnetoresistive head

Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1989-01-03
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Granted: 1990-11-20
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Expires: 2009-01-03
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Abstract

Abstract A previously disclosed "C" shaped thin film deposited permanent magnetic structure of essentially symmetrical form is designed to provide a planar region of transverse field with little or no longitudinal field component. Practice of the present invention teaches asymmetrically modifying the "C" shaped magnet to restore a small controlled amount of unidirectional longitudinal field component. The symmetry is broken by either angling the direction of magnetization of the magnet relative to the symmetric geometric form of the structure, or by angling the direction of the magnetization and also changing the geometric shape of the magnet from a "C" shape to an "L" shape. The resultant field distribution of the deposited asymmetrical magnetic structure produces a magnetic field of sufficient strength for biasing the hard axis of a coplanarly deposited MR element with an additional relatively smaller magnitude unidirectional easy axis field for longitudinally biasing it. The hard axis bias field magnitude decreases across the width of the magnetoresistive element. Thus, as the head wears and the magnetoresistive element resultantly decreases in width, the average hard axis field across the element increases in magnitude, automatically compensating for the increasing demagnetization fields in the magnetoresistive element.

Inventors

  • 👤 Neil Smith
  • 👤 John R. Shelor

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 22:18
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/127; G11B5/33; G11B5/39; G11B5/3903; H; H01; H01F; H01F7/00; H01F7/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 121 words
An improved thin film deposited magnetoresistive head comprising a non magnetic substrate and a rectangular magnetoresistive element deposited on said substrate, said magnetoresistive element having hard and easy axes therein, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a deposited magnetically isotropic structure proximate said magnetoresistive element, said magnetically isotropic structure having a rectangular center section and end tabs extending in the width direction therefrom, whereby said magnetically isotropic structure has a "C" shape, and b. means for magnetizing said magnetically isotropic structure to provide a permanent magnet, said magnet having a substantially uniform first field component for biasing said hard axis of said magnetoresistive element, and said magnet having a unidirectional second field component for biasing said easy axis of said magnetoresistive element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 121 words
An improved thin film deposited magnetoresistive head comprising a non magnetic substrate and a rectangular magnetoresistive element deposited on said substrate, said magnetoresistive element having hard and easy axes therein, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a deposited magnetically isotropic structure proximate said magnetoresistive element, said magnetically isotropic structure having a rectangular center section and end tabs extending in the width direction therefrom, whereby said magnetically isotropic structure has a "C" shape, and b. means for magnetizing said magnetically isotropic structure to provide a permanent magnet, said magnet having a substantially uniform first field component for biasing said hard axis of said magnetoresistive element, and said magnet having a unidirectional second field component for biasing said easy axis of said magnetoresistive element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 49 words
The improved magnetoresistive head of claim 1 wherein said means for magnetizing said magnetically isotropic structure induces permanent magnetization in said magnetically isotropic structure to produce said permanent magnet, wherein the direction of said magnetization is inclined at an angle with respect to the width direction of said magnet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The improved magnetoresistive head of claim 2 wherein said magnet is deposited on said substrate, whereby said magnet is coplanar with said magnetoresistive element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
The improved magnetoresistive head of claim 3 wherein a longitudinal edge of said magnetoresistive element is adjacent to, and parallel to the edge of said rectangular center section of said magnet which is away from the interior portion of said "C" shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The improved magnetoresistive head of claim 4 wherein said magnetoresistive element is centered relative to the ends of said rectangular center section of said magnet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 122 words
An improved thin film deposited magnetoresistive head comprising a non magnetic substrate and a rectangular magnetoresistive element deposited on said substrate, said magnetoresistive element having hard and easy axes therein, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a deposited magnetically isotropic structure proximate said magnetoresistive element, said magnetically isotropic structure having a rectangular center section and one end tab extending in the width direction therefrom, whereby said magnetically isotropic structure has an "L" shape, and b. means for magnetizing said magnetically isotropic structure to produce a permanent magnet, said magnet having a substantially uniform first field component for biasing said hard axis of said magnetoresistive element, and said magnet having a unidirectional second field component for biasing said easy axis of said magnetoresistive element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 122 words
