Abstract:
A magnetoresistive read/write head includes an integral top and side shields deposited on top of and substantially surrounding the multiple layers of the MR sensor stack. Such a design is particularly advantageous in CPP designs in which the only spacing necessary between the side shields and the bottom shield is due to a gap layer. The integral top and side shields design works both with CPP heads having pile bias stabilization as well as those having permanent magnet abutted junctions or patterned exchange bias stabilization. In addition, the design is also advantageous in CIP heads having permanent magnet abutted junctions or patterned exchange bias stabilization. In this latter embodiment, it may be possible to reduce the profile of the permanent magnet and any conductors to increase the efficacy of the side shields.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/452,617, filed Mar. 6, 2003, entitled “Cross-Track Shielding to Reduce Magnetic to Physical Reader Width Offset”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application relates to a magnetoresistive (MR) read element arrangement for data storage applications, particularly a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) read element with cross-track shielding. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In hard disk drives, data is written to and read from magnetic recording media, herein called disks, utilizing magnetoresistive (MR) transducers commonly referred to as MR heads. Typically, one or more disks having a thin film of magnetic material coated thereon are rotatably mounted on a spindle. An MR head mounted on an actuator arm is positioned in close proximity to the disk surface to write data to and read data from the disk surface. 
     During operation of the disk drive, the actuator arm moves the MR head to the desired radial position on the surface of the rotating disk where the MR head electromagnetically writes data to the disk and senses magnetic field signal changes to read data from the disk. Usually, the MR head is integrally mounted in a carrier or support referred to as a slider. The slider generally serves to mechanically support the MR head and any electrical connections between the MR head and the disk drive. The slider is aerodynamically shaped, which allows it to fly over and maintain a uniform distance from the surface of the rotating disk. 
     Typically, an MR head includes an MR read element to read recorded data from the disk and an inductive write element to write the data to the disk. The read element includes a thin layer of magnetoresistive sensor stripe sandwiched between two magnetic shields that are electrically connected together but are otherwise isolated. The shields are constructed so that one is just upstream of the sensor stripe and one is just downstream of the sensor stripe. A constant current is passed through the sensor stripe, and the resistance of the magnetoresistive stripe varies in response to a previously recorded magnetic pattern on the disk. In this way, a corresponding varying voltage is detected across the sensor stripe. The magnetic shields help the sensor stripe to focus on a narrow region of the magnetic medium, hence improving the spatial resolution of the read head. 
     Earlier MR sensors operated on the basis of the anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) effect in which a component of the read element resistance varied as the square of the cosine of the angle between the magnetization and the direction of sense current flowing through the read element. In this manner, because the magnetic field of the recording media would effect the magnetization direction within the read element, the change in resistance could be monitored to determine the type of external magnetic field applied by the magnetic recording medium. Most current disk drive products utilize a different, more pronounced magnetoresistive effect known as the GMR or spin valve effect. This effect utilizes a layered magnetic sensor that also has a change in resistance based on the application of an external magnetic field. While multiple layers are typically used, the most relevant layers are a pair of ferromagnetic layers separated by an electrically conductive non-magnetic spacer layer such as copper. One of the ferromagnetic layers known as the “free” layer is a soft magnetic material whose magnetization is changed by the external magnetic field caused by the close proximity of the magnetic recording medium. The other ferromagnetic layer, known as the “pinned” layer, is also a soft magnetic material that has its magnetization direction fixed by an adjacent layer known as the “pinning” layer. A layer of antiferromagnetic material is typically used as the pinning layer. A sense current is passed from one end of the ferromagnetic and conductive layers to the opposite end of those same layers. The resistance of this tri-layer structure is proportional to the cosine of the magnetization angle between the two ferromagnetic layers. Since one of the layers has a magnetization angle that is pinned and the other ferromagnetic layer has a magnetization that can vary in response to the magnetic field from an adjacent magnetic recording medium, the resistance of the tri-layer structure is a function of that magnetic field from the recording medium. It has been discovered that this tri-layer structure behaves in this manner because of a spin dependent scattering of electrons, the scattering being dependent on the spin of the electron and the magnetization direction of the layer through which the electron passes. 
