Abstract: A gap depth determining insulating layer is formed on a lower core layer. A curved face is formed on a front edge face of the gap depth determining insulating layer so as to gradually depart from an ABS surface from the bottom at the lower core layer to the top of the curved face. A back end of an upper magnetic layer can be formed on the gap depth determining insulating layer, whereby the volume of the upper magnetic layer can be increased while a gap depth is maintained at a predetermined length.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a first magnetic layer in which a face, opposed to a recording medium, having a size equal to a track width in a track width direction; a second magnetic layer in which a face, opposed to the recording medium, having a size greater than the track width in the track width direction, the first and second magnetic layers being spaced from each other in an element thickness direction, the first and second magnetic layers being connected to each other at a region located in a height direction; and a coil layer, located far from the opposed faces, for applying recording magnetic fields to the first and second magnetic layers such that magnetic data is recorded on the recording medium with a perpendicular magnetic field concentrated on the first magnetic layer.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film is formed of a CoFeNi alloy containing trace amounts of chlorine and sulfur as impurities. The stress of the soft magnetic film can be reduced effectively, specifically to 1,200 MPa or less, by adjusting the concentration ratio of chlorine to sulfur within the range from 1 to 60. In addition, variations in film stress can be reduced to provide higher yields of CoFeNi alloy films with low stresses.

Abstract: A soft magnetic film is formed which is represented by the formula (FexNiy)aMob, in which 0.65?x?0.75 and x+y=1 are satisfied when x and y are on a mass percent ratio basis, and 0<b?5 and a+b=100 are satisfied when a and b are on a mass percent basis, and by using this soft magnetic film, a lower core layer and/or an upper core layer is formed. Accordingly, a saturated magnetic flux density of 1.6 T or more and a resistivity of 40 ??·cm or more can be obtained, and hence a thin film magnetic head having a small loss in a high frequency signal region can be provided.

Abstract: A gap layer of a thin-film magnetic head is formed of NiP. The P content of the NiP gap layer is controlled to be within the range of 11 mass percent to 14 mass percent so that the gap layer is nonmagnetic.

Abstract: A magnetic head including a lower core layer and an upper core layer, a non-magnetic gap layer and a coil layer. The upper core layer is made of an FeNiX (X being an element of one of rhenium Re and molybdenum Mo). A concentration difference of the upper core layer between a concentration of iron by weight percent and a concentration of the element X by weight percent is set to be larger at a leading edge of the upper core layer than at a position of the upper core layer more backward than the leading edge. In this arrangement, the magnetic head is provided with improved overwrite characteristics and accommodates the use of high-frequency recording signals.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes an upper magnetic pole layer formed by electroplating in which the density of the impressed current is increased in stages every predetermined period of time. The upper magnetic pole layer contains at least 60 mass % of Fe. The difference between the maximum Fe content and the minimum Fe content of the upper magnetic pole layer within 0.3 ?m from the interface with the gap layer is 6 mass % or less.

Abstract: A main magnetic pole layer is formed on an insulating layer flattened into a high-flatness surface, and a yoke layer having a large film thickness is formed on the main magnetic pole layer independently of the main magnetic pole. The main magnetic pole layer has a front end surface formed in a shape with a width size gradually increasing in a direction of track width as the front end surface departs farther away from an auxiliary magnetic pole layer. A perpendicular magnetic recording head can be provided which can suppress the occurrence of fringing in a recording pattern, and can form the main magnetic pole layer with high pattern accuracy, and can satisfactorily introduce a recording magnetic field to a fore end of the main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A main magnetic pole layer is formed on an insulating layer flattened into a high-flatness surface, and a yoke layer having a large film thickness is formed on the main magnetic pole layer independently of the main magnetic pole. The main magnetic pole layer has a front end surface formed in a shape with a width size gradually increasing in a direction of track width as the front end surface departs farther away from an auxiliary magnetic pole layer. A perpendicular magnetic recording head can be provided which can suppress the occurrence of fringing in a recording pattern, and can form the main magnetic pole layer with high pattern accuracy, and can satisfactorily introduce a recording magnetic field to a fore end of the main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a lower core layer; a recording core formed on the lower core layer and exposed at a face surface facing a recording medium, the recording core including a gap layer, an upper pole layer, and optionally, a lower pole layer; an upper core layer magnetically coupled to the upper pole layer; and a coil. A tip surface of the upper core layer at the face surface is set back from the face surface in the height direction, and the tip surface is an inclined surface or a curved surface in which the depth gradually increases from the track width direction. A method for fabricating a thin-film magnetic head is also disclosed.