An improved thin film deposited magnetoresistive head comprising a non magnetic substrate and a rectangular magnetoresistive element deposited on said substrate, said magnetoresistive element having hard and easy axes therein, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a deposited magnetically isotropic structure proximate said magnetoresistive element, said magnetically isotropic structure having a rectangular center section and one end tab extending in the width direction therefrom, whereby said magnetically isotropic structure has an "L" shape, and b. means for magnetizing said magnetically isotropic structure to produce a permanent magnet, said magnet having a substantially uniform first field component for biasing said hard axis of said magnetoresistive element, and said magnet having a unidirectional second field component for biasing said easy axis of said magnetoresistive element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 49 words
The improved magnetoresistive head of claim 6 wherein said means for magnetizing said magnetically isotropic structure induces permanent magnetization in said magnetically isotropic structure to produce said permanent magnet, wherein the direction of said magnetization is inclined at an angle with respect to the width direction of said magnet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
The improved magnetoresistive head of claim 7 wherein said magnet is deposited on said substrate, whereby said magnet is coplanar with said magnetoresistive element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 45 words
The improved magnetoresistive head of claim 8 wherein a longitudinal edge of said magnetoresistive element is adjacent to, and parallel to the edge of said rectangular center section of said magnet which is away from said edge and said tab that form said "L" shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
The improved magnetoresistive head of claim 9 wherein said magnetoresistive element is centered relative to the ends of said rectangular center section of said magnet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 93 words
A magnetoresistive reproduce head comprising: a. a non magnetic substrate, b. a track defining magnetoresistive element deposited on said substrate, c. a "C" shaped magnetically isotropic structure deposited on said substrate adjacent to said magnetoresistive element, and d. means for magnetizing said magnetically isotropic structure to induce permanent magnetization in said magnetically isotropic structure to provide a permanent magnet, wherein the direction of said magnetization is at an angle relative to the width of said magnet, whereby substantially uniform hard axis bias and unidirectional easy axis bias are provided to said magnetoresistive element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 93 words
A magnetoresistive reproduce head comprising: a. a non magnetic substrate, b. a track defining magnetoresistive element deposited on said substrate, c. a "C" shaped magnetically isotropic structure deposited on said substrate adjacent to said magnetoresistive element, and d. means for magnetizing said magnetically isotropic structure to induce permanent magnetization in said magnetically isotropic structure to provide a permanent magnet, wherein the direction of said magnetization is at an angle relative to the width of said magnet, whereby substantially uniform hard axis bias and unidirectional easy axis bias are provided to said magnetoresistive element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 14 words
The magnetoresistive head of claim 11 wherein said magnetically isotropic structure is deposited CoPt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 93 words
A magnetoresistive reproduce head comprising: a. a non magnetic substrate, b. a track defining magnetoresistive element deposited on said substrate, c. an "L" shaped magnetically isotropic structure deposited on said substrate adjacent to said magnetoresistive element, and d. means for magnetizing said magnetically isotropic structure to induce permanent magnetization in said magnetically isotropic structure to provide a permanent magnet, wherein the direction of said magnetization is at an angle relative to the width of said magnet, whereby substantially uniform hard axis bias and unidirectional easy axis bias are provided to said magnetoresistive element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 93 words
A magnetoresistive reproduce head comprising: a. a non magnetic substrate, b. a track defining magnetoresistive element deposited on said substrate, c. an "L" shaped magnetically isotropic structure deposited on said substrate adjacent to said magnetoresistive element, and d. means for magnetizing said magnetically isotropic structure to induce permanent magnetization in said magnetically isotropic structure to provide a permanent magnet, wherein the direction of said magnetization is at an angle relative to the width of said magnet, whereby substantially uniform hard axis bias and unidirectional easy axis bias are provided to said magnetoresistive element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 14 words
The magnetoresistive head of claim 13 wherein said magnetically isotropic structure is deposited CoPt.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB1437008A Cited
US4034414A Cited
US4277808A Cited
JPS6266413A Cited
JPS62137713A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-11-19 1994-05-21 1994-11-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-11-19 1998-05-21 1998-11-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-11-19 2002-05-21 2002-11-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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