Data reader side shield with differing stripe heights

摘要

A data reader may have a magnetoresistive stack positioned on an air bearing surface and consisting of at least a magnetically free structure that continuously extends from the air bearing surface with a first stripe height. A side shield can be separated from the magnetoresistive stack on the ABS and configured with a first magnetic layer having the first stripe height and a second magnetic layer having a third stripe height from the air bearing surface with the third stripe height being greater than the first stripe height. The side shield can be anti-ferromagnetically biased by a synthetic antiferromagnetic top shield structure that contacts the side shield through a transition metal material layer. The first stripe height can be configured to match a magnetically free layer of the magnetoresistive stack and the second stripe height can be configured to match a magnetically fixed layer of the magnetoresistive stack.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a magnetoresistive (MR) stack positioned on an air bearing surface (ABS) and comprising a free structure extending a first stripe height from the ABS; and a side shield separated from the MR stack on the ABS and comprising a first magnetic layer having the first stripe height, a second magnetic layer having a second stripe height from the ABS, and a non-magnetic layer having a third stripe height from the ABS, the second and third stripe heights each being greater than the first stripe height, wherein the non-magnetic layer is disposed between the first and second magnetic layers.