Abstract: A magnetic head include a pair of magnetic shield layers, a pair of gap layers formed between the pair of magnetic shield layers, a magnetoresistive layer arranged between the pair of gap layers, and a pair of electrodes electrically connected to the magnetoresistive layer. At least one of the pair of magnetic shield layers is formed as a discontinuous multi-layer or as a mixed layer.

Abstract: The present invention is to realize a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in which even if a spacing between shields of a magnetic head is narrowed, a deterioration in characteristic caused by a short-circuiting between a magnetoresistive layer and a magnetic shield layer is prevented to provide a high recording density. The present invention comprises an upper shield layer 15, a lower shield layer 13,and a magnetoresistive layer 14 arranged therebetween. Further, there is provided a constitution in which one or both shield layers has (have) a high resistance layer comprising a mixed layer of ferromagnetic metal and an insulating material, or a discontinuous multi-layer having a plurality of ferromagnetic metal layers and a plurality of insulating material layers laminated alternately, to prevent a deterioration in characteristic caused by a short-circuiting.

Abstract: As magnetic recording density is becoming denser, the spacing between the upper and under shields of a magnetoresistive head decreases accordingly and the insulating gap layers must be made thinner. This poses a problem that breakdown of a magnetoresistive layer occurs if dielectric strength against breakdown voltage is low. A magnetoresistive head is disclosed and its magnetoresistive element comprising a magnetoresistive layer 53 which converts magnetic signals to electric signals and a pair of electrodes 55 for allowing an electrically sensing current to flow across the magnetoresistive layer is made between upper shield 57 and under shield 52 with upper gap layer 59 and under gap layer 58 intervening between the magnetoresistive layer and the shields. By using a multi-layered varistor film or films 56 of a material such as ZnO, SiC, SrTiO, Si etc. in combination with an insulating material SiO2, Al2O3, etc.

Abstract: An oxide layer and an antiparallel coupling layer are inserted into a ferromagnetic pinned layer to be subjected to heat treatment with appropriate ferromagnetic film thickness and magnetization field to form a spin-valve film, which is controlled in amount of magnetization and is high in magnetoresistance.

Abstract: In a convention inductive head, since a large magnetic field is leaked from the end of the magnetic pole end of an upper magnetic core, at recording the recording magnetic field is applied to a recording media in a region larger than a desired track width, thereby damaging the adjacent information.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element includes a first antiferromagnetic film, a first magnetic film having a magnetization direction fixed by magnetic coupling with the first antiferromagnetic film, a second antiferromagnetic film, a second magnetic film having a magnetization direction fixed by magnetic coupling with the second antiferromagnetic film, a third magnetic film having a magnetization direction able to rotate in response to an applied magnetic field, a first nonmagnetic film disposed between the first magnetic film and the third magnetic film, and a second nonmagnetic film disposed between the second magnetic film and the third magnetic film. The third magnetic film is disposed between the first nonmagnetic film and the second nonmagnetic film, the first magnetic film is disposed between the first antiferromagnetic film and the first nonmagnetic film, and the second magnetic film is disposed between the second antiferromagnetic film and the second nonmagnetic film.

Abstract: A magnetic head having a spin-valve type giant magnetoresistive film in which a non-magnetic high conductive oxidized stopper layer and an oxide protective layer with favorable magnetic characteristic for attaining high output, as well as a magnetic recording apparatus are provided, in which an additional non-magnetic high conductance oxidized stopper layer and an oxide film protective layer are laminated successively on the side of the surface adjacent to the soft magnetic free layer thereby increasing the giant magnetoresistive effect more than existent spin valve to prepare a high power magnetic head.

Abstract: A magnetic storage/read system includes a recording medium having tracks, and a magnetic head, including a magnetoresistive element, which reads a magnetic field from the recording medium. The magnetic storage/read system satisfies a relationship of d≦(12.5×103)/Tr where d is a height, expressed in &mgr;m, of the magnetoresistive element in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the recording medium, and Tr is a track density, expressed in tracks per inch, of the tracks of the recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a magnetoresistive element. The magnetoresistive element includes a first magnetic film having a fixed magnetization direction, a second magnetic film having a fixed magnetization direction, a third magnetic film having a rotatable magnetization direction, a first nonmagnetic film, and a second nonmagnetic film. The first magnetic film, the first nonmagnetic film, the third magnetic film, the second nonmagnetic film, and the second magnetic film are stacked in this order.

Abstract: A magnetic head of storage/read separation type in which both a reproducing head of magnetoresistive type and a write head of magnetic induction type are formed through a magnetic shield. The magnetic head includes a ferromagnetic material and an antiferromagnetic material in intimate contact with said ferromagnetic material. At least a part of the antiferromagnetic material acts to bring about unidirectional anisotropy in the ferromagnetic material, and is made of Cr--Mn-based alloy, and at least a part of the ferromagnetic material in intimate contact with the antiferromagnetic material is made of Co or Co-based alloy.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing device has an inductive write element provided with a coil and magnetic cores for recording information on a medium, a magnetoresistive read element for transducing a change in a magnetic field leaking from a medium, on which information is recorded, into an electrical signal, a detector for detecting an output signal of the read element, a bias field applying unit for applying a bias field to the read element, and a recording/reproducing operation controller for reproducing information based on an output signal from the read element and for controlling the recording current applying unit based on an inputted signal to record information. The recording/reproducing operation control unit has a stabilizing unit for controlling the bias field applying unit to make an absolute value of the bias field in a state where a magnetic field leaking from the medium is applied to the read element larger than that during a normal reproducing operation.

Abstract: A magnetic storage/read system includes a recording medium for magnetically storing a signal and a magnetoresistive element which is driven relative to the recording medium. The magnetoresistive element may include a substrate, a first antiferromagnetic film, a first ferromagnetic film, a first nonmagnetic film, a soft magnetic film, a second nonmagnetic film, a second ferromagnetic film, and a second antiferromagnetic film, wherein the films are sequentially layered directly on the substrate with no intervening layer between any of the films. At least one of the first antiferromagnetic film and the second antiferromagnetic film may be made of nickel oxide.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic material having a high exchange coupling and a high thermal stability, and a magnetic storage system using this material which has excellent reliability and recording density, and a magnetoresistive storage/read separation head having a high sensitivity and a low noise property. The magnetic storage/read system of the invention mounts a magnetoresistive head using a chromium-manganese antiferromagnetic layer/a cobalt alloy layer as a pinning layer or the longitudinal bias layer of the spin-valve type magnetoresistive layered film.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing device using a giant magnetoresistive film for providing high detection sensitivity. In the giant magnetoresistive film comprising a conductive nonmagnetic film, first and second conductive ferromagnetic films, a magnetization fixing film for fixing a magnetization direction of the first ferromagnetic film, and a pair of electrodes for making a detection current flow, when no external magnetic field is received and no detection current flows, a magnetization direction of the second ferromagnetic film is made non-orthogonal to the magnetization direction of the first ferromagnetic film. Magnitude of the detection current is determined so that when no external magnetic field is received and detection current flows, they are orthogonal to each other upon receipt of a magnetic field due to the detection current.