Apparatuses and methods for providing thin shields in a multiple sensor array

A magnetic read transducer comprising:

• a first read sensor;
• a second read sensor;
• a shield assembly positioned between the first read sensor and the second read sensor at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic read transducer, the shield assembly comprising:
• a first shield layer assembly having a first footprint with a first area;
• and
• a second shield layer assembly having a second footprint with a second area,
• wherein the second area is greater than the first area;
• a soft bias layer substantially parallel to the shield assembly;
• and
• a hard bias layer substantially parallel to the shield assembly,
• wherein the first read sensor is positioned between a right side portion of the soft bias layer and a left side portion of the soft bias layer at the ABS;
• and
• wherein the soft bias layer is positioned between a right side portion of the hard bias layer and a left side portion of the hard bias layer at the ABS.

A method of fabricating a magnetic read transducer, the method comprising:

• providing a first read sensor at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic read transducer;
• providing a shield assembly on the first read sensor, wherein the providing the shield assembly on the first read sensor comprises:
• providing a first shield layer assembly on the first read sensor, the first shield layer assembly having a first footprint with a first area;
• and
• providing a second shield layer assembly on the first shield layer assembly, the second shield layer assembly having a second footprint with a second area, wherein the second area is greater than the first area;
• and
• providing a second read sensor on the shield assembly,
• wherein a majority of the first area and a majority of the second area are positioned on opposite sides of the first read sensor in a cross track direction.

A method of fabricating a magnetic read transducer, the method comprising:

• providing a first read sensor at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic read transducer;
• providing a shield assembly on the first read sensor, wherein the providing the shield assembly on the first read sensor comprises:
• providing a first shield layer assembly on the first read sensor, the first shield layer assembly having a first footprint with a first area;
• and
• providing a second shield layer assembly on the first shield layer assembly, the second shield layer assembly having a second footprint with a second area, wherein the second area is greater than the first area;
• providing a second read sensor on the shield assembly;
• providing a soft bias layer substantially parallel to the shield assembly;
• and
• providing a hard bias layer substantially parallel to the shield assembly,
• wherein the first read sensor is positioned between a right side portion of the soft bias layer and a left side portion of the soft bias layer at the ABS;
• and
• wherein the soft bias layer is positioned between a right side portion of the hard bias layer and a left side portion of the hard bias layer at the ABS.

A magnetic read transducer comprising:

• a first read sensor;
• a second read sensor;
• a shield assembly positioned between the first read sensor and the second read sensor at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic read transducer in a down track direction, the shield assembly comprising:
• a first shield layer assembly having a first footprint with a first area;
• and
• a second shield layer assembly having a second footprint with a second area,
• wherein the second area is greater than the first area, and
• wherein the first read sensor is positioned between a majority of the first area and a majority of the second area in a cross track direction.

A method of fabricating a magnetic read transducer, the method comprising:

• providing a first read sensor at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic read transducer;
• providing a shield assembly on the first read sensor, wherein the providing the shield assembly on the first read sensor comprises:
• providing a first shield layer assembly on the first read sensor, the first shield layer assembly having a first footprint with a first area;
• and
• providing a second shield layer assembly on the first shield layer assembly, the second shield layer assembly having a second footprint with a second area, wherein the second area is greater than the first area;
• and
• providing a second read sensor on the shield assembly,
• wherein the first read sensor is positioned between a majority of the first area and a majority of the second area in a cross track direction.