Internally biased magnetoresistive magnetic transducer

Claim 2

The transducer of claim 2 wherein the nominal resistivity of the first layer is approximately 20 micro-ohm centimeters.

Claim 3

The transducer of claim 1 wherein the second layer is a material chosen from the class including titanium.

Claim 4

The transducer of claim 4 wherein the first layer is a material chosen from the class including nickel-iron.

Claim 5

The transducer of claim 1 wherein the current portions through the layers are approximately equal.

Claim 6

A self-biased device for manifesting as different resistance values different magnetic field strength, comprising: a number of layers of magnetoresistive material; a number of shunt layers of material directly juxtaposed with said magnetoresistive layers; and means, connected to one or more of aforesaid layers, for passing a current through all said layers, the current being distributed through each layer inversely in proportion to that layer''s resistance, the current through said shunt layers causing a magnetic bias field which envelopes said magnetoresistive layers.

Claim 7

The device of claim 7 wherein there is additionally provided monitoring means connected to selected layers for measuring the current through, and thus the resistance of, the layers of magnetoresistive material.

Claim 8

The device of claim 8 wherein the shunt layer material has a resistivity larger than the resistivity of each of the layers of magnetoresistive material.

Claim 9

The device of claim 9 wherein the shunt layer is a material selected from the class including titanium.

Claim 10

A self-biased magnetically responsive element for exhibiting resistance changes as a function of the number of magnetic lines of flux cut by the element, including: a source of magnetic lines of flux; a plurality of adjacent layers of substantially conductive material adjacent layers being placed in conductive contact, capable of being exposed to said magnetic source; and a source of electric current, connected to selected ones of aforesaid layers, for passing a current through the layers whereby the current through at least one of the layers provides a magnetic field encompassing a portion of at least one of the other layers, and the encompassed layer is thereby magnetically biased to exhibit a relatively linear rAnge of resistance values in response to said magnetic source.

Claim 11

The element of claim 11 wherein a first layer comprises a magnetoresistive material characterized by uniaxial anisotropy in a predetermined direction.

Claim 12

An internally biased magnetic read head for exhibiting differing resistance values for differing magnetic field intensities resulting from magnetic media manifestations, over linear and nonlinear ranges, comprising: a first film of magnetically active and electrically conductive material, having a number of electrical access points, capable of exhibiting a substantially linear magnetoresistive effect in response to a range of magnetic field intensities centered about a bias intensity value; a second film of electrically conductive material having at least one surface in intimate contact with a surface of the first film, capable of generating a magnetic field in response to an electric current sufficient to envelope a portion of the first film and supply said bias value; and a source of electric current connected with the first film electrical access points for passing a current through the first and second films whereby the current through the second layer provides a bias to the first film and voltage across the films indicates the resistance of the first film over a linear range centered about the bias.