Non-localized spin valve reader hybridized with spin orbit torque layer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12394432-B2
Application number	US-202318367877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2023
Priority date	Jun 19, 2023
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic recording head comprising a read head. The read head comprises a sensor disposed at a media facing surface (MFS) and a spin generator spaced from the sensor and recessed from the MFS. The sensor and spin generators are disposed on a non-magnetic layer. The sensor comprises a free layer and the spin generator comprises at least one spin orbit torque (SOT) layer. The SOT layer may comprise topological material such as BiSb. The sensor is configured to detect a read signal using a first voltage lead and a second voltage lead. The spin generator is configured to inject spin current through the non-magnetic layer to the sensor using a first current lead and a second current lead. The shape of the non-magnetic layer is a triangular or trapezoidal shape to further concentrate spin current.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A read head, comprising:
a first shield;
a second shield;
a non-magnetic layer disposed between the first shield and the second shield;
a sensor disposed between the non-magnetic layer and the second shield at a media facing surface (MFS), the sensor comprising a free layer, a first tunnel barrier layer, and a first cap layer, wherein the first tunnel barrier layer is disposed on the non-magnetic layer and the first cap layer is disposed on the free layer; and
a spin generator disposed adjacent to the non-magnetic layer and recessed from the MFS by a first distance, the spin generator being spaced from the sensor, wherein the spin generator comprises a spin orbit torque (SOT) layer, a seed layer, and a second cap layer disposed on the SOT layer, wherein the first distance is greater than a height of the free layer as measured from the MFS, and wherein the seed layer is disposed on non-magnetic layer.

2. The read head of claim 1 , wherein the spin generator is disposed between the non-magnetic layer and the second shield.

3. The read head of claim 1 , further comprising:
a negative voltage lead connected to the non-magnetic layer;
a positive voltage lead connected to the second shield;
a positive current lead connected to the SOT layer; and
a negative current lead connected to the SOT layer, wherein the positive and negative current leads are aligned to provide a current path through the SOT layer in a cross-track direction.

4. The read head of claim 1 , further comprising:
a negative current lead connected to the first shield;
a positive current lead connected to the second shield;
a positive voltage lead connected to the SOT layer; and
a negative voltage lead connected to the SOT layer.

5. The read head of claim 1 , further comprising:
a negative current lead connected to the non-magnetic layer;
a positive current lead connected to the second shield;
a positive voltage lead connected to the SOT layer; and
a negative voltage lead connected to the SOT layer.

6. The read head of claim 1 , wherein the SOT layer comprises a topological insulating material.

7. The read head of claim 6 , wherein the topological insulating material is BiSb.

8. The read head of claim 1 , wherein the non-magnetic layer comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion have a greater width than the second portion, wherein the first portion is disposed adjacent to the spin generator and the second portion is disposed adjacent to the sensor.

9. The read head of claim 1 , wherein the spin generator is disposed between the non-magnetic layer and the first shield.

10. A magnetic recording head comprising the read head of claim 1 .

11. A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 10 .

12. A read head, comprising:
a first shield;
a second shield;
a non-magnetic layer disposed between the first shield and the second shield;
a sensor disposed between the non-magnetic layer and the second shield at a media facing surface (MFS), the sensor comprising a free layer, a first tunnel barrier layer and a first cap layer;
a spin generator disposed adjacent to the non-magnetic layer and recessed from the MFS by a first distance, the spin generator being spaced from the sensor, wherein the spin generator comprises a spin orbit torque (SOT) layer and a seed layer, and wherein the first distance is greater than a height of the free layer as measured from the MFS;
a negative voltage lead connected to the first shield;
a positive voltage lead connected to the second shield;
a positive current lead connected to the SOT layer; and
a negative current lead connected to the SOT layer, wherein the positive and negative current leads are aligned to provide a current path through the SOT layer in a cross-track direction.

13. A magnetic recording device, comprising:
a read head, the read head comprising:
a first shield, the first shield comprising a shield notch;
a second shield;
a non-magnetic layer disposed between the shield notch and the second shield;
a sensor disposed between the non-magnetic layer and the second shield at a media facing surface (MFS), the sensor comprising a free layer; and

a spin generator disposed recessed from the MFS, the spin generator being spaced from the sensor, wherein the spin generator comprises:
a first spin orbit torque (SOT) layer disposed between the first shield and the non-magnetic layer; and
a second SOT layer disposed between the non-magnetic layer and the second shield.

14. The magnetic recording device of claim 13 , wherein the first SOT layer is disposed adjacent to the shield notch, and wherein the second SOT layer is disposed adjacent to the free layer.

15. The magnetic recording device of claim 13 , wherein the non-magnetic layer extends between the sensor and the spin generator, and wherein the non-magnetic layer has a height of about 100 nm to about 300 nm.

16. The magnetic recording device of claim 13 , wherein the read head further comprises:
a first negative current lead connected to the first SOT layer;
a first positive current lead connected to the first SOT layer;
a second positive current lead connected to the second SOT layer, the second positive current lead being disposed adjacent to the first negative current lead; and
a second negative current lead connected to the second SOT layer, the second negative current lead being disposed adjacent to the first positive current lead.

17. The magnetic recording device of claim 13 , wherein the read head further comprises:
a first negative voltage lead connected to the first SOT layer;
a first positive voltage lead connected to the first SOT layer;
a second positive voltage lead connected to the second SOT layer, the second positive voltage lead being disposed adjacent to the first negative voltage lead; and
a second negative voltage lead connected to the second SOT layer, the second negative voltage lead being disposed adjacent to the first positive voltage lead.

18. The magnetic recording device of claim 13 , wherein the read head further comprises a non-magnetic notch disposed between the shield notch and the non-magnetic layer.

19. The magnetic recording device of claim 13 , wherein the spin generator is disposed between the first shield and the second shield.

20. A magnetic recording device, comprising:
a read head, the read head comprising:
a first shield;
a second shield;
a non-magnetic layer disposed between the first shield and the second shield;
a sensor disposed between the first shield and the second shield at a media facing surface (MFS), the sensor comprising a first free layer; and
a spin generator disposed recessed from the MFS, the spin generator being spaced from the sensor, wherein the spin generator comprises:
a first spin orbit torque (SOT) layer disposed between the first shield and the non-magnetic layer; and
a second SOT layer disposed between the non-magnetic layer and the second shield.

21. The magnetic recording device of claim 20 , wherein the read head further comprises:
a first negative current lead connected to the first SOT layer;
a first positive current lead connected to the first SOT layer;
a second positive current lead connected to the second SOT layer, the second positive current lead being disposed adjacent to the first negative current lead; and
a second negative current lead connected to the second SOT layer, the second negative current lead being disposed a

Assignees

• Western Digital Tech Inc
• Tokyo Inst Tech

Inventors

• Le Quang
• Liu Xiaoyong
• York Brian R
• Hwang Cherngye
• Le Son T
• Takano Hisashi
• Tuo FAN
• Osman Hassan
• Pham Nam Hai

Classifications

• G11B5/3932

  Magnetic biasing films · CPC title

• G11B2005/3996

  large or giant magnetoresistive effects [GMR], e.g. as generated in spin-valve [SV] devices · CPC title

• G11B5/3909

  Arrangements using a magnetic tunnel junction · CPC title

• G11B5/3912

  Arrangements in which the active read-out elements are transducing in association with active magnetic shields, e.g. magnetically coupled shields (G11B5/3916 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G11B5/315 Primary

  Shield layers on both sides of the main pole, e.g. in perpendicular magnetic heads · CPC title