Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) sensor shield shields against both down track and cross-track interference and is formed in a single deposition step. A “tail” portion of the shield is eliminated by including a non-magnetic material adjacent to opposite sides of a middle portion of the sensor stack.

Abstract: The implementations disclosed herein allow for formation of a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor shield that shields against both down track and cross-track interference. The shield can be formed in a single deposition step. In one implementation of the disclosed technology, a “tail” portion of the shield is eliminated by including a non-magnetic material adjacent to opposite sides of a middle portion of the sensor stack.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) sensor shield shields against both down track and cross-track interference. The shield can be formed in a single deposition step. In one implementation of the disclosed technology, a “tail” portion of the shield is eliminated by including a non-magnetic material adjacent to opposite sides of a middle portion of the sensor stack.

Abstract: A reader sensor comprising a sensor stack and a composite top shield. The composite top shield includes a bulk shield portion and a SAF portion, the SAF portion comprising a top magnetic layered structure and a bottom magnetic layered structure with a non-magnetic layer therebetween. Each of the magnetic layered structures has at least one soft magnetic material layer bounded by layers comprising magnetic material having a magnetic moment of at least 1.4 T.

Abstract: In accordance with one implementation of the described technology, an apparatus comprises a sensor structure including a top shield which includes a top shield synthetic antiferromagnetic layer and a bottom shield including a bottom shield synthetic antiferromagnetic layer, wherein the bottom synthetic antiferromagnetic shield layer acts as a seed layer structure.

Abstract: In accordance with one implementation of the described technology, an apparatus comprises a sensor structure including a top shield which includes a top shield synthetic antiferromagnetic layer and a bottom shield including a bottom shield synthetic antiferromagnetic layer, wherein the bottom synthetic antiferromagnetic shield layer acts as a seed layer structure.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive (MR) sensor may include a variety of individual functional layers whereby an electrical resistance throughout the layers of the sensor stack varies according to the polarity of a pinned layer within the sensor stack. A layered synthetic anti-ferromagnetic (SAF) upper shield of the MR sensor includes an upper SAF layer and a lower SAF layer separated by a shield anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) layer. The lower SAF layer is in contact with a side shield of the MR sensor, which provides a side shield biasing field to the MR sensor. The upper SAF layer separates the lower SAF layer from a top shield and/or domain control structure (DCS) magnet(s) of the MR sensor and shields the lower SAF layer and the sensor stack from DCS stray field(s), thereby reducing noise.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive (MR) sensor may include a variety of individual functional layers whereby an electrical resistance throughout the layers of the sensor stack varies according to the polarity of a pinned layer within the sensor stack. A layered synthetic anti-ferromagnetic (SAF) upper shield of the MR sensor includes an upper SAF layer and a lower SAF layer separated by a shield anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) layer. The lower SAF layer is in contact with a side shield of the MR sensor, which provides a side shield biasing field to the MR sensor. The upper SAF layer separates the lower SAF layer from a top shield and/or domain control structure (DCS) magnet(s) of the MR sensor and shields the lower SAF layer and the sensor stack from DCS stray field(s), thereby reducing noise.

Abstract: A data reader can be configured with at least a magnetically responsive lamination that has a first portion with a first stripe height from an air bearing surface (ABS) and a second portion with a different second stripe height from the ABS. The first portion can be constructed to have a back edge surface shaped at a predetermined angle relative to the ABS by a back edge feature.

Abstract: A data reader can be configured with at least a magnetically responsive lamination that has a first portion with a first stripe height from an air bearing surface (ABS) and a second portion with a different second stripe height from the ABS. The first portion can be constructed to have a back edge surface shaped at a predetermined angle relative to the ABS by a back edge feature.