Patent ID: 7268979

Claim:
A magnetic head, comprising: a free layer; an antiferromagnetic layer spaced apart from the free layer; an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure positioned between the free layer and the antiferromagnetic layer and having a net magnetic moment equal to about zero; an in-stack bias layer for stabilizing the free layer, wherein the free layer is positioned between the bias layer and the AP pinned layer structure, wherein the bias layer is not adjacent an antiferromagnetic layer; wherein the AP pinned layer structure includes antiparallel pinned layers and an AP coupling layer, wherein the antiparallel pinned layers have about identical thicknesses as measured in a direction perpendicular to planes of depositon thereof; wherein the antiferromagnetic layer provides a coercivity that enhances pinning of the AP pinned layer structure, wherein a thickness of the AP coupling layer and thicknesses of the pinned layers are selected to provide a pinned layer saturation field of at least 5 KOe.