Patent ID: 6597545
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A magnetic sensor in a magnetic storage device, comprising:a magnetoresistive sensor element; electrical contacts coupled to the magnetoresistive element configured to sense a response of the magnetoresistive element to a magnetic field; a magnetic shield having a major surface defining a manor plane facing the magnetoresistive element, the major surface extending to a shield edge that is generally normal to the major plane, the magnetic shield being configured to shield the magnetoresistive element from stray magnetic fields, and the shield having a substantially stable magnetic domain pattern; and a shield flux thief generally in the major plane of the magnetic shield and outside the shield edge, the shield flux thief having an inner flux thief edge that faces and is spaced apart from the shield edge by a gap, the flux thief and the shield configured to reduce a demagnetization field produced in the shield that couples to the magnetoresistive sensor element.