Abstract: A robust recording head with a spin tunneling sensing element separated from an interface between the recording head and a recording media so as not to be affected by collisions and other ill effects at the interface between the recording head and the recording media. The spin tunneling sensing element includes a pair of magnetic elements wherein one of the magnetic elements functions as a flux guide that conducts magnetic flux emanating from the recording media away from the interface to an active area of the spin tunneling sensing element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the position of a magnetic head from a magnetic track in a storage medium. The magnetic head includes two magneto-resistive elements electrically separated by an insulative layer; current leads for biasing the MR elements and rotating the magnetization of the MR elements in opposite directions that are transverse from the respective axes of the elements; and circuitry to monitor the resistance changes of the respective MR elements and producing respective first and second output signals and to manipulate the output signals to provide an indication of the cross-track position of the magnetic head relative to the magnetic track.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive transducer includes at least one magnetoresistive element having a transverse easy axis. The use of a transverse easy axis prevents magnetic domains from forming in the magnetoresistive elements and results in a noise-free device. Various techniques for producing a transverse easy axis include the use of stress, and a magneto strictive material, during the formation of the element to orient the anisotropy of the element transverse to orient the anisotropy of the element transverse to the element, formation of the element in the presence of a magnetic field, high temperature anneal of the element, or any other method of forming the element with a prebiased state.

Abstract: A method for reducing Barkhausen noise in dual stripe magnetoresistive recording heads. The topography of the bottom conductor is controlled, specifically the conductor sidewall angle at the edge of the track is defined to be less than 45.degree. from the substrate plane. Restricting the conductor sidewall profile in this manner eliminates sources of magnetic domain nucleation.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor having a longitudinal field that is produced along its axis and that stabilizes the sensor. The longitudinal field is produced by the current in conductors that are connected to the magnetoresistive sensor elements. By controlling the direction and distribution of the current in the conductors, a longitudinal field is produced that has the required direction and magnitude to stabilize the single domain state of the sensor. The resulting lack of domain wall motion in the sensor during operation prevents instabilities in its electrical output, commonly known as Barkhausen noise. Four different sensor designs are provided that include two single element sensors with two conductors, a dual element sensor with four conductors, and a dual element sensor with three conductors. The ease of implementation makes the stabilized sensor of the present invention superior to conventional approaches that rely on permanent magnets or exchange coupled layers to provide longitudinal bias.

Abstract: A a dual element magnetoresistive sensor that uses the longitudinal field produced by the sense/bias currents to initialize the elements into a stable antiparallel state. The dual element magnetoresistive sensor comprises two magnetoresistive elements having first and second conductors coupled thereto. The first and second conductors are oriented in the same direction as the magnetoresistive elements in their contact areas. A third conductor is disposed between and coupled to the two magnetoresistive elements at their opposite ends. The third conductor is oriented transverse to the directions of the first and second sensor elements, and is adapted to conduct current therethrough in a direction transverse to the currents conducted by the first and second conductors. Currents conducted by all three conductors self-initialize the magnetoresistive elements into a single domain state.