Patent ID: 7082017

Claim:
A magnetic head assembly comprising: a read head that includes a magnetoresistive sensor the magnetoresistive sensor including: an antiparallel (AP) pinned layer structure; a ferromagnetic free layer having a magnetic moment that is free to rotate in response to a field signal; and a spacer layer located between the free layer and the AP pinned layer structure; the antiparallel (AP) pinned layer including: ferromagnetic first and second antiparallel (AP) layers; an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer located between and interfacing the first and second AP pinned layers; the first and second AP pinned layers self pinning one another without assistance of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) pinning layer; the second AP pinned layer interfacing the spacer; wherein the magnetic head assembly includes: nonmagnetic electrically nonconductive first and second read gap layers; the spin valve sensor being located between the first and second read gap layers; ferromagnetic first and second shield layers; and the first and second read gap layers being located between the first and second shield layers wherein the iron Fe) content in the cobalt iron (CoFe) in the second AP pinned layer is greater than the iron (Ge) content in the cobalt iron (CoFe) in the first AP pinned layer.