Patent ID: 7064934

Claim:
A magnetoresistive sensor comprising: a magnetoresistive (MR) stack having a nonmagnetic layer, the MR stack configured to operate in a current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) mode wherein a sense current flows substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal plane of the nonmagnetic layer; first and second nonmagnetic metal layers respectively positioned on a top surface and a bottom surface of the MR stack; first and second electrically conductive leads to provide the sense current to the MR stack; and heat dissipating means, positioned (a) between the first and second electrically conductive leads and (b) at least one of(1) outside of the MR stack and (2) within the MR stack adjacent the nonmagnetic metal layers, to reduce an operating temperature of the magnetoresistive sensor, the heat dissipating means made of a material having a high thermal conductivity.