Protective circuit for a magnetoresistive element

Abstract

A protective circuit for a magnetoresistive (MR) element having a first and a second terminal in which a first current source is coupled to the first terminal of the MR element to produce a bias current through the MR element and a second current source is coupled to the second terminal of the MR element to produce a reference current. Circuit means coupled across the MR element senses the center potential of the MR element substantially midway between the first and second terminals, and a feedback circuit responsive to the sensed center potential is coupled to adjust the current output of the first current source to maintain the center potential to a selected reference voltage to protect the MR element from short circuits to a conductive area of the magnetic recording medium. A second feedback circuit is provided which comprises a pair of transistors coupled in a differential pair configuration and a transconductance stage which feeds back a signal as a current to the transistors which keeps the dc currents through each of the transistors equal, and the transistors provide an amplified output signal which is a function of the magnetic flux being sensed by the MR element.