     Typically, MR sensors have not included shields at either end of the sensor stripe in what is known as the cross track direction. Various recent advances in commercial MR sensors, however, have increased the need for cross-track shielding. Competitive pressures within the computer industry require progressively increasing storage capacity within a given footprint for a disk drive. To provide this increased storage capacity, it is necessary to increase the areal density of data stored on the magnetic media. The data is stored in bits on linear tracks. The number of bits per inch in each track and the number of side-by-side tracks per inch are two parameters that determine the areal density. Another parameter is the bit aspect ratio (BAR), which is the ratio of the width (cross-track dimension) of an individual bit to the length (down-track dimension) of an individual bit. While commercial disk drive systems have typically had a BAR of approximately 20, the need for increased areal density has driven the BAR of more current disk drives down to approximately 7. Because of this shrinking of the BAR, the effect of adjacent tracks on the read process is becoming more pronounced. 
     It also aids in understanding to appreciate that the widths of the top and bottom shields are very great compared to the width of the MR sensor stripe. While the sensor stripe is approximately of the same width as a track, the shields are orders of magnitude wider. This is shown in  FIG. 2  in which a first track  100  of bits  106  is adjacent to a second track  102  of bits  106 , which in turn is adjacent to a third track  104  of bits  106 . A read head  108  having an MR sensor stripe  110  is centered over the second track  102 . It can be seen that the sensor stripe  110  is of approximately the same width as the bits  106  of each track. 
     In addition, the gap between the top and bottom shields, since it is selected to be proportional to the length of the bit, has increased relative to the width of the MR sensor stripe. Further, in actuality the top shield does not have a bottom surface that is parallel to the top surface of the bottom shield. This is because the top shield is deposited on top of the sensor stripe and on top of the permanent magnets and conductors/leads on either side of the sensor stripe. Since the permanent magnets and conductors/leads on either side of the sensor stripe are taller than the sensor stripe itself, the portion of the top shield above the sensor stripe is closer to the bottom shield than are the portions of the top shield above the permanent magnets and conductors/leads on either side thereof. It may be that the off-track gap is as much as twice the on-track gap. For this reason, the gap spacing is larger in regions offset in the cross-direction than it is directly over the track intended to be read. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,466,419 (Mao) discloses an MR sensor with side shields. A “current perpendicular to plane” (CPP) spin valve head is disclosed in which side shields exist to partially enclose the sensor stripe in the cross-track direction. Unfortunately, there is little to no discussion in Mao of how to manufacture such a structure. Further, there is no discussion of how to implement side shields in structures that are biased in any manner other than pile biasing of a CPP sensor. 
     It is against this background and a desire to improve on the prior art that the present invention has been developed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, a broad objective of the present invention is to provide a read element with minimized adjacent track reading. It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a read element with side shields. It is still further an objective of the present invention to provide a commercially-viable method for producing a read element with side shields. 
     In carrying out these and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention, a method of producing a read head is provided. The method includes depositing multiple GMR sensor layers into a stack on a bottom shield, the stack having a top side, applying photoresist material to a first region of the top side of the stack, and removing portions of the stack that are not covered by the photoresist material to expose portions of the bottom shield and sides of the remaining portions of the stack. The method also includes depositing insulator material on to the exposed portions of the bottom shield and against at least portions of sides of the remaining portions of the stack, removing the photoresist material, and depositing a top shield that covers the top and substantially surrounds the sides of the remaining portions of the stack. 
     The depositing of the insulator material may be a self-aligned process. The top and bottom layers of the stack may be electrodes. The top, side, and bottom shields may be electrically conducting. A sense current may be carried toward and away from the stack by the shields. 
     The multiple GMR sensor layers in the stack may also include a pinned layer and a free layer. The multiple GMR sensor layers in the stack may also include a stabilization layer. The stabilization layer may include patterned areas of exchange material. The free layer may be biased via pile biasing. The free layer may be biased via patterned exchange biasing. The free layer may be biased via permanent magnet abutted junctions. 
