Patent ID: 7529067

Claim:
A GMR read head structure, comprising: a first part of a seed layer on a substrate; centrally located on said first seed layer part, a pillar having sloping opposing sides, said pillar further comprising: a first antiferromagnetic layer on said first seed layer part; a pinned layer structure on said first antiferromagnetic layer; a non-magnetic spacer layer on said pinned layer structure; a free layer on said spacer layer and a capping layer on said free layer; on the sloping opposing sides of said pillar, a second part of said seed layer that extends from above said first part, over said sloping sides, as far as said free layer; a second antiferromagnetic layer on said second seed layer part; a ferromagnetic layer on said second antiferromagnetic layer; a third antiferromagnetic layer on said ferromagnetic layer; a conductive lead layer on said third ferromagnetic layer; and said ferromagnetic layer being permanently magnetized through exchange bias provided by both said second and third antiferromagnetic layers whereby it provides longitudinal stabilization for said free layer of between about 100 and 1,000 Oe.