US5258884A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetoresistive read transducer containing a titanium and tungsten alloy spacer layer
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1991-10-17
•
Granted: 1993-11-02
•
Expires: 2011-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A magnetoresistive (MR) read transducer has a thin film MR layer of ferromagnetic material and a nonmagnetic spacer layer in contact with the MR layer. The thin film spacer layer comprises an alloy of titanium (Ti) and tungsten (W) having a high resistivity. A thin film of soft magnetic material is deposited in contact with the nonmagnetic spacer layer so that the soft magnetic material is positioned parallel to, but spaced from, the MR layer. A feature of the invention is that the resistivity of the nonmagnetic spacer layer can be a specific value selected from a broad range of resistivity values by selecting the thickness, the Ti content, and/or the nitrogen content of the nonmagnetic spacer layer.
Inventors
- 👤 James K. Howard
- 👤 Cherngye Hwang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:38
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/127; G11B5/33; G11B5/39; G11B5/3903; G11B5/399
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A magnetoresistive read transducer comprising: a thin magnetoresistive layer of ferromagnetic material; a nonmagnetic spacer layer in contact with said magnetoresistive layer, said nonmagnetic spacer layer comprising an alloy of titanium and tungsten having a high resistivity; and a thin film of soft magnetic material parallel to said magnetoresistive layer in contact with said nonmagnetic layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A magnetoresistive read transducer comprising: a thin magnetoresistive layer of ferromagnetic material; a nonmagnetic spacer layer in contact with said magnetoresistive layer, said nonmagnetic spacer layer comprising an alloy of titanium and tungsten having a high resistivity; and a thin film of soft magnetic material parallel to said magnetoresistive layer in contact with said nonmagnetic layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The magnetoresistive read transducer of claim 1 wherein the resistivity of said nonmagnetic spacer layer has a value predetermined by the titanium content of said nonmagnetic spacer layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The magnetoresistive read transducer of claim 2 wherein said titanium content of said nonmagnetic spacer layer is within the range of approximately 10-30% titanium by weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The magnetoresistive read transducer of claim 1 wherein the resistivity of said nonmagnetic spacer layer is established by the inclusion of a small nitrogen content in said nonmagnetic spacer layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The magnetoresistive read transducer of claim 4 wherein the nitrogen content of said nonmagnetic spacer layer is within the range of approximately 1-2%
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The magnetoresistive read transducer of claim 1 wherein said thin film of soft magnetic material is formed on a substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A magnetoresistive transducer comprising: a magnetoresistive layer of ferromagnetic material; a nonmagnetic spacer layer in contact with said magnetoresistive layer, said nonmagnetic spacer layer comprising an alloy of titanium, tungsten and nitrogen having a high resistivity; and a layer of soft magnetic material parallel to said magnetoresistive layer and in contact with said nonmagnetic layer, said layer of soft magnetic material spaced from said magnetoresistive layer by said nonmagnetic spacer layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
A magnetoresistive transducer comprising: a magnetoresistive layer of ferromagnetic material; a nonmagnetic spacer layer in contact with said magnetoresistive layer, said nonmagnetic spacer layer comprising an alloy of titanium, tungsten and nitrogen having a high resistivity; and a layer of soft magnetic material parallel to said magnetoresistive layer and in contact with said nonmagnetic layer, said layer of soft magnetic material spaced from said magnetoresistive layer by said nonmagnetic spacer layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A magnetoresistive transducer as in claim 7 wherein the nitrogen content of said nonmagnetic spacer layer is within the range of approximately 1 to 2 percent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A magnetoresistive transducer as in claim 7 wherein the titanium content of said nonmagnetic spacer layer is within the range of approximately 10 to 30 percent by weight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A magnetoresistive transducer as in claim 9 wherein the nitrogen content of said nonmagnetic spacer layer is within the range of approximately 1 to 2 percent and said titanium content is approximately 15 percent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A magnetoresistive transducer as in claim 10 wherein the thickness of said nonmagnetic spacer layer is approximately 200 angstroms.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3814863A
Cited
US3967368A
Cited
US3864751A
Cited
US4037264A
Cited
US4668913A
Cited
US4663685A
Cited
US4843506A
Cited
US4713708A
Cited
US4785366A
Cited
US4879619A
Cited
US4914538A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-01 | 1997-05-03 | 1997-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-01 | 2001-05-03 | 2001-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-01 | 2005-05-03 | 2005-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |