Patent ID: 8339750

Claim:
A magnetic sensor comprising: a nonmagnetic conductive layer; a free magnetization layer disposed on a first part of a surface of the nonmagnetic conductive layer proximate to a surface of the magnetic sensor; a fixed magnetization layer disposed on a second part of the surface of the nonmagnetic conductive layer different from the first part; upper and lower first magnetic shield layers opposing each other through the nonmagnetic conductive layer and free magnetization layer interposed therebetween; upper and lower second magnetic shield layers opposing each other through the nonmagnetic conductive layer and fixed magnetization layer interposed therebetween; and an electrically insulating layer disposed between the lower second magnetic shield layer and the nonmagnetic conductive layer; wherein the lower first magnetic shield layer is arranged closer to the nonmagnetic conductive layer than is the lower second magnetic shield layer.