Patent ID: 7092221

Claim:
A magnetic head having an air bearing surface (ABS), the magnetic head comprising: a read sensor including: a primary stack including: at least one primary pinned layer having a top surface; a barrier layer; a free layer; a seed layer; and a secondary stack including: at least one layer of antiferromagnetic (AFM) material; and a secondary pinned layer, which is pinned by said at least one layer of AFM material and which has a top surface which is substantially level with said top surface of said at least one primary pinned layer; and an exchange layer which contacts said top surface of said secondary pinned layer and is pinned by said secondary pinned layer, and which contacts said top surface of said at least one primary pinned layer of said primary stack and acts to pin said at least one primary pinned layer; where said primary stack has a side which forms part of said ABS, and said secondary stack is removed from said ABS.