Magnetoresistive read head and magnetic storage system using the same

Abstract

A magnetoresistive read head includes a magnetoresistive layer having a central active region and end domain control regions, an electrode layer connected to both ends of the magnetoresistive layer, a pattern for providing a transverse bias to the magnetoresistive layer, a soft magnetic film provided on both sides of the magnetoresistive layer for magnetically shielding the magnetoresistive layer, and a substrate for supporting the magnetoresistive layer, pattern and soft magnetic film. A distance between the two end domain control regions of the magnetoresistive layer indicative of a length of the central active region is smaller than a distance between inner end faces of the electrode layer and the distance between the inner end faces of the magnetoresistive substantially corresponds to a read track width. Since both inner end faces of the magnetoresistive layer are set to coincide with the inner end faces of the electrode layer or to be positioned inside thereof, the magnetoresistive read head can prevent generation of Barkhausen noise with a good yield. Further, a track width is determined substantially by the distance between the inner end faces of the hard magnetic layer so that there can be obtained a magnetoresistive read head which is good in its off-track characteristic as well as a magnetic storage system which uses the read head.