WO2007105459A1 - 磁気抵抗効果型薄膜磁気ヘッド及びその製造方法 - Google Patents
磁気抵抗効果型薄膜磁気ヘッド及びその製造方法 Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2007105459A1 WO2007105459A1 PCT/JP2007/053392 JP2007053392W WO2007105459A1 WO 2007105459 A1 WO2007105459 A1 WO 2007105459A1 JP 2007053392 W JP2007053392 W JP 2007053392W WO 2007105459 A1 WO2007105459 A1 WO 2007105459A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- layer
- soft magnetic
- magnetic head
- film
- cap
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
- G11B5/127—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
- G11B5/31—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive using thin films
- G11B5/3163—Fabrication methods or processes specially adapted for a particular head structure, e.g. using base layers for electroplating, using functional layers for masking, using energy or particle beams for shaping the structure or modifying the properties of the basic layers
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
- G11B5/127—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
- G11B5/33—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only
- G11B5/39—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects
- G11B5/3903—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects using magnetic thin film layers or their effects, the films being part of integrated structures
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
- G11B5/127—Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
- G11B5/33—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only
- G11B5/39—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects
- G11B5/3903—Structure or manufacture of flux-sensitive heads, i.e. for reproduction only; Combination of such heads with means for recording or erasing only using magneto-resistive devices or effects using magnetic thin film layers or their effects, the films being part of integrated structures
- G11B5/398—Specially shaped layers
Definitions
- Magnetoresistive thin-film magnetic head and manufacturing method thereof
- the present invention is applied to a device that performs high-density recording and reproduction on a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic disk device (HDD device), and in particular, a magnetoresistive effect type that can optimize a gap length with high accuracy.
- the present invention relates to a thin film magnetic head and a manufacturing method thereof.
- the CPP Current Perpendicular to Plane
- the CPP Current Perpendicular to Plane structure refers to a structure in which a sense current flows perpendicularly to the film surface of the MR laminated film.
- a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head in which an MR laminated film or the like having a cap layer as an upper layer is formed on the upper side of the lower shield layer, and an upper shield layer is formed thereon.
- the head gap length is generally equal to the distance between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer.
- the gap length of the head has been determined so as to be determined at the following manufacturing stage.
- a lower shield layer, a buffer layer, an MR laminated film, a cap layer, and the like are formed on a substrate (not shown).
- fine processing is performed.
- microfabrication is a figure 2 (b)
- this is a process for forming a trapezoidal MR laminated film having inclined side surfaces, and is performed using an apparatus such as ion milling or RIE (reactive ion etching), for example.
- at least an insulating layer is formed on the micro-processed MR laminated film with the cap layer as an upper layer. That is, first, as an insulating layer, for example, an Al 2 O layer is formed (FIG. 2 (b)),
- a hard bias layer and an insulating layer are sequentially stacked on the upper side (shown in FIG. 2 (c)).
- the flattening process is a process in which a part of the insulating layer stacked on the cap layer is removed by CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) or IBE (Ion Beam Etching) to expose the lower layer. (Fig. 2 (d)).
- FIG. 2 (d) The state shown in FIG. 2 (d) is obtained, that is, the cap layer is removed (etched) to a predetermined thickness, so that the gap length of the head is finally determined (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003). — 2 03313).
- FIG. 2 (e) schematically illustrates only the process of determining the gap length in this conventional magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head manufacturing method.
- the left side of Fig. 2 (e) corresponds to the state of Fig. 2 (b), and the right side of Fig. 2 (e) corresponds to the state of Fig. 2 (d).
- the gap length is controlled by removing the cap layer to a predetermined thickness by CMP, IBE, or the like. Since it was performed by exposing the yap layer, several problems occurred.
- the cap layer made of a non-magnetic material plays a role of blocking contact with a gas that causes damage such as oxidation to the magnetic film such as a free layer forming the MR laminated film under the cap layer. Yes. In addition, it plays a role in preventing magnetic interaction between the MR laminated film under the cap layer and the upper shield layer formed on the cap layer and having a soft magnetic material force.
