Patent ID: 6157525
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A magnetoresistive head comprising a magnetoresistive element, said magnetoresistive element comprising:a giant magnetoresistive film comprisinga first magnetic film having magnetization rotated by a signal magnetic field, a direction of magnetization of the first magnetic film being in a track width longitudinal direction when the signal magnetic field is 0,a second magnetic film having magnetization substantially fixed in the signal magnetic field, a direction of magnetization of the second magnetic film being pinned substantially in a head depth direction, anda nonmagnetic film disposed between the first and second magnetic films, said giant magnetoresistive film having a center sensing region and a pair of edge regions separated by said center sensing region;a pair of bias films for providing a magnetic bias to maintain said first magnetic film in a single magnetic domain, the pair of bias films having inner edges opposing each other, and each of the pair of bias films being disposed under a respective one of the edge regions of the giant magnetoresistive film; anda pair of lead electrodes for supplying sensing current to said giant magnetoresistive film, said pair of lead electrodes having inner edges opposing each other,wherein the magnetoresistive element exhibits a magnetoresistive effect due to a rotation of the magnetization of the first magnetic film, andwherein a distance between the pair of lead electrodes is smaller than a distance between the pair of bias films.