| abstract |
A laminated spin-valve sensor comprises a fixed magnetic layer and a free-layer separated by a thin spacer layer, with electrical leads interconnected to ends of the sensor. The sensor is longitudinally biased by permanently magnetized structures between the electrical leads and the sensor ends. Each electrical lead interconnects to a sensor end through a permanently magnetized structures which are permanent magnets or exchange-coupled thin films. Exchange-coupled films are canted in a direction consistent with a desired direction of fixed-layer magnetization. Each layer of the sensor has an easy axis aligned with a respective desired direction of magnetization. The transverse bias of the fixed-layer is provided by the bias current and enhanced by a transverse high uniaxial anisotropy, with a selected material with proper magnetostriction. The permanently magnetized structure incorporates a seed-layer and a capping layer for improving the magnetic property. |