- the average particle diameter of the slurry is preferably 50 nm or less. Or a slurry of 10 nm or less must be used. However, even if the polishing rate was adjusted using such a slurry, it was difficult to control the 5- to LOnm film thickness required by the cap layer without variation.
- cap layer is etched by CMP, IBE, or the like that causes variations as described above, it is assumed that the variation in etching amount is assumed in advance, and the cap layer is deposited thicker than necessary. It was necessary to form a margin.
- Patent Document 1 JP 2003-203313
- the present invention provides a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head suitable for optimizing the gap length of a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head having a CPP structure magnetoresistive element with high accuracy and with less variation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a manufacturing method and a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head manufactured thereby. That is, the gap length without preparing a preliminary thickness as an etching margin in the cap layer can be optimized with high accuracy, and is suitable for manufacturing a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head with a narrow gap length.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head and a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head manufactured thereby. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head which has a narrow gap length and is accurately optimized with little variation.
- the present invention provides a magnetoresistive effect in which a magnetoresistive laminated film having a cap layer as an upper layer is formed on a lower shield layer, and an upper shield layer is formed thereon.
- Type thin film magnetic head before the upper shield layer is formed A soft magnetic layer made of a soft magnetic material is laminated on the cap layer, and the upper shield layer is formed on the soft magnetic layer exposed by a flattening process, and the soft magnetic layer.
- the present invention proposes a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head which is integrated with the upper shield layer and functions as an upper shield layer.
- a method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head proposed by the present invention includes a cap layer and an upper layer on a lower shield layer formed on a substrate.
- a magnetoresistive layer film is formed, a soft magnetic layer made of a soft magnetic material is formed on the cap layer, microfabrication is performed, and then the soft magnetic layer is formed on the cap layer.
- the insulating layer is partially removed to expose the soft magnetic layer, and an upper shield layer is formed on the exposed surface of the soft magnetic layer.
- the soft magnetic layer made of a soft magnetic material is laminated on the cap layer before the upper shield layer is formed.
- the upper shield layer is formed on the soft magnetic layer, and the soft magnetic layer is integrated with the upper shield layer and functions as the upper shield layer.
- the gap length is not determined by etching the cap layer by CMP, IBE, or the like, as in the conventional method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head having a CPP structure.
- the gap length between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer is determined from the upper side surface of the lower shield layer to the upper side surface of the cap layer (soft) when the laminated film including the cap layer is first formed.
- the length to the surface of the soft magnetic layer made of a magnetic material is determined.
- the gap length of the magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head having the CPP structure can be determined with high accuracy by the film thickness when the magnetoresistive multilayer film is formed.
- the cap layer is not made thicker than the optimum film thickness, thereby eliminating the etching margin.
- the upper shield layer made of the soft magnetic material is laminated on the surface of the soft magnetic layer laminated on the cap layer, the upper shield layer is laminated on the cap layer.
- the soft magnetic layer has the same function as the upper shield layer. Therefore, the cap layer is formed to a predetermined film thickness, the gap length is determined, and the soft magnetic layer formed thereon can have a function as an etching margin. Productivity can be improved by improving yield.
- a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head of the present invention and a method for manufacturing the same will be described with reference to Figs. 1 (a) to 1 (e).
- a lower shield layer formed on a substrate (not shown) by a plating method or the like then a buffer layer, an MR laminated film, a cap layer, etc. are stacked in sequence.
- the nofer layer is a layer that produces a good effect on the formation of the pinned layer in the MR laminated film formed thereon. For example, to improve the orientation of the pinned layer, etc. Is the layer of
- the MR laminated film generally includes a pinned layer that is a magnetic pinned layer, a noria layer that is an insulating layer, and a free layer that is a magnetic free layer. It consists of a thin film such as Ta).
