Patent ID: 7227727

Claim:
A side-by-side read/write head, comprising: a magnetoresistive read head having a magnetoresistive read element formed proximate an air bearing surface (ABS) for only detecting data written on a magnetic recording medium; a write head, disposed adjacent the magnetoresistive read head, for only recording data on a magnetic recording medium, the write head having a coil and a pole tip coupled thereto, wherein the coil has a first side and a central axis perpendicular to the ABS, the first side being adjacent to the magnetoresistive read head; and an isolation trench between the magnetoresistive read head and the write head for preventing magnetic cross-talk between the magnetoresistive read head and the write head; wherein the pole tip is disposed offset from the central axis towards the magnetoresistive read element to provide close proximity alignment between the magnetoresistive read head and the write head.