Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a perpendicular magnetic recording head including a coil having small resistance. According to one embodiment, a nonmagnetic insulating layer formed on a main magnetic pole and a magnetic yoke are etched to form a recessed portion. The thickness of a conductive layer is increased by the depth of the recessed portion in a process for forming the conductive layer of the upper coil on the recessed portion to reduce resistance of the coil. Simultaneously with the formation of the recessed portion, a part of a second layer of a connection tab is removed. Simultaneously with the formation of the conductive layer of the upper coil, a space in which the part of the second layer of the connection tab is removed is filled with the same material as that of the conductive layer to further reduce the resistance of the entire coil.

Abstract: A head-slider. The head-slider includes a slider, and a thin-film magnetic-recording head. The thin-film magnetic-recording head includes: a read element; a write element; a non-magnetic insulating protective layer disposed around both read and write elements; a resist disposed at a position further away from an air-bearing surface than the read element; and, a hard-material member including a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and tungsten, which is disposed at a position further away from the air-bearing surface than the read element and the write element. Both an end of the resist and an end of the hard-material member overlap the write element when viewed in a stacking direction. A ratio of a distance from the air-bearing surface to a deepest end of the hard-material member to a distance from the air-bearing surface to a deepest end of the resist is at least 0.9.

Abstract: A head-slider. The head-slider includes a slider, and a thin-film magnetic-recording head. The thin-film magnetic-recording head includes: a read element; a write element; a non-magnetic insulating protective layer disposed around both read and write elements; a resist disposed at a position further away from an air-bearing surface than the read element; and, a hard-material member including a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and tungsten, which is disposed at a position further away from the air-bearing surface than the read element and the write element. Both an end of the resist and an end of the hard-material member overlap the write element when viewed in a stacking direction. A ratio of a distance from the air-bearing surface to a deepest end of the hard-material member to a distance from the air-bearing surface to a deepest end of the resist is at least 0.9.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a compact thin-film magnetic head capable of being increased in the number of terminals, and a magnetic disk drive that uses the thin-film magnetic head. In one embodiment, a thin-film magnetic head is constructed that has a magnetic response element, multiple connection object terminals, multiple lead conductors electrically connected to the magnetic response element, and multiple connection sections each formed between each of the connection object terminals and one of the multiple lead conductors in order to electrically connect each of the connection object terminals and one of the lead conductor. All of the multiple lead conductors are provided in the state where they extend from the magnetic response element to the lower layers of the multiple connection object terminals. A magnetic disk drive using the thin-film magnetic head is constructed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a head which can prevent an external magnetic field form erasing a signal on the medium and whose main magnetic pole piece does not corrode during processing of the air bearing surface. In one embodiment, an anti-corrosion electrode is formed to apply a voltage to the main magnetic pole piece during processing of the air bearing surface. This retards corrosion of the main magnetic pole piece. Since a conductor (anti-corrosion wire) connected to this anti-corrosion electrode is made of a nonmagnetic material, concentration of an external magnetic field into the main magnetic pole piece can be suppressed. Consequently, since the magnetic leakage field emitted from the main magnetic pole piece is reduced, erasure of the signal on the medium can be prevented.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a perpendicular magnetic recording head including a coil having small resistance. According to one embodiment, a nonmagnetic insulating layer formed on a main magnetic pole and a magnetic yoke are etched to form a recessed portion. The thickness of a conductive layer is increased by the depth of the recessed portion in a process for forming the conductive layer of the upper coil on the recessed portion to reduce resistance of the coil. Simultaneously with the formation of the recessed portion, a part of a second layer of a connection tab is removed. Simultaneously with the formation of the conductive layer of the upper coil, a space in which the part of the second layer of the connection tab is removed is filled with the same material as that of the conductive layer to further reduce the resistance of the entire coil.

Abstract: A thermal flying height adjustment slider capable of being mounted on a small-sized thin film magnetic head slider is provided wherein terminals of an energizer serving as a heater prevent corrosion of pole pieces and the number of terminals is reduced. In one embodiment, one of terminals of the energizer serving as the heater is electrically connected to the lower pole piece, so that a relay terminal for a heating device is used also as the terminal for preventing the corrosion of pole pieces.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic write/read device comprising a magnetic read element and a magnetic write element is formed in a thin film magnetic head portion of a magnetic head slider. A heat generating resistor is formed between a substrate portion and the magnetic reproducing device for heating thereby thermally expanding and protruding a portion of the magnetic head slider to control the flying height. The heat generating resistor is positioned between the substrate portion and the magnetic reproducing device being apart from the magnetic reproducing device for making the response speed for the flying height control of the magnetic head slider as high as possible and decreasing the effect caused by the heat generation of the heat generating resistor on the magnetic reproducing device as little as possible.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a compact thin-film magnetic head capable of being increased in the number of terminals, and a magnetic disk drive that uses the thin-film magnetic head. In one embodiment, a thin-film magnetic head is constructed that has a magnetic response element, multiple connection object terminals, multiple lead conductors electrically connected to the magnetic response element, and multiple connection sections each formed between each of the connection object terminals and one of the multiple lead conductors in order to electrically connect each of the connection object terminals and one of the lead conductor. All of the multiple lead conductors are provided in the state where they extend from the magnetic response element to the lower layers of the multiple connection object terminals. A magnetic disk drive using the thin-film magnetic head is constructed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a head which can prevent an external magnetic field form erasing a signal on the medium and whose main magnetic pole piece does not corrode during processing of the air bearing surface. In one embodiment, an anti-corrosion electrode is formed to apply a voltage to the main magnetic pole piece during processing of the air bearing surface. This retards corrosion of the main magnetic pole piece. Since a conductor (anti-corrosion wire) connected to this anti-corrosion electrode is made of a nonmagnetic material, concentration of an external magnetic field into the main magnetic pole piece can be suppressed. Consequently, since the magnetic leakage field emitted from the main magnetic pole piece is reduced, erasure of the signal on the medium can be prevented.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic write/read device comprising a magnetic read element and a magnetic write element is formed in a thin film magnetic head portion of a magnetic head slider. A heat generating resistor is formed between a substrate portion and the magnetic reproducing device for heating thereby thermally expanding and protruding a portion of the magnetic head slider to control the flying height. The heat generating resistor is positioned between the substrate portion and the magnetic reproducing device being apart from the magnetic reproducing device for making the response speed for the flying height control of the magnetic head slider as high as possible and decreasing the effect caused by the heat generation of the heat generating resistor on the magnetic reproducing device as little as possible.

Abstract: A thermal flying height adjustment slider capable of being mounted on a small-sized thin film magnetic head slider is provided wherein terminals of an energizer serving as a heater prevent corrosion of pole pieces and the number of terminals is reduced. In one embodiment, one of terminals of the energizer serving as the heater is electrically connected to the lower pole piece, so that a relay terminal for a heating device is used also as the terminal for preventing the corrosion of pole pieces.