Patent ID: 8139324

Claim:
A magnetic read head, comprising: a non-magnetic electrode layer having a medium-facing surface; a magnetic pinned layer formed on said non-magnetic electrode layer via a first insulating layer, said magnetic pinned layer having a medium-facing side and an anti-medium-facing side; a magnetic free layer formed on the medium-facing surface of said non-magnetic electrode layer via a second insulating layer, the magnetic free layer being spaced below and laterally to the side of the magnetic pinned layer, said magnetic free layer having a medium-facing side and an anti-medium-facing side; a circuit for flowing current between said non-magnetic electrode layer and said magnetic pinned layer via said first insulating layer; and a circuit for measuring voltage between said non-magnetic electrode layer and said magnetic free layer, wherein a medium-facing edge of said magnetic free layer is formed below, and to a lateral side of, the medium-facing side of the magnetic pinned layer.