Patent ID: 7116530

Claim:
A dual spin valve sensor for a magnetic head, comprising: first and second spin valve structures; a gap layer formed between the first and the second spin valve structures; the first spin valve structure including: an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure; a first free layer structure; a first non-magnetic electrically conductive spacer layer in between the AP pinned layer structure and the free layer structure; the AP pinned layer structure including: a first AP pinned layer; a second AP pinned layer; a first antiparallel coupling (APC) layer formed between the first and the second AP pinned layers; and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer formed adjacent the AP pinned layer structure for pinning one of the first and the second AP pinned layers; the second spin valve structure including: a second free layer structure; an antiparallel (AP) self-pinned layer structure; a second non-magnetic electrically conductive spacer layer in between the second free layer structure and the AP self-pinned layer structure; the AP self-pinned layer structure including: a third AP pinned layer; a fourth AP pinned layer; and a second antiparallel coupling (APC) layer formed between the third and the fourth AP pinned layers.