Magnetoresistive head

摘要

A magnetic read head has a first embodiment comprising an elongated magnetoresistive element having a central region and distant ends. The central region has equipotential strips disposed intermediate to its ends, and detection circuitry is electrically connected to these intermediate equipotential strips to sense the changing resistance of the central region in the presence of data magnetically recorded on a medium. In a second embodiment, the magnetoresistive element is folded into a picture frame shape and has its ends joined. The element is vertically arranged so that one of the legs of the element is positioned in proximity to a selected track of a recording medium. A pair of equipotential strips are disposed at opposite ends of the leg to define a sensing region therebetween. Detection circuitry is connected to these equipotential strips to detect the changing resistance of the sensing region in the presence of the magnetic fields of the medium.