US Patent 7952838 Read head for magnetic storage system

A read head for a rotating magnetic storage system including concentric tracks is disclosed. The read head comprises a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor that reads information from a read track of the magnetic storage medium. First and second shields have a length greater than two tracks in a track width direction and define a gap therebetween, wherein the MR sensor is arranged in the gap. Inner magnetic portions of the first and second shields are spaced a first distance from the read track. Outer magnetic portions of the first and second shields are spaced a second distance from adjacent tracks to the read track, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.