DFL Reader Signal Sidebump Imbalance Reduction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025273236-A1
Application number	US-202519208323-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 14, 2025
Priority date	Dec 5, 2023
Publication date	Aug 28, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A dual free layer (DFL) read head oftentimes has a sidebump in a signal amplitude vs. cross-track profile plot. The sidebump is a magnetic signal of the reader in response to the magnetic field of magnetic media. The sidebump magnitude is far below the main magnetic signal of the reader and is offset from the center of the track in the cross-track direction. The sidebump presence indicates that the magnetic signal of the reader is a little out of phase. When a pair of sidebumps is present, the sidebump should be symmetrically offset in the cross-track direction else there is a negative impact on reader performance. To obtain offset symmetry, a synthetic antiferromagnetic shield may be used, magnetic moments of soft bias layers can be adjusted, and spacing between the free layers of the DFL read head and the layers of the soft bias can also be adjusted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A magnetic read head, comprising:
a first shield; a first free layer disposed over the first shield; a first insulating layer disposed on the first free layer; a second free layer disposed on the first insulating layer; a soft bias structure disposed laterally, in a cross-track direction at a media facing surface (MFS), adjacent the first free layer and the second free layer, wherein the soft bias structure includes:
a first soft bias layer having a first magnetic moment; and
a second soft bias layer having a second magnetic moment different from the first magnetic moment;
a rear bias structure recessed from the MFS; and a second shield disposed over the second free layer and the soft bias structure.

2 . The magnetic read head of claim 1 , wherein the second soft bias layer is disposed over the first soft bias layer and wherein the second magnetic moment is greater than the first magnetic moment.

3 . The magnetic read head of claim 1 , wherein the first shield includes a notch and wherein the notch has a width at the cross-track direction at the MFS substantially equal to a width of the first free layer at the MFS.

4 . The magnetic read head of claim 3 , wherein the notch contributes additional biasing to the first free layer, and wherein the additional biasing plus biasing provided by the first soft bias layer to the first free layer is substantially equal to biasing provided to the second free layer by the second soft bias layer.

5 . The magnetic read head of claim 1 , wherein the first soft bias layer comprises a first magnetic material, wherein the second soft bias layer comprises a second magnetic material that is different than the first magnetic material.

6 . The magnetic read head of claim 1 , wherein the first soft bias layer is spaced a first distance from the first free layer, wherein the second soft bias layer is spaced a second distance from the second free layer, and wherein the first distance and the second distance are different.

7 . The magnetic read head of claim 6 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

8 . A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic read head of claim 1 .

9 . A magnetic read head, comprising:
a first shield; a first free layer disposed over the first shield; a first insulating layer disposed on the first free layer; a second free layer disposed on the first insulating layer; a soft bias structure disposed laterally, in a cross-track direction at a media facing surface (MFS), adjacent the first free layer and the second free layer, wherein the soft bias structure includes:
a first soft bias layer spaced a first distance from the first free layer; and
a second soft bias layer spaced a second distance from the second free layer, wherein the second distance is different from the first distance;
a rear bias structure recessed from the MFS; and a second shield disposed over the second free layer and the soft bias structure.

10 . The magnetic read head of claim 9 , wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.

11 . The magnetic read head of claim 9 , wherein the soft bias structure further includes a ruthenium layer disposed between the first soft bias layer and the second soft bias layer.

12 . The magnetic read head of claim 11 , wherein the ruthenium layer is spaced the second distance from a second insulating layer disposed between the first free layer and the second free layer.

13 . The magnetic read head of claim 9 , wherein the first soft bias layer has a first magnetic moment, wherein the second soft bias layer has a second magnetic moment, and wherein the first magnetic moment is substantially equal to the second magnetic moment.

14 . A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic read head of claim 9 .

15 . A magnetic read head, comprising:
a first shield; a first free layer disposed over the first shield; a first insulating layer disposed on the first free layer; a second free layer disposed on the first insulating layer; a soft bias structure disposed laterally, in a cross-track direction at a media facing surface (MFS), adjacent the first free layer and the second free layer, wherein the soft bias structure includes:
a first soft bias layer having a first width; and
a second soft bias layer having a second width different than the first width;
a rear bias structure recessed from the MFS; and a second shield disposed over the second free layer and the soft bias structure.

16 . The magnetic read head of claim 15 , wherein the second width is greater than the first width.

17 . The magnetic read head of claim 15 , wherein the first soft bias layer is spaced a first distance from the first free layer, and the second soft bias layer is paced a second distance from the second free layer, the second distance being less than the first distance.

18 . The magnetic read head of claim 15 , wherein the soft bias structure further includes a ruthenium layer disposed between the first soft bias layer and the second soft bias layer.

19 . The magnetic read head of claim 15 , wherein the ruthenium layer has the second width of the second soft bias layer.

20 . A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic read head of claim 15 .

Assignees

• Western Digital Tech Inc

Inventors

• Liu Xiaoyong
• Wang Songzi
• Baião De Albuquerque Goncalo
• Okada Yukimasa
• Xiang Xiaohai

Classifications

• G11B2005/3996

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

• G11B5/3954

  the active elements transducing on a single track · CPC title

• G11B5/398 Primary

  Specially shaped layers · CPC title

• G11B5/3909

  Arrangements using a magnetic tunnel junction · CPC title

• G11B5/3932

  Magnetic biasing films · CPC title