Abstract: A head beam is retained at a front portion of the pivoting arm so as to be rotatable, and is continuously urged by an urging member in the counterclockwise direction. The pivoting arm has a directing rod rotating around a supporting shaft. A slidable projection of the directing rod is slidably in contact with a beam rod, and a fixed supporting point is also slidably in contact with the directing rod. Accordingly, when the pivoting arm rotates, the operational reference line of the magnetic head is oriented along the tangential direction. Due to continuous urging force by the urging member, the direction of the magnetic head is continuously stabilized.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes: an auxiliary pole layer; a main pole layer; a coil layer for providing a recording magnetic field to the auxiliary pole layer and the main pole layer; a nonmagnetic layer; and a connection layer magnetically coupled to the main pole layer. The nonmagnetic layer is formed on the main pole layer to maintain the main pole layer at a predetermined height during manufacture, allowing independent control of the track width Tw and the height of the main pole layer. A method for manufacturing the perpendicular magnetic recording head is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structure in which the coil center of a first coil layer is formed on a planarized surface, a first contact portion is formed by plating on the coil center, and the coil center of a second coil layer is conductively connected to the upper surface of the first contact portion. This structure can exhibit a stable DC resistance value and good conductivity.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a lower core layer, a gap layer formed on the lower core layer with a lower pole layer therebetween, an upper pole layer formed on the gap layer, an upper core layer formed on the upper pole layer, and a Gd-defining layer for defining the depth in the height direction of the joint surface between the gap layer and the upper pole layer. The width in the track width direction of the gap layer is smaller than or equal to the width in the track width direction of the upper pole layer when viewed from the surface facing the recording medium. By employing such a thin-film magnetic head, the width in the track width direction of the gap layer can be decreased, and thus track narrowing is achieved.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a primary magnetic pole having a flat top surface. The magnetic head also includes a shield layer over the primary magnetic pole and at the sides of the primary magnetic pole in a single piece. The distance in the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction between the side surfaces of the primary magnetic pole and the side shield layer is longer than the distance in the thickness direction between the top surface of the primary magnetic pole and the shield layer.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic recording head, a groove defined by the inner side surfaces of a first nonmagnetic layer and the top surface of a main magnetic pole layer is formed using the difference in etching rates for dry etching between the main magnetic pole layer and the first nonmagnetic layer. An auxiliary magnetic pole layer is formed on the groove with a nonmagnetic material layer disposed therebetween. A projection integrated with the auxiliary magnetic pole layer is formed in a recess of the nonmagnetic material layer on the groove. This projection extends toward the main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: In a non-magnetic material layer, a concave portion is formed above a groove G. In addition, an auxiliary magnetic pole layer is formed having a convex portion which extends in the direction toward a main magnetic pole layer and which is placed in the concave portion. Accordingly, since a magnetic flux B passing in a perpendicular magnetic recording head from the main magnetic pole layer to the auxiliary magnetic pole layer is generated, an appropriate adjustment of the intensity of a magnetic field A generated from the main magnetic pole layer can be easily performed, and the edge of a recording track on a recording medium M can be clearly defined.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head having a NiPRe alloy used as the gap layer. The gap layer may be formed by plating. The compositional ratio is selected such that the NiPRe alloy has resistance to chemical agents, and maintains a non-magnetic state even when heated at temperatures exceeding 200° C.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a magnetic pole, a magnetic circuit unit separate from the magnetic pole, and a coil layer. The magnetic pole has a predetermined shape in which the width of the bottom surface of an upper magnetic pole layer is larger than the width of the top surface of a lower magnetic pole layer. The core layer is disposed at the back in the height direction of the magnetic pole.

Abstract: An upper portion of a protrusion has a sidewall part extending outward from a periphery of a base portion to form an extending part, and a coil insulating layer is also present under the extending part. Since the coil insulating layer is present under the extending part of the protrusion, the mechanical strength around the protrusion is improved. Accordingly, cracking is not likely to occur in a protective layer (insulating layer), and corrosion resistance of a conductive connection structure is improved.