US 12,394,432 B2
Non-localized spin valve reader hybridized with spin orbit torque layer
Quang Le, San Jose, CA (US); Xiaoyong Liu, San Jose, CA (US); Brian R. York, San Jose, CA (US); Cherngye Hwang, San Jose, CA (US); Son T. Le, San Jose, CA (US); Hisashi Takano, Fujisawa (JP); Fan Tuo, Fujisawa (JP); Hassan Osman, San Jose, CA (US); and Nam Hai Pham, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA (US); and Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA (US); and Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Sep. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/367,877.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/521,819, filed on Jun. 19, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0420732 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. G11B 5/31 (2006.01)
CPC G11B 5/315 (2013.01) 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.