     The read head may be a CIP read head. The read head may be a CPP read head. The operation of depositing insulator material may include depositing electrically conductive leads along with the insulator material so that the electrically conductive leads are in contact with a portion of the stack. The operation of depositing insulator material may include depositing permanent magnet material along with the insulator material so that the permanent magnets are abutted against a portion of the stack. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a read head, including a GMR spin valve stack including at least a pinned layer, a free layer, and a stabilization layer including patterned exchange bias material. The read head also includes a pair of shields, one disposed on either side of the GMR spin valve stack, with one of the shields being formed to include integral side shields that substantially enclose the GMR spin valve stack between the pair of shields. 
     The GMR spin valve stack may be configured to operate in a current perpendicular to plane (CPP) mode. The pair of shields may be electrically conductive and the GMR spin valve stack may include an electrode at the top thereof and an electrode at the bottom thereof. The GMR spin valve stack may be configured to operate in a current in plane (CIP) mode. The read head may further include electrically conductive leads that are in a gap formed between the pair of shields. The read head may further include a layer of insulating material forming a gap between the pair of shields in the regions at either end of the GMR spin valve stack. The gap layer may be deposited in a self-aligned process. The gap layer may include a portion that covers at least portions of the sides of the stack. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a read head, including a GMR spin valve stack including at least a pinned layer and a free layer, a pair of shields, one disposed on either side of the GMR spin valve stack, with one of the shields being formed to include integral side shields that substantially enclose the GMR spin valve stack between the pair of shields, and an insulated layer of permanent magnet material disposed between the shields and abutting opposite ends of the GMR spin valve stack. 
     The read head may further include a layer of insulating material on either side of the permanent magnet material to form a gap between the pair of shields in the regions at either end of the GMR spin valve stack. The GMR spin valve stack may include a free layer having opposed ends and the layer of permanent magnet material abuts at least a portion of the ends of the free layer. 
     Numerous additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the further description that follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a disk drive that utilizes a head of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a read head centered over a track of data storage bits that is moving relative to the head. 
         FIG. 3  is a stack of layers of a read head in a preliminary step of producing the read head of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a stack of layers of a read head in a subsequent preliminary step of producing the read head of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a stack of layers of a read head in a subsequent preliminary step of producing the read head of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a stack of layers of a read head of the present invention, showing a CPP embodiment with pile biasing. 
         FIG. 7  is a stack of layers of a read head of the present invention, showing a CPP embodiment with patterned exchange biasing. 
         FIG. 8  is a stack of layers of a read head of the present invention, showing a CPP embodiment with permanent magnet abutted junctions. 
         FIG. 9  is a stack of layers of a read head of the present invention, showing a CIP embodiment with patterned exchange biasing. 
         FIG. 10  is a stack of layers of a read head of the present invention, showing a CIP embodiment with permanent magnet abutted junctions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which assist in illustrating the various pertinent features of the present invention. Although the present invention will now be described primarily in conjunction with disk drives, it should be expressly understood that the present invention might be applicable to other applications where side shielding of a magnetoresistive sensor is required/desired. In this regard, the following description of a GMR read element in a disk drive is presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the following teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described herein are further intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a disk drive  10 . The disk drive  10  generally includes a base plate  12  and a cover (not shown) that may be disposed on the base plate  12  to define an enclosed housing or space for the various disk drive components. The disk drive  10  includes one or more data storage disks  14  of any appropriate computer-readable data storage media. Typically, both of the major surfaces of each data storage disk  14  include a plurality of concentrically disposed tracks for data storage purposes. Each disk  14  is mounted on a hub or spindle  16 , which in turn is rotatably interconnected with the disk drive base plate  12  and/or cover. Multiple data storage disks  14  are typically mounted in vertically spaced and parallel relation on the spindle  16 . Rotation of the disk(s)  14  is provided by a spindle motor  18  that is coupled to the spindle  16  to simultaneously spin the data storage disk(s)  14  at an appropriate rate. 