- a soft magnetic layer (a soft magnetic material in the example shown) is formed on a cap layer (Ta layer in the example shown).
- a layer of NiFe is formed on a cap layer (Ta layer in the example shown).
- the magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head and the manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention are made of a soft magnetic material on the cap layer formed on the upper side of the MR laminated film as shown in FIG. 1 (d).
- the present invention is characterized in that a soft magnetic layer is laminated by film formation, and is formed integrally with an upper shield layer laminated on and in contact with the soft magnetic layer after the planarization step.
- the upper and lower shield layers are formed in order to prevent disturbance due to an external magnetic field or the like with respect to the magnetization direction of the MR laminated film formed between the layers.
- Each layer constituting the MR laminated film including the soft magnetic layer formed on the cap layer is formed by, for example, a multi-chamber type sputtering apparatus, and the film thickness uniformity in the substrate is, for example, The film can be formed on a ⁇ 8 inch substrate with an accuracy of 1% or less.
- the cap layer having the optimum film thickness is formed under the condition that the film thickness uniformity is 1% or less, and the cap layer is subsequently formed.
- the gap length of the magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head is determined with high accuracy as shown in FIG. 1 (e).
- This microfabrication is a process for forming a trapezoidal MR laminated film having inclined side surfaces as shown in FIG. 1 (b).
- the microfabrication can be performed using an apparatus such as ion milling or RIE (reactive ion etching), for example.
- At least an insulating layer is formed on the MR multilayer film after microfabrication with the cap layer on which the soft magnetic layer is formed as an upper layer. That is, first, as the insulating layer, for example, an Al 2 O layer is formed (FIG. 1 (b)). Then, the hard bias layer is
- a hard bias layer made of a hard magnetic material such as a CoPt alloy and an insulating layer made of a nonmagnetic insulating material are sequentially laminated.
- the hard bias layer plays a role in defining the magnetization direction with respect to the free layer, and the insulating layer plays a role in improving the insulation with the upper shield layer and the like.
- a part of the thickness of the soft magnetic layer laminated on the cap layer can be used as an etching margin. Then, the soft magnetic layer that is laminated on the cap layer and exposed as described above is formed with an upper shield layer in contact with the surface thereof as shown in FIG. 1 (d). As a result, it becomes integrated with the upper shield layer and functions as the upper shield layer.
- permalloy NiFe
- Co-based amorphous magnetic films Fe-based fine particle magnetic films, and the like.
- Buffer layer 5 nm (NiFeCr)
- Cap layer 5nm (Ta)
- the (upper / lower) shield layer sandwiching these MR laminated films can be formed of permalloy (NiFe) with a thickness of about lOOnm by a film forming method such as plating.
- the magnetoresistance effect type thin film magnetic film in which the magnetoresistance effect multilayer film having the cap layer as the upper layer is formed on the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer is formed on the upper layer by the above manufacturing process.
- a head with a narrow gap length of 45 nm can be manufactured.
- the cap layer itself is etched by CMP or IBE. The length is no longer fixed.
- the gap length can be accurately determined by controlling the film thickness at the time of forming the MR laminated film.
- FIG. 1 (a) to (d) are drawings of the present invention for manufacturing a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head having a CPP structure.
