The barber pole, a linear magnetoresistive head

A short review of bias methods for the magnetoresistive head (MRH), all based on the rotation of the magnetization, is given, and the properties of the various methods are discussed. A novel bias method is proposed which avoids many disadvantages of the former since it is based on the rotation of the current with the aid of slanted conductors, covering the MRH. Measured and calculated static curves are given for this new configuration, for which the name "Barber Pole" is proposed. The Barber Pole turns out to be more linear than a field-biassed MRH. The wavelength response of a Barber Pole is calculated and found to be very similar to that of a normal MRH; this is confirmed by measurements. A two terminal track sensing head, based on the new biassing principle is described.