Functional recording-head on-slider lap monitor

A magnetoresistive recording head comprising:

• (a) a reader portion, said reader portion comprising a top and a bottom shield and a reader element;
• (b) a first auxiliary electrical connection and a second auxiliary electrical connection;
• and
• (c) a first auxiliary electrical contact and a second auxiliary electrical contact,
• (d) at least one reader contact, said at least one reader contact being electrically connected to said reader element;
• wherein said first auxiliary electrical connection electrically connects said first auxiliary electrical contact to said top shield, said second auxiliary electrical connection electrically connects said second auxiliary electrical contact to said bottom shield, and the electrical isolation between said reader element and said top or said bottom shield is determined by applying a voltage to said at least one reader contact and said first or second auxiliary electrical contact, respectively, whereby the structural integrity of said magnetoresistive recording head is determined.

A magnetoresistive recording head configured to enable determination of the head's electrical integrity, said magnetoresistive recording head comprising:

• (a) reader means comprising at least one shield and a reader element;
• (b) contact means electrically connected to said reader element;
• (c) shunt means electrically connected to said at least one shield;
• (d) auxiliary electrical connection means;
• and
• (e) auxiliary electrical contact means electrically connected to said at least one shield by said auxiliary electrical connection means,
• wherein the electrical isolation between said reader element and said at least one shield is determined by applying a voltage to said at least one auxiliary electrical contact means and said contact means whereby the structural integrity of said magnetoresistive recording head is determined.