Patent ID: 6111730
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A magnetoresistive sensor for use in a data storage system, the magnetoresistive sensor comprising:a magnetoresistive sensor layer formed in a central region of the sensor and in first and second wing regions of the sensor adjacent first and second sides of the central region of the sensor;a soft adjacent layer disposed along a length of the magnetoresistive sensor layer and adapted to vertically bias the magnetoresistive sensor layer;a spacer layer formed between the magnetoresistive sensor layer and the soft adjacent layer in an active region of the magnetoresistive sensor;a first permanent magnet layer formed in contact with the magnetoresistive sensor layer in the first and second wing regions of the magnetoresistive sensor, disposed adjacent the active region of the magnetoresistive sensor on the first and second sides of the active region, respectively;a second permanent magnet layer formed in contact with the soft adjacent layer in the first and second wing regions of the magnetoresistive sensor, wherein each of the first and second permanent magnet layers are formed between the magnetoresistive sensor layer and the soft adjacent layer in the first and second wing regions; anda layer of low resistivity material formed between the first and second permanent magnet layers in the first and second wing regions, wherein the layer of low resistivity material has a resistivity which is lower than the resistivity of the first and second permanent magnet layers, thereby lowering the resistance of the magnetoresistive sensor in the first and second wing regions;wherein a combined thickness of the first permanent magnet layer, the layer of low resistivity material and the second permanent magnet layer in portions of the first and second wing regions immediately adjacent the active region of the magnetoresistive sensor are substantially equal to a thickness of the spacer layer.