Patent ID: 6700759
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A transducer comprising:first and second magnetically soft shield layers, nonferromagnetic, electrically insulating material disposed between said first and second shield layers, a magnetoresistive sensor disposed between said first and second shield layers and adjacent to said nonferromagnetic, electrically insulating material, said magnetoresistive sensor including first and second ferromagnetic layers separated by a nonferromagnetic layer, and an electrically conductive layer disposed between said second shield layer and said magnetoresistive sensor, said electrically conductive layer adjoining said magnetoresistive sensor at a junction, said junction having a perimeter adjoining said insulating material and an interior that is essentially free of said insulating material, wherein said sensor has a width measured in a direction substantially parallel to a media-facing surface and perpendicular to a shortest direction between said shield layers, said sensor width being less than one-quarter micron.