Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) sensor comprising a layer of ferromagnetic material forming an MR sensing element wherein the MR sensor is biased by utilizing only the MR stripe uniaxial anisotropy and the shape anisotropy of the active region of the sensing element. The active region of the MR element has a generally square geometry to provide the desired shape anisotropy. The MR sensor is biased at approximately 45 degrees by defining the magnetization at the four edges of the sense element active region utilizing its shape anisotropy and canting the magnetic easy axis at an appropriate angle during fabrication of the MR sensor. To minimize Barkhausen noise, a single magnetic domain configuration is achieved by reducing the sensor active region dimensions, i.e., stripe height and track width, to less than the characteristic domain wall thickness such that the formation of multiple magnetic domains is no longer energetically favorable.

Abstract: An exchange-biased magnetoresistive (MR) read transducer in which the MR layer composition is changed at the interface with an antiferromagnetic layer, which is in direct contact with the ferromagnetic MR layer. The exchange-bias field strength H.sub.UA in the MR layer is increased at room temperature by adding a specially-optimized transition region in the ferromagnetic MR layer at the interface. The percentage of iron in the ferromagnetic alloy varies from a higher value at the interface to a lower value at the opposite end of the transition region. The higher iron ratio at the antiferromagnetic interface enhances the exchange-bias field H.sub.UA and the lower iron ratio throughout the bulk of the ferromagnetic MR layer maintains the lower coercivity preferred in the layer, thereby enhancing the longitudinal bias field with respect to the MR coercivity. Advantageously, the enhanced longitudinal bias effect of the special ferromagnetic transition region does not reduce the critical temperature T.sub.

Abstract: An exchange-biased magnetoresistive (MR) read transducer in which the MR layer composition is changed at the interface with an antiferromagnetic layer, which is in direct contact with the ferromagnetic MR layer. The exchange-bias field strength H.sub.UA in the MR layer is increased at room temperature by adding a specially-optimized transition region in the ferromagnetic MR layer at the interface. The percentage of iron in the ferromagnetic alloy varies from a higher value at the interface to a lower value at the opposite end of the transition region. The higher iron ratio at the antiferromagnetic interface enhances the exchange-bias field H.sub.UA and the lower iron ratio throughout the bulk of the ferromagnetic MR layer maintains the lower coercivity preferred in the layer, thereby enhancing the longitudinal bias field with respect to the MR coercivity. Advantageously, the enhanced longitudinal bias effect of the special ferromagnetic transition region does not reduce the critical temperature T.sub.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) read transducer having passive end regions separated by a central active region in which an MR layer is formed over substantially only the central active region and in which a magnetic bias layers is formed in each passive end region. Each of the magnetic bias layers includes a layer of ferromagnetic material and a layer of antiferromagnetic material overlaying and in contact with the ferromagnetic layer to provide an exchange-coupled magnetic bias field. Each of the magnetic bias layers form an abutting junction having magnetic and electrically continuity with the MR layer to produce a longitudinal magnetic bias field in the transducer.