Patent ID: 6967825
Filing Date: 2005-11-22
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
1. A GMR sensor having a head surface with an active region and first and second inactive regions along the head surface with the active region being located between the first and second inactive regions, comprising: an antiparallel (AP) coupled free layer structure having an active portion and first and second inactive portions located in the active region and the first and second inactive regions respectively, the AP coupled free layer structure including: the first tab including a ferromagnetic first bias layer magnetically coupled to the first inactive portion of the bias layer and the second tab including a ferromagnetic second bias layer magnetically coupled to the second inactive portion of the bias layer; a processing stop layer having an active portion and first and second inactive portions located in the active region and the first and second inactive regions respectively; and the active portion of the processing stop layer being located between the active portion of the bias layer and the cap layer, the first inactive portion of the processing stop layer being located between the first inactive portion of the bias layer and the first bias layer and the second inactive portion of the processing stop layer being located between the second inactive portion of the bias layer and the second bias layer; and the processing stop layer being sufficiently thin so that the first and second inactive portions of the bias layer are magnetically coupled to the first and second bias layers respectively.