Application Number: 00102598
Application Date: 1994.10.31
Publication Number: 1269577
Publication Date: 2000.10.11
Priority Information: 1994/3/10 US 08/209,088
International: G11B5/39;G01R33/09
Applicant(s) Name: International Business Machines Co., Ltd.
Address:
Inventor(s) Name: Kang Tingyuan;Wang Bokang
Patent Agency Code: 11038
Patent Agent: feng xun
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.