Patent ID: 7035063

Claim:
In a magnetic read head having en air bearing surface (ABS), a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) sensor for connection to sense circuitry for detecting changes in electrical resistance within the sensor, the sensor comprising: first and second electrically conductive leads; a MTJ stack sandwiched between the first and second electrically conductive leads with an active region disposed at the ABS and having two opposite sides each disposed generally orthogonally to the ABS, the first and second electrically conductive leads extending laterally beyond the active region, the MTJ stack comprising: an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer spanning the active region, a pinned layer of ferromagnetic (FM) material in contact with the AFM layer, a free layer of FM material spanning the active region, and a tunnel junction layer of electrically nonconductive material disposed between the pinned layer and the free layer in the active region; and a nonconductive longitudinal bias layer formed outside of the active region and in abutting contact with the two opposite sides of the active region for biasing the magnetic moment of the free layer in substantially a predetermined direction in the absence of an external magnetic field, the longitudinal bias layer comprising a layer of nickel-oxide extending from the first lead to the second lead.