Abstract: A magnetic sensor including a first magneto resistive effect element located on a first surface of a substrate and having a sensitivity axis in a first direction that is one of in-plane directions of the first surface, a positioning soft magnetic body including a first most proximal portion of which a relative position with respect to the magneto resistive effect element is defined, and provided in a non-contact manner with respect to the first magneto resistive effect element, and a first soft magnetic body and a second soft magnetic body juxtaposed in the first direction and extending in a direction away from the first surface, and each of the first soft magnetic body and the second soft magnetic body is magnetically connected to the positioning soft magnetic body.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor including a first magneto resistive effect element located on a first surface of a substrate and having a sensitivity axis in a first direction that is one of in-plane directions of the first surface, a positioning soft magnetic body including a first most proximal portion of which a relative position with respect to the magneto resistive effect element is defined, and provided in a non-contact manner with respect to the first magneto resistive effect element, and a first soft magnetic body and a second soft magnetic body juxtaposed in the first direction and extending in a direction away from the first surface, and each of the first soft magnetic body and the second soft magnetic body is magnetically connected to the positioning soft magnetic body.

Abstract: A first sealing layer having a frame-like shape and a first contact layer are formed on a back surface of a frame portion of a sensor substrate. The first contact layer is separated from the first sealing layer, extends through a functional member and an insulation layer, and is electrically connected to the functional member and a first base member. A second sealing layer and a second contact layer are formed on a surface of a wiring substrate. The second sealing layer faces the first sealing layer. The second contact layer is separated from the second sealing layer, extends through the insulation layer, and is electrically connected to the second base member. The sealing layers are eutectically bonded to each other. The contact layers are electrically connected to each other, and thereby the first and second base members and the frame portion have the same potential.

Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes an anchor portion, a movable portion displaceable in a height direction, a supporting portion rotatably connected to the anchor portion and the movable portion, and a detection portion. The supporting portion includes a first connection arm connecting the anchor portion and the movable portion to each other and a leg portion extending from the anchor portion in a direction opposite to the first connection arm, the leg portion being displaced in a direction opposite to a displacement direction of the movable portion when the supporting portion rotates. A stopper surface is disposed at a position to which a distal end portion of the leg portion is contactable when the leg portion is displaced in the direction opposite to the displacement direction of the movable portion. Displacement of the movable portion is restricted when the distal end portion of the leg portion contacts the stopper surface.

Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes an anchor portion, a movable portion displaceable in a height direction, a supporting portion rotatably connected to the anchor portion and the movable portion, and a detection portion. The supporting portion includes a first connection arm connecting the anchor portion and the movable portion to each other and a leg portion extending from the anchor portion in a direction opposite to the first connection arm, the leg portion being displaced in a direction opposite to a displacement direction of the movable portion when the supporting portion rotates. A stopper surface is disposed at a position to which a distal end portion of the leg portion is contactable when the leg portion is displaced in the direction opposite to the displacement direction of the movable portion. Displacement of the movable portion is restricted when the distal end portion of the leg portion contacts the stopper surface.

Abstract: In a perpendicular magnetic recording head comprising a main magnetic pole layer and a return yoke layer which are laminated with a magnetic gap layer interposed therebetween, a nonmagnetic throat height determining layer and a return yoke reinforcement layer made of a magnetic material having a saturated magnetic flux density higher than that of the return yoke layer are provided on the magnetic gap layer. The nonmagnetic throat height determining layer has a front end face parallel to the medium-opposing surface at a position retracted by a desirable throat height from the medium-opposing surface. The return yoke reinforcement layer is formed directly under the return yoke layer so as to extend at least from the front end face of the nonmagnetic throat height determining layer to the upper face thereof, and is exposed at the medium-opposing surface between the magnetic gap layer and return yoke layer.

Abstract: A method of efficiently inspecting a thin film magnetic head is provided. The method including holding a slider bar having a plurality of the thin film magnetic head elements in a row by an inspecting holding jig made of a nonmagnetic material; loading the slider bar held by the inspecting holding jig to a sampling placing part of a scanning electron microscope; and sequentially executing shape inspection of the plurality of thin film magnetic head elements on the slider bar by the scanning electron microscope.

Abstract: In a perpendicular magnetic recording head comprising a main magnetic pole layer and a return yoke layer which are laminated with a magnetic gap layer interposed therebetween, a nonmagnetic throat height determining layer and a return yoke reinforcement layer made of a magnetic material having a saturated magnetic flux density higher than that of the return yoke layer are provided on the magnetic gap layer. The nonmagnetic throat height determining layer has a front end face parallel to the medium-opposing surface at a position retracted by a desirable throat height from the medium-opposing surface. The return yoke reinforcement layer is formed directly under the return yoke layer so as to extend at least from the front end face of the nonmagnetic throat height determining layer to the upper face thereof, and is exposed at the medium-opposing surface between the magnetic gap layer and return yoke layer.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole layer and a return yoke layer laminated on the main magnetic pole layer with a magnetic gap layer disposed in an opposing surface opposite a recording medium. Further included is a resist layer having a front end surface at a position retreated from the opposing surface opposite the recording medium to a deeper side in a height direction. The resist layer defines a throat height of the return yoke layer at the front end surface position. A Ti film is formed directly below the resist layer, forming at least a portion of the magnetic gap layer. The Ti film is a non-light transmitting film through which light cannot pass.

Abstract: A method of efficiently inspecting a thin film magnetic head is provided. The method including holding a slider bar having a plurality of the thin film magnetic head elements in a row by an inspecting holding jig made of a nonmagnetic material; loading the slider bar held by the inspecting holding jig to a sampling placing part of a scanning electron microscope; and sequentially executing shape inspection of the plurality of thin film magnetic head elements on the slider bar by the scanning electron microscope.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is provided, in which, even if sags occur in a shield layer when an opposing face opposing a medium is polished, the sags are unlikely to reach an MR device or another shield layer, whereby short-circuiting can be avoided. The thin-film magnetic head includes a laminate having a magnetoresistive device, two insulating layers provided on both sides of the magnetoresistive device in the thickness direction thereof, and two shield layers provided on the insulating layers on the magnetoresistive device, and a substrate on which the laminate is provided. In the thin-film magnetic head, the magnetoresistive device, the insulating layers, and the shield layers are exposed at the opposing face opposing a recording medium. At least one of the shield layers in contact with the insulating layers is composed of a magnetic layer and a rigid layer which is harder than the magnetic layer and is in contact with the insulating layer.