- D is a schematic diagram for explaining a cross-sectional state of a magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head having a CPP structure according to the present invention
- e is a diagram illustrating steps (a) to (d). The figure explaining the state in which gap length is determined in the magnetoresistive thin film magnetic head of the CPP structure of this invention manufactured.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Magnetic Heads (AREA)
- Hall/Mr Elements (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/282,361 US20090046395A1 (en) | 2006-03-10 | 2007-02-23 | Magnetoresistive effect thin-film magnetic head and method for fabricating same |
JP2008505034A JPWO2007105459A1 (ja) | 2006-03-10 | 2007-02-23 | 磁気抵抗効果型薄膜磁気ヘッド及びその製造方法 |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2006-065820 | 2006-03-10 | ||
JP2006065820 | 2006-03-10 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2007105459A1 true WO2007105459A1 (ja) | 2007-09-20 |
Family
ID=38509296
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/JP2007/053392 WO2007105459A1 (ja) | 2006-03-10 | 2007-02-23 | 磁気抵抗効果型薄膜磁気ヘッド及びその製造方法 |
Country Status (4)
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US (1) | US20090046395A1 (ja) |
JP (1) | JPWO2007105459A1 (ja) |
CN (1) | CN101379557A (ja) |
WO (1) | WO2007105459A1 (ja) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2018139249A1 (ja) * | 2017-01-24 | 2018-08-02 | 国立大学法人東北大学 | 磁気抵抗素子及び磁気抵抗素子の製造方法 |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8451566B2 (en) | 2010-09-16 | 2013-05-28 | HGST Netherlands B.V. | Current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) read sensor with ferromagnetic buffer and seed layers |
US8537504B2 (en) | 2010-09-16 | 2013-09-17 | HGST Netherlands B.V. | Current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) read sensor with ferromagnetic buffer, shielding and seed layers |
US8553370B2 (en) | 2010-11-24 | 2013-10-08 | HGST Netherlands B.V. | TMR reader structure having shield layer |
US9121886B2 (en) | 2013-09-25 | 2015-09-01 | Seagate Technology Llc | Magnetoresistive sensor including an amorphous insertion layer excluding glass former elements |
US9183858B2 (en) * | 2014-01-28 | 2015-11-10 | HGST Netherlands B.V. | Dual capping layer utilized in a magnetoresistive effect sensor |
US20230039108A1 (en) * | 2021-08-03 | 2023-02-09 | Yimin Guo | Perpendicular mtj element having a soft-magnetic adjacent layer and methods of making the same |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH07262520A (ja) * | 1994-02-28 | 1995-10-13 | Read Rite Corp | 薄膜磁気ヘッド |
WO2000077777A1 (fr) * | 1999-06-14 | 2000-12-21 | Fujitsu Limited | Tete d'enregistrement magnetique utilisant un film mince et son procede de fabrication |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1993023914A1 (en) * | 1992-05-11 | 1993-11-25 | Electric Power Research Institute | Harmonic blocking converter system |
US7715155B2 (en) * | 2007-04-11 | 2010-05-11 | Tdk Corporation | Thin-film magnetic head and manufacturing method thereof |
-
2007
- 2007-02-23 JP JP2008505034A patent/JPWO2007105459A1/ja active Pending
- 2007-02-23 CN CNA2007800043467A patent/CN101379557A/zh active Pending
- 2007-02-23 US US12/282,361 patent/US20090046395A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-02-23 WO PCT/JP2007/053392 patent/WO2007105459A1/ja active Application Filing
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH07262520A (ja) * | 1994-02-28 | 1995-10-13 | Read Rite Corp | 薄膜磁気ヘッド |
WO2000077777A1 (fr) * | 1999-06-14 | 2000-12-21 | Fujitsu Limited | Tete d'enregistrement magnetique utilisant un film mince et son procede de fabrication |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2018139249A1 (ja) * | 2017-01-24 | 2018-08-02 | 国立大学法人東北大学 | 磁気抵抗素子及び磁気抵抗素子の製造方法 |
JPWO2018139249A1 (ja) * | 2017-01-24 | 2019-12-12 | 国立大学法人東北大学 | 磁気抵抗素子及び磁気抵抗素子の製造方法 |
US10892402B2 (en) | 2017-01-24 | 2021-01-12 | Konica Minolta, Inc. | Magnetoresistive element, and production method for magnetoresistive element |
JP7128476B2 (ja) | 2017-01-24 | 2022-08-31 | 国立大学法人東北大学 | 磁気抵抗素子の製造方法 |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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JPWO2007105459A1 (ja) | 2009-07-30 |
CN101379557A (zh) | 2009-03-04 |
US20090046395A1 (en) | 2009-02-19 |
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