Patent ID: 9542962
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: G11B

Claim:
1. A multi-sensor reader structure, comprising: a lower magnetic shield layer positioned at a media-facing surface of the structure; a pinned layer positioned above the lower magnetic shield layer at the media-facing surface of the structure; at least two magnetoresistive (MR) elements positioned above the pinned layer and separated from one another in a cross-track direction by an inner layer, each MR element extending in an element height direction away from the media-facing surface of the structure by a first length; bias layers positioned on outside edges of the MR elements and the pinned layer, each bias layer extending in the element height direction away from the media-facing surface of the structure by a second length; and current paths positioned above and in electrical communication with the bias layers on either side of the inner layer, each current path extending in the element height direction away from the media-facing surface of the structure by a third length, wherein the third length is greater than the first length.