Patent ID: 7522391

Claim:
A magnetoresistive sensor having an air bearing surface (ABS), the magnetoresistive sensor comprising: a magnetic free layer, extending to a first stripe height distance measured from the ABS; a magnetic pinned layer structure extending to a second stripe height distance that is larger than the first stripe height distance as measured from the ABS; a first non-magnetic, electrically conductive spacer layer sandwiched between the free layer and the pinned layer structure; and an in stack bias structure formed adjacent to the magnetic free layer opposite the first non-magnetic, electrically conductive spacer layer; wherein the pinned layer structure includes first and second magnetic layers that are antiparallel coupled with on another across a non-magnetic, electrically conductive antiparallel coupling layer, and wherein one of the first and second magnetic layers in exchange coupled with a layer of antiferromagnetic material, and wherein both of the first and second magnetic layers extend beyond the first stripe height distance.