Magnetoresistive head
 A magnetoresistive head comprising longitudinal bias layers composed of .alpha.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 provided under an magnetoresistive layer in close contact therewith, wherein an exchange anisotropic magnetic field is applied to the magnetoresistive layer from the longitudinal bias layers and the coercive force of the magnetoresistive layer is increased to several hundred Oe in exchange coupling regions with which the longitudinal bias layers are in close contact. The magnetization direction of the exchange coupling regions becomes stable in the x axis direction and sufficient longitudinal bias magnetic field is thereby applied to an region corresponding to the track width (Tw) of the magnetoresistive layer. Therefore, decreased Barkhausen noise and improved magnetic detection characteristics are achieved. 
Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
G
G11B
inventional
Fumihito Masamichi Kiyoshi
Koike Saito Satoh