Patent ID: 7265946

Claim:
A magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor, comprising: a magnetic pinned layer structure; a magnetic free layer; and a non-magnetic, electrically conductive spacer layer sandwiched between said pinned layer structure and said free layer structure; said magnetic pinned layer structure further comprising: a first magnetic layer (AP1) having a lateral width extending substantially beyond a track width of said sensor, the AP1 having a magnetization pinned in a first direction; a second magnetic layer structure (AP2) comprising a plurality of magnetic layers separated by non-magnetic, electrically conductive layers, each of the magnetic layers having a magnetization that is pinned in a second direction that is substantially antiparallel with the first direction; and a non-magnetic, electrically conductive antiparallel coupling layer sandwiched between said first magnetic layer (AP1) and said second magnetic layer structure (AP2).