Patent ID: 7027268

Claim:
A magnetoresistive sensor comprising: a first pinned layer; a free layer having a length, a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the length corresponding to the track width during operation of the magnetoresistive sensor and being defined by the first end and the second end; a first spacer layer disposed between the first pinned layer and the free layer, the first spacer layer having a first interface with the first pinned layer; a second pinned layer; and a second spacer layer disposed between the free layer and the second pinned layer, the second spacer layer having a second interface with the second pinned layer; wherein the first spacer layer and first pinned layer are in proximity to the first end of the free layer but not the second end of the free layer so that the first spacer layer is between the first pinned layer and the first end of the free layer, wherein the second spacer layer and second pinned layer are in proximity to the second end of the free layer but not the first end of the free layer so that the second spacer layer is between the second pinned layer and the second end of the free layer; and wherein a direction of a current passed through the magnetoresistive sensor is through the first interface, through the second interface, and along at least a portion of the length of the free layer.