Magnetoresistive read transducer

Claim 1

A magnetic read transducer assembly comprising: a thin film of magnetoresistive conductive layer formed of magnetic material, said magnetoresistive conductive layer having end regions separated by a central region; a nonmagnetic decoupling layer covering only said central region of said magnetoresistive conductive layer; a thin film of soft magnetic material extending over said central region only of said magnetoresistive conductive layer, said thin film of soft magnetic material being parallel to and in contact with said decoupling layer and separated from said magnetoresistive layer in said central region by said decoupling layer; means for producing a longitudinal bias directly in said end regions only of said magnetoresistive layer of a level sufficient to maintain said end regions of said magnetoresistive conductive layer in a single domain state, said single domain states of said end regions thereby inducing a single domain state in said central region; spaced conductive means connected to said magnetoresistive layer; and means for supplying a bias current to said conductive means to magnetically bias said magnetoresistive layer with transverse bias of a level sufficient to maintain said magnetoresistive layer in a high sensitivity condition whereby, upon connection of said conductive means to a signal sensing means, said signal sensing means determines the resistance changes in said magnetoresistive layer as a function of the fields which are intercepted by said magnetoresistive conductive layer.