Patent ID: 8208228
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
1. A magnetoresistive read head for reading magnetically recorded data from patterned data tracks on a magnetic recording medium when a sense current is applied perpendicular to the planes of the layers in the read head, the read head comprising: a substrate; an electrically conductive base layer on the substrate; first and second spaced-apart magnetoresistive sensing elements on the base layer, each sensing element comprising a pinned ferromagnetic layer, a free ferromagnetic layer having an in-plane magnetization direction substantially free to rotate in the presence of an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer between the pinned ferromagnetic layer and the free ferromagnetic layer, wherein the pinned ferromagnetic layer in each of the first and second sensing elements is an antiparallel (AP) pinned structure comprising a first AP-pinned (AP a first electrically conductive lead layer on the first sensing element; a second electrically conductive lead layer on the second sensing element; an electrically insulating layer on the first and second lead layers for electrically isolating the first lead layer and sensing element from the second lead layer and sensing element; and electrically insulating material in the region between the spaced-apart first and second sensing elements.