     The disk drive  10  also includes an actuator arm assembly  20  that pivots about a pivot bearing  22 , which in turn is rotatably supported by the base plate  12  and/or cover. The actuator arm assembly  20  includes one or more individual rigid actuator arms  24  that extend out from near the pivot bearing  22 . Multiple actuator arms  24  are typically disposed in vertically spaced relation, with one actuator arm  24  being provided for each major data storage surface of each data storage disk  14  of the disk drive  10 . Other types of actuator arm assembly configurations could be utilized as well, such as an “E” block having one or more rigid actuator arm tips or the like that cantilever from a common structure. In any case, movement of the actuator arm assembly  20  is provided by an actuator arm drive assembly, such as a voice coil motor  26  or the like. The voice coil motor  26  is a magnetic assembly that controls the operation of the actuator arm assembly  20  under the direction of control electronics  28 . Any appropriate actuator arm assembly drive type may be utilized by the disk drive  10 , including a linear drive (for the case where the actuator arm assembly  20  is interconnected with the base plate  12  and/or cover for linear movement versus the illustrated pivoting movement about the pivot bearing  22 ) and other types of rotational drives. 
     A load beam or suspension  30  is attached to the free end of each actuator arm  24  and cantilevers therefrom. Typically, the suspension  30  is biased generally toward its corresponding disk  14  by a spring-like force. A slider  32  is disposed at or near the free end of each suspension  30 . What is commonly referred to as the “head” (e.g., transducer) is appropriately mounted on the slider  32  and is used in disk drive read/write operations. 
     The head on the slider  32  may utilize various types of read/write technologies such as anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR), giant magnetoresistive (GMR), and tunneling magnetoresistive (TuMR), other magnetoresistive technologies, or other suitable technologies. AMR is due to the anisotropic magnetoresistive effect with a normalized change in resistance (ΔR/R) of 2-4%. GMR results from spin-dependent scattering mechanisms between two magnetic layers (or more). The typical use in recording heads is the spin valve device that uses a free layer to detect external fields, and a pinned magnetic layer. The normalized change in resistance is typically 8-12%, but can be as large as 15-20% when used with specular capping layers and spin-filter layers. TuMR is similar to GMR, but is due to spin dependent tunneling currents across an isolation layer. The typical embodiment includes a free layer and a pinned layer separated by an insulating layer of Al 2 O 3  with the current flowing perpendicular to the film plane, producing normalized change in resistance of 12-25%. The term magnetoresistive is used in this application to refer to all these types of magnetoresistive sensors and any others in which a variation in resistance of the sensor due to the application of an external magnetic field is detected. The biasing forces exerted by the suspension  30  on its corresponding slider  32  thereby attempt to move the slider  32  in the direction of its corresponding disk  14 . Typically, this biasing force is such that if the slider  32  were positioned over its corresponding disk  14 , without the disk  14  being rotated at a sufficient velocity, the slider  32  would be in contact with the disk  14 . 
     The head on the slider  32  is interconnected with the control electronics  28  of the disk drive  10  by a flex cable  34  that is typically mounted on the actuator arm assembly  20 . Signals are exchanged between the head and its corresponding data storage disk  14  for disk drive read/write operations. In this regard, the voice coil motor  26  is utilized to pivot the actuator arm assembly  20  to simultaneously move the slider  32  along a path  36  and “across” the corresponding data storage disk  14  to position the head at the desired/required radial position on the disk  14  (i.e., at the approximate location of the correct track on the data storage disk  14 ) for disk drive read/write operations. 
     When the disk drive  10  is not in operation, the actuator arm assembly  20  is pivoted to a “parked position” to dispose each slider  32  generally at or beyond a perimeter of its corresponding data storage disk  14 , but in any case in vertically spaced relation to its corresponding disk  14 . This is commonly referred to in the art as being a dynamic load/unload disk drive configuration. In this regard, the disk drive  10  includes a ramp assembly  38  that is disposed beyond a perimeter of the data storage disk  14  to typically both move the corresponding slider  32  vertically away from its corresponding data storage disk  14  and to also exert somewhat of a retaining force on the actuator arm assembly  20 . Any configuration for the ramp assembly  38  that provides the desired “parking” function may be utilized. The disk drive  10  could also be configured to be of the contact start/stop type, where the actuator arm assembly  20  would pivot in a direction to dispose the slider(s)  32  typically toward an inner, non-data storage region of the corresponding data storage disk  14 . Terminating the rotation of the data storage disk(s)  14  in this type of disk drive configuration would then result in the slider(s)  32  actually establishing contact with or “landing” on their corresponding data storage disk  14 , and the slider  32  would remain on the disk  14  until disk drive operations are re-initiated. 
