Magnetic head with magnetoresistive sensor, inductive write head, and shield

Claim 2

A magnetic head comprising: an elongated magnetoresistive sensor strip having a sense region and exchange-biasing antiferromagnetic material exchange-coupled to the magnetoresistive sensor strip only outside the sense region, the sense region being stabilized in a single magnetic domain state through exchange interaction outside the sense region; trailing and leading inductive write poles and a soft-magnetic shield forming first and second gaps, the first gap being between the poles and the second gap being between the trailing pole and the shield; the elongated magnetoresistive sensor strip being mounted in the second gap; the leading one of the poles having a length defining a track width; the central sense region being approximately the same length as the leading pole; and the trailing pole having a length at least as long as the elongated magnetoresistive sensor strip.

Claim 3

The strip of claim 1 wherein the soft-magnetic shield is at least as long as the strip.

Claim 4

A magnetic head comprising: leading and trailing inductive write poles and a soft-magnetic shield forming first and second gaps, the first gap being between the poles, a second gap being between a trailing one of the poles and the shield; a shaped magnetoresistive sensor strip having a stable single-domain in a single central sense region and exchange-biasing antiferromagnetic material exchange-coupled to the sensor only outside the central sense region, the central sense region being stabilized in the stable single-domain by exchange interaction outside the central sense region; the shaped magnetoresistive sensor strip being mounted in the second gap; the leading one of the poles having a length defining a track width; the central sense region being approximately the same length as the leading pole; and the trailing pole having a length at least as long as the strip.

Claim 5

A magnetic head comprising: leading and trailing inductive write poles and a soft-magnetic shield forming first and second gaps, the first gap being between the poles, a second gap being between a trailing one of the poles and the shield; a shaped magnetoresistive sensor strip having a stable single-domain in a single central sense region and exchange-biasing antiferromagnetic material exchange-coupled to the sensor only outside the central sense region, the central sense region being stabilized in the stable single-domain by exchange interaction outside the central sense region; the shaped magnetoresistive sensor strip being mounted in the second gap; the leading one of the poles having a length defining a track width; the central sense region being approximately the same length as the leading pole; and the trailing pole having a length at least as long as the strip.

Claim 6

A magnetic transducer assembly comprising: trailing and leading inductive write poles and a soft-magnetic shield forming first and second gaps, the first gap being between the poles and the second gap being between the trailing pole and the shield; the leading pole having a length defining a track width; an elongated magnetoresistive sensor strip mounted in the second gap and having a sense region of approximately the same length as the leading pole, exchange-biasing antiferromagnetic material exchange-coupled to the magnetoresistive sensor strip only outside the sense region and a pair of vertically extending sections to provide for electrical connection to the sensor, the sense region being stabilized in a single magnetic domain state through exchange interaction outside the sense region and the elongated magnetic strip having a pseudo-ellipsoid shape; and the trailing pole and the soft magnetic shield being at least as long as the elongated magnetoresistive sensor strip.

Claim 7

A magnetic transducer assembly comprising: trailing and leading inductive write poles and a soft-magnetic shield forming first and second gaps, the first gap being between the poles and the second gap being between the trailing pole and the shield; the leading pole having a length defining a track width; an elongated magnetoresistive sensor strip mounted in the second gap and having a sense region of approximately the same length as the leading pole, exchange-biasing antiferromagnetic material exchange-coupled to the magnetoresistive sensor strip only outside the sense region and a pair of vertically extending sections to provide for electrical connection to the sensor, the sense region being stabilized in a single magnetic domain state through exchange interaction outside the sense region and the elongated magnetic strip having a pseudo-ellipsoid shape; and the trailing pole and the soft magnetic shield being at least as long as the elongated magnetoresistive sensor strip.

Claim 8

The transducer assembly of claim 4 further including a current source connected between each of the vertically extending sections and a voltage sensing circuit further connected between each of said vertically extending sections.