Patent ID: 6859348
Filing Date: 2005-02-22
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
1. A magnetic head assembly comprising: a read head that includes a magnetoresistive sensor; the magnetoresistive sensor including: the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure including: the magnetoresistive sensor having first and second side surfaces; first and second hard bias layers interfacing the first and second side surfaces of the magnetoresistive sensor for longitudinally biasing said free layer; the magnetoresistive sensor having a central portion that extends between the first and second hard bias layers; first and second lead layers overlaying the first and second hard bias layers respectively and overlaying first and second portions respectively of the central portion so that a distance between the first and second lead layers defines a track width of the magnetoresistive sensor that is less than a distance between the first and second hard bias layers; a cap layer structure that has a full thickness portion and first and second reduced thickness portions with the full thickness portion located between the first and second reduced thickness portions; the cap layer structure being composed only of tantalum (Ta); and said first and second lead layers engaging the cap layer structure within said first and second reduced thickness portions.