Patent ID: 7280324

Claim:
A magnetoresistive sensor, comprising: a ferromagnetic pinned layer; a ferromagnetic free layer, including first and second ferromagnetic layers separated by a non-magnetic antiparallel coupling layer, said first and second ferromagnetic layers having magnetizations antiparallel to one another in the absence of a magnetic field and free to rotate in the presence of a magnetic field; a non-magnetic spacer layer formed between said ferromagnetic free layer and said ferromagnetic pinned layer; first and second leads formed above said free layer, said leads having inner terminations defining a track width and extending outward from said track width; said pinned layer extending beyond said track width and terminating at first and second lateral sides; a first layer of antiferromagnetic material having an inner end abutting said first lateral side of said pinned layer and extending laterally outward there from, said layer of antiferromagnetic material contacting a portion of said free layer outside of said track width; and a second layer of antiferromagnetic material having an inner end abutting said second lateral side of said pinned layer and extending laterally outward therefrom, said second layer of antiferromagnetic material contacting a portion of said free magnetic layer.