Tunnel junction read head with flux guide coupled to and magnetically extending a recessed free layer to an air bearing surface

摘要

A tunnel junction read head is provided with free and pinned layers which are recessed from the ABS with the free layer being connected to a flux guide which extends the free layer to the ABS for conducting signal fields to the free layer from a rotating magnetic disk. With this arrangement the typical narrow spacing between the free and pinned layers at the ABS is obviated so that upon lapping of the read head during its construction, conductive material will not be smeared between these layers so as to cause shorting therebetween.