Magnetoresistive sensor based on spin accumulation effect with terminal connection at back end of sensor

摘要

A disk drive magnetoresistive (MR) read head based on the spin accumulation effect has no electrical terminal and associated insulating layer in the read gap. The spin-accumulation type of MR read head has an electrically conductive strip located on an insulating layer on the lower magnetic shield with a first end at the sensing end of the head that faces the disk and a second end at the back end of the head recessed from the sensing end. At the sensing end of the head the upper magnetic shield is located on the free layer without an insulating layer. A resistance-detection circuit is electrically coupled to the upper shield and the lower shield at the back end of the head. At the back end of the head, an electrical terminal is located on the fixed layer and electrically insulated from the upper shield. A current-supply circuit is electrically coupled to the terminal and the lower shield at the back end of the head.