Method for achieving anti-parallel exchange coupling with one biased layer having low coercivity

A method of forming a dual stripe, magnetoresistive head comprising the steps as follows:

• forming a first ferromagnetic strip on a substrate, said first ferromagnetic strip having a first set of ends,
• forming first antiferromagnetic pinning regions on said firsts set of ends of said first ferromagnetic strip, said first antiferromagnetic pinning regions being composed of a first material,
• performing a first high temperature annealing step on said first ferromagnetic strip and said first pinning regions in the presence of a first magnetic field,
• forming an intermediate non-magnetic layer over said strip and said first pinning regions,
• forming a second ferromagnetic strip on said intermediate non-magnetic layer, said second ferromagnetic strip having a second set of ends,
• forming second antiferromagnetic pinning regions on said second set of ends of said second ferromagnetic strip, said second antiferromagnetic pinning regions being composed of said first material, and
• performing a second high temperature annealing step on said first and second ferromagnetic strips and said first and second pinning regions and said intermediate non-magnetic layer in the presence of a second magnetic field antiparallel to said first magnetic field.