Magnetoresistive read transducer having improved bias profile.

摘要

A magnetoresistive (MR) read transducer having passive end regions (28, 38) separated by a central active region (25, 34) comprises an MR layer (27, 31) made from a material having a low uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. A soft magnetic bias layer (24, 33) is adjacent to but spaced from the MR layer in the central region (25, 34) only, and the soft magnetic bias layer (24, 33) is made from a material having a high uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. A longitudinal bias is produced directly in each of the end regions (28, 38) only, and the means for producing the longitudinal bias comprises a layer (26) made from a material having a high uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. Control of the uniaxial anisotropy can be achieved by choosing materials of appropriate magnetostriction or intrinsic uniaxial anisotropy. <IMAGE>