Patent ID: 7133264

Claim:
A magnetic read head for reading changes in an external magnetic field at an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising: a sense current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) spin valve (SV) sensor having a center region and first and second side regions and including: a ferromagnetic (FM) free layer located in the center region and disposed at the ABS to couple responsively to the external magnetic field; in each of the first and second side regions, a conductive lead layer for conducting the sense current through the FM free layer between the first and second side regions; in each of the first and second side regions, a FM pinned layer structure having a magnetic moment disposed at the ABS between a respective conductive lead layer and a respective side edge of the free layer; in each of the first and second side regions, a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer disposed at the ABS between a respective pinned layer structure and a respective side edge of the free layer; and in each of the first and second side regions, an antiferromagnetic (AF) pinning layer exchange-coupled to a respective pinned layer structure for pinning the magnetic moment thereof.