Patent ID: 7508613

Claim:
A method for reducing noise in a differential output signal of a magnetic head, comprising: providing a read sensor element within a magnetic head for detecting a magnetically recorded signal and producing a differential read signal in response thereto; providing within the magnetic head a first sensor element signal path including a first shield, the first sensor element signal path having a first physical structure selected to provide first electrical characteristics including a first noise signal component of the read signal on the first sensor element signal path at a first head output terminal; and providing within the magnetic head a second sensor element signal path including a second shield, the second sensor element signal path having a second physical structure selected to provide second electrical characteristics including a second noise signal component of the read signal on the second sensor element signal path at a second head output terminal; and wherein design characteristics of the first and second physical structures are selected to be symmetrical for equalizing the first and second electrical characteristics thereby allowing the output signal of the magnetic head from the first and second physical structures to be differentially processed to cancel the first noise signal component with the second noise signal component.