Abstract: A thin-film magnetic write head includes a lower core layer composed of a magnetic material and an upper core layer composed of a magnetic material. The upper core layer is opposed to the lower core layer with a nonmagnetic gap layer therebetween at a surface facing a recording medium. The thin-film magnetic write head writes data to be read by a thin-film magnetic read head, which has a track width Tr and a distance H2 between an upper shielding layer and a lower shielding layer. The length in the track width direction at a magnetic contact between the gap layer and the upper core layer is 1 &mgr;m or less. The formula A≦H1−H2 is satisfied A is a difference between the height of the upper surface of the gap layer on a center line in the track width direction and the height of the upper surface of the gap layer at a distance Tr/2 from the center line in the track width direction. H1 is a gap length of the gap layer.

Abstract: A track width regulating section having a track width, which is smaller than the resolution obtained by the wavelength of the light used for exposure and development of a resist, is formed between a lower core layer and an upper core layer. Since the width of the upper core layer is larger than the track width, magnetic saturation can be effectively reduced. Inclined faces are formed on the upper surface of the lower core layer so as to be inclined in directions away from the track width regulating section, thereby adequately preventing write fringing.

Abstract: The upper magnetic pole layer and/or lower magnetic pole layer comprises a soft magnetic film having a variable region in which the chemical composition of Fe changes in the direction of thickness in at least a part thereof, and the difference of the proportions of Fe between the regions most abundant in Fe and most deficient in Fe is 4% by mass or more in the variable region. The structure of the soft magnetic film permits the saturation magnetic flux density Bs to be improved while decreasing the coercive force Hc by forming fine crystal grains, thereby enabling a thin film magnetic head excellent in high density recording to be manufactured.

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 &mgr;m from the interface with the gap layer is 6 mass % or less.

Abstract: A NiFe alloy film is formed by an electroplating process using a pulsed direct current. The resulting NiFe alloy has an average crystal grain size of not more 105 Å and an Fe content in a range of 60 percent by weight to 75 percent by weight. The NiFe alloy film exhibits a high saturation magnetic flux density and a low coercive force. A thin-film magnetic head having a lower core layer and/or an upper core layer composed of the NiFe alloy film is suitable for higher recording densities.

Abstract: A lower core layer and upper core layer are conventionally made of a CoFeNi alloy or the like having a relatively high saturation magnetic flux density, but these layers have the problem of increasing an eddy current loss due to the low resistivity of the CoFeNi alloy with a higher recording frequency. In the present invention, a lower core layer and/or upper core layer is made of a CoFeNiX (X is S, P, or the like) alloy, which has a high saturation magnetic flux density, high resistivity, and low coercive force, as compared with the CoFeNi alloy. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture a thin film magnetic head capable of complying increases in recording density and recording frequency in the future.

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 an auxiliary magnetic pole layer exposed at a surface facing a recording medium, a main magnetic pole layer deposited on the auxiliary magnetic pole layer with an insulating layer therebetween, a coil layer for applying a recording magnetic field to the auxiliary magnetic pole layer and the main magnetic pole layer, and a connecting layer placed on the auxiliary magnetic pole layer toward the back from the surface facing the recording medium. At the surface facing the recording medium, the upper base of the main magnetic pole layer is wider than the lower base so that the width in the track width direction of the main magnetic pole layer gradually increases with distance from the auxiliary magnetic pole layer. A method for making such a perpendicular magnetic recording head is also disclosed.

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 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: A gap layer is formed by electroplating NiP using a pulsed current. This can suppress crystallization of Ni due to epitaxial growth near the interface of the gap layer. Therefore, a large amount of nonmagnetic element such as P can be contained, and the vicinity of the interface can be put into an amorphous state to improve corrosion resistance.

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 first coil layer disposed at a lower core layer side of the interface between an upper core layer and an upper magnetic-pole layer, which are joined to each other, and a second coil layer disposed at the upper core layer side of the interface between the upper core layer and the upper magnetic-pole layer. The thickness of a coil conductor of the first coil layer is set smaller than the thickness of a coil conductor of the second coil layer.

Abstract: In a thin film magnetic head, a face surface faces a recording medium and a front surface of an upper core layer is a curved surface which gradually retreats in a height direction generally perpendicular to the face surface as it approaches both sides thereof, and the thickness of the upper core layer gradually increases in the height direction. It is thus possible to appropriately suppress the occurrence of side fringing, efficiently cause a magnetic flux to flow from the upper core layer to an upper pole layer, and make the thin film magnetic head adaptable to a higher recording density.

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: In a thin-film magnetic head, a lower magnetic pole layer and a planarizing magnetic layer in continuity with the lower magnetic layer are arranged. Since a coil formation surface is positioned lower than the top surface of the lower magnetic pole layer and the planarizing magnetic layer, the front end of an upper magnetic core layer is formed to be a predetermined track width with a high accuracy. A thin-film magnetic head having good information writing characteristics and a method for manufacturing the thin-film magnetic head are thus provided.

Abstract: The leak magnetic field generated from the upper core layer toward the upper magnetic pole layer can concentrate in the vicinity of the gap layer to suppress side-fringing from generating while increasing the overwrite, by making the saturation magnetic flux density Bs1 of the upper magnetic pole layer to be higher than the saturation magnetic flux density Bs2 of the upper core layer, and by directly bonding the upper core layer on the upper magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A lower magnetic pole layer is formed on a lower core layer, and a coil layer and a coil insulating layer are formed in a space corresponding to a level difference between the lower magnetic pole layer and the lower core layer. The coil layer and the coil insulating layer are leveled flush with a reference plane, whereby a gap layer can be formed flat on the lower magnetic pole layer, the coil layer and the coil insulating layer. Thus, since the upper core layer can be directly formed on the gap layer and the gap layer can be formed on the flat surfaces, it is possible to form the upper core layer into a predetermined shape with high accuracy and to manufacture a thin-film magnetic head which is adaptable for a decrease of the track width in future.

Abstract: An upper shield layer includes a Ni—Fe alloy underlying film formed by sputtering deposition, and a Ni—Fe alloy plating film formed on the underlying film by electroplating. The Fe composition ratio distribution of the upper shield layer in the thickness direction ranges from 17 to 19% by weight.

Abstract: A lower core layer and upper core layer are conventionally made of a CoFeNi alloy or the like having a relatively high saturation magnetic flux density, but these layers have the problem of increasing an eddy current loss due to the low resistivity of the CoFeNi alloy with a higher recording frequency. In the present invention, a lower core layer and/or upper core layer is made of a CoFeNiX (X is S, P, or the like) alloy, which has a high saturation magnetic flux density, high resistivity, and low coercive force, as compared with the CoFeNi alloy. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture a thin film magnetic head capable of complying increases in recording density and recording frequency in the future.