Patent ID: 6744607
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A magnetic head assembly that has a head surface for facing a magnetic medium, comprising:a read head that includes a magnetoresistive sensor; the magnetoresistive sensor including: an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure; a ferromagnetic free layer having a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to a field signal; and a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer located between the free layer and the AP pinned layer structure; the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure including: ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) pinned layers; an antiparallel (AP) coupling layer located between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers; and the first and second AP pinned layers self pinning one another without assistance of a pinning layer; the free layer having first and second wing portions that extend in first and second lateral directions beyond a track width of the sensor; first and second antiferromagnetic (AFM) layers exchange coupled to said first and second wing portions for longitudinally biasing the magnetic moment of the free layer parallel to the head surface and parallel to major planes of the layers of the read head; the magnetoresistive sensor having a central portion that extends between said first and second AFM layers; and first and second lead layers overlaying the first and second AFM layers respectively and further overlaying first and second portions respectively of said central portion so that a distance between the first and second lead layers defines a track width that is less than a distance between the first and second AFM layers.