     The slider  32  of the disk drive  10  may be configured to “fly” on an air bearing during rotation of its corresponding data storage disk(s)  14  at a sufficient velocity. The slider  32  may be disposed at a pitch angle such that its leading edge is disposed further from its corresponding data storage disk  14  than its trailing edge. The head would typically be incorporated on the slider  32  generally toward its trailing edge since this is positioned closest to its corresponding disk  14 . Other pitch angles/orientations could also be utilized for flying the slider  32 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a preliminary phase in the process of producing a read/write head on the slider  32 . As can be seen, the read/write head is a multi-layer element manufactured by depositing a series of thin film layers on top of each other. As illustrated and described herein, certain layers, such as most seed layers, conductors, pinning layers, isolation layers, and so forth, are omitted for ease of illustration and understanding. Instead, the most relevant layers are described herein. A stack  40  of layers is shown, with the bottom layer being a bottom shield  42  that may be composed of NiFe, or any other suitable material. On top of the bottom shield  42 , an electrode  44  that may be composed of Ta, Cu, Cr, or any other suitable material, has been deposited. On top of the electrode  44 , a pinned layer  46  that may be composed of CoFe or other suitable material has been deposited. On top of the pinned layer  46 , a free layer  48  that may be composed of CoFe or other suitable material has been deposited. On top of the free layer  48 , a stabilization layer  50  has been deposited that may be composed of IrMn, PtMn, or any other suitable material. On top of the stabilization layer  50 , a second electrode  52  has been deposited that may be composed of one of the materials discussed above in conjunction with the electrode  44 . As can be appreciated, this is a current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) device in which the current flows between the electrodes  44  and  52  through the free layer  48  in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the free layer  48 . In such a CPP device, there is no need for conductive leads located on either end of the free layer. Of course, if there were conductive leads at either end of the free layer, then this would be a current-in-plane (CIP) device. CPP devices and stabilization techniques therefore are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,466,419, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. While specific materials for the layers in the stack have been described, any other suitable material could also be used. 
     While not shown, it is possible to adjust the stabilizing field produced by the stabilization layer  50  by putting a layer of Cu or other suitable material between the stabilization layer  50  and the free layer  48 . The thickness of the Cu layer will control the strength of the stabilizing field in the free layer  48 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , an area of photoresist material  54  is deposited on top of the second electrode  52  in a central region thereof. A milling process is then applied to the stack to remove outer regions of each of the layers  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 , and  52 , other than the bottom shield layer  42 . Of course, the regions of those layers underneath the photoresist layer  54  are not removed. 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 5 , an isolation or gap layer  56  that may be composed of aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) or any other suitable gap material is deposited onto the stack by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). As can be appreciated, the gap layer  56  forms primarily on top of the bottom shield layer  42  along with a ramp portion on either side of the remaining layers  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 , and  52 . The deposition of the gap material in this manner is known as a self-aligned process since no specialized alignment process is required due to the presence of the photoresist material. 
     Next, the photoresist layer  54  is lifted off of the stack in a conventional manner. Then, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a top shield layer  58  is deposited on top of the stack. This top shield includes both seed and plating layers. As can be seen, due to the shape of the stack, the top shield layer  58  includes a pair of side shields  60  and  62  that are integral therewith. 
     It is believed to be advantageous that the top and side shields  58 ,  60 , and  62  are one integral piece of material. Such a design reduces the number of domain walls. It is believed that an excessive number of domain walls can deteriorate shield performance. This may be because when magnetizations hit boundaries they form surface charges which form stray fields. In this case, the shields will not produce stray fields that can be detected by the free layer  48 . It may be possible to optimize the depth of the isolation/gap layer  56  and the angle of the step on either side of the layers  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 , and  52 , but such optimization has not yet been performed. It is also believed to be advantageous that the spacing between the free layer  48  and the side shields  60  and  62  is so small in this design. It appears that the effect of reducing stray magnetic fields in the vicinity of adjacent tracks is enhanced as the spacing between the free layer and the side shields is decreased. 
