Patent ID: 8151442

Claim:
A method of fabricating a magnetoresistive (MR) element, the method comprising: depositing a free layer having a front edge coplanar with a sensing surface of the MR element; depositing a spacer/barrier layer having a front edge coplanar with the sensing surface of the MR element; depositing a pinned layer having a front edge coplanar with the sensing surface of the MR element; depositing a pinning layer having a front edge coplanar with the sensing surface of the MR element; milling the pinning layer, the pinned layer, and the spacer/barrier layer down to the free layer to form a back edge for each of the pinning layer, the pinned layer, and the spacer/barrier layer that are opposite each of the front edges, wherein after milling, the free layer has a back edge opposite the front edge of the free layer that extends past the back edge of the spacer/barrier layer, wherein the portion of the free layer that extends past the back edge of the spacer/barrier layer defines a continuous flux guide, wherein a length of the flux guide is in the range of 0.5 to 2 times the length of the spacer/barrier layer; and partially etching the flux guide to reduce the conductive characteristics of the flux guide.