Abstract: A magnetic reading device, of the type comprising multiple magnetic read heads, incorporates read heads each formed by a magneto-resistance element having a resistance which varies as a function of an outside magnetic field. The magnetic reading device comprises a network of line conductors intersected with a network of column conductors to form intersections at which a read head is provided. The first and second ends of each magneto-resistance element forming the read heads are respectively connected to a line conductor and to a column conductor of the corresponding intersection, and a control voltage is applied to the line and column conductors by a switching element for each line conductor, column conductors being connected to a current sensor. A simplification of the control of read heads results from this arrangement, while avoiding the effect of the heads not selected on the variations of current coming from the selected heads.

Abstract: Magnetic read heads with magneto-resistance effect of the multilayer type, are provided in a new arrangement making it possible in particular to facilitate a collective arrangement of these heads. Each read head comprises a magneto-resistance element formed by a sensitive magnetic layer superposed on a stable magnetic layer. Each read head comprises a magnetic circuit in a ring opened by an air gap, the sensitive magnetic layer being inserted in the magnetic circuit in a ring, the stable magnetic layer being outside the ring of the magnetic circuit. The arrangement of the magnetic read heads is particularly adapted for reading high density magnetic storage media.