Patent ID: 7227726

Claim:
A dual element magnetoresistive read head for reading information from a magnetic tape, said read head comprising: a first insulator layer; a first magnetoresistive layer formed on said first insulator layer; a second insulator layer formed on said first magnetoresistive layer; a second magnetoresistive layer formed on said second insulator layer, said second magnetoresistive layer magnetostatically coupled to said first magnetoresistive layer; a third insulator layer formed on said second magnetoresistive layer; said first insulator layer including a linear grating pattern unidirectionally formed on a surface of said first insulator layer to form a periodic structure of a plurality of trenches such that the surface of said first insulator layer is a nonplanar insulator surface; and wherein said second magnetoresistive layer is stabilized utilizing magnetic domain pinning along edges of said grating pattern.