     Of course, in this CPP embodiment, the top and bottom shields  58  and  42  act as conductors to carry sense current toward and away from the electrodes  52  and  44 . Because current is designed to flow between the top electrode  52  and the top shield  58 , it does not appear to be a problem for there to be little or no gap layer  56  alongside the ends of the electrode  52 . 
     Alternatively, instead of the pile biasing scheme shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the present invention could be implemented in a device that uses patterned exchange biasing (PEB) in a CPP embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 7 , using fabrication techniques similar to those described in  FIGS. 3-6 , a stack  66  of layers has been deposited on top of a bottom shield  68 . The stack includes an electrode  70 , a pinned layer  72 , a free layer  74 , and a pair of regions of exchange material  76 , such as an antiferromagnetic material like platinum manganese (PtMn), that has been deposited above opposite ends of the free layer  74 . On top of and between the portions of exchange material  76 , an electrode  78  has been deposited. A gap layer  80  has been deposited on top of the bottom shield and alongside of the stack  66 . On top of all of this, a top shield  82  that includes side shields  84  and  86  has been deposited. 
     As another alternative, the present invention could be implemented in a CPP embodiment having permanent magnet abutted junctions, as shown in  FIG. 8 . A stack  120  of layers has been deposited on top of a bottom shield  122 . The stack  120  includes an electrode  124 , a pinned layer  126 , a free layer  128 , and a second electrode  130 . In a fabrication process similar to that described above in regard to  FIGS. 3-6 , a gap layer  132  is deposited onto the portions of the bottom shield  122  adjacent to the stack  120 . In this case, however, the gap layer  132  covers only the sides of the electrode  124  and pinned layer  126 , leaving the free layer  128  exposed on its sides. On top of this gap layer  132 , a permanent magnet layer  134  is deposited so that it abuts the sides of the free layer  128 , with another gap layer  136  deposited thereon. On top of all of this, a top shield  138  having side shields  140  and  142  is deposited. 
     Alternatively, it is also possible to implement the present invention in a CIP embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9 . This embodiment includes a PEB biasing arrangement. A stack  150  has been deposited onto a bottom shield  152 . The stack  150  includes a pinned layer  154  and a free layer  156 . Also, two regions of exchange material  158  have been placed above opposite ends of the free layer  156 . In a manner similar to that described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 3-6 , a first gap layer  160  has been deposited onto the bottom shield  152 . On top of this first gap layer  160 , a conductor layer  162  has been deposited. On top of all of this, a second gap layer  164  has been deposited. On top of all of that, a top shield  166  having side shields  168  and  170  has been deposited. As can be appreciated, the conductor layer  162  is aligned with opposite ends of the free layer  156 , to carry a sense current toward and away from the free layer. 
     Alternatively, the present invention can be implemented in a CIP design having permanent magnet abutted junctions, as shown in  FIG. 10 . A stack  180  of layers has been deposited on top of a bottom shield  182 . The stack  180  includes a pinned layer  184  and a free layer  186 . In a manner similar to the fabrication process described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 3-6 , a first gap layer  188  is deposited on top of the bottom shield  182  on either side of the stack  180 . On top of this gap layer  188 , a conductor layer  190  is then deposited. The conductor layer  190  has a significant portion in contact with opposite ends of the free layer  186 . On top of the conductor layer  190 , a permanent magnet layer  192  is deposited with the permanent magnet layer  192  being abutted against opposite ends of the free layer  186 . On top of the permanent magnet layer  192  and the free layer  186 , a second gap layer  194  is deposited. On top of this gap layer  194 , a top shield  196  including side shields  198  and  200  is deposited. 
     As can be appreciated each of the described embodiments of the present invention provide side shields which help to minimize magnetic fields in the vicinity of adjacent tracks, thus reducing adjacent track reads. Modeling has revealed that by adding side shields as are described herein, side-reading or adjacent-track-sensitivity can be reduced by 57%. Further, a easily-manufacturable process for producing read heads with side shields has been disclosed. 
     The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It should be appreciated that the illustrations are not drawn to scale and that the shields are many times thicker than the other layers, for example. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. For example, the side shields could be integral portions of the bottom shield instead of the top shield. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.