Patent ID: 7602589

Claim:
A magnetoresistive sensor having an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising: a sensor stack that includes a magnetic free layer, a magnetic pinned layer structure, and a non-magnetic, electrically conductive spacer layer sandwiched between the free layer and the pinned layer structure, the sensor stack having first and second laterally opposed sides that are oriented substantially perpendicular to the ABS; first and second hard bias layers disposed adjacent to and extending laterally from the laterally opposed sides of the sensor stack; and first and second electrically conductive leads formed over the hard bias layers; wherein the free layer has a back edge, opposite the ABS that defines a stripe height of the sensor (free layer defined stripe height); wherein the pinned layer extends beyond the free layer defined stripe height; wherein the hard bias and lead layers extend beyond the free layer defined stripe height; and wherein the hard bias layers are electrically insulated from portions of the pinned layer that extend beyond the free layer defined stripe height.