Magnetoresistive transducer with four-lead contact
US5959811A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 13, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 13, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/3906
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A magnetic head includes a magnetoresistive read transducer which comprises a central active region and two end regions. Bias current leads are connected respectively to end regions for current biasing of the transducer. Signal sensing leads is also are connected respectively to end regions for directing sensed voltage to a signal amplifier. The bias current and the sensed signal assume separate electrical paths. The current crowding effect in the bias current path does not affect the signal sensing path. Thus the transducer can sense signal with improved sensitivity and high signal-to-noise ratio. In one embodiment, at each end region, the bias current lead and the signal sensing lead are coplanar and are bifurcated to effectuate separate electrical paths. In another embodiment, the signal sensing lead and the bias current lead are electrically connected together via an electrical feedthrough at each end region, but are dielectrically separated by an insulating layer at other regions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.