Patent ID: 7405907

Claim:
A read head for reading magnetically stored data in adjacent tracks of a medium, comprising: at least two elongate bodies each having at least one magnetoresistive part, the respective magnetoresistive parts of the at least two elongate bodies being disposed in different planes and each magnetoresistive part having a sensor portion defined along a length of said elongate bodies and having a sensor surface facing said medium, the respective sensor portions being defined by electrical connections to said magnetoresistive parts; said tracks of said medium having a width, and the respective sensor portions being equal to or narrower than said width; and, in a direction transverse to said tracks, the respective sensor portions having a center-to-center pitch equal to approximately one-half of said width; and respective shields disposed on opposite transverse sides of each of said elongate bodies, each of said shields having a shield surface facing said medium, with the respective shield surfaces alternating with the respective sensor surfaces.