Abstract: The magnetoresistance effect element is of a multilayered structure having at least magnetic layers and an intermediate layer of an insulating material, a semiconductor or an antiferromagnetic material against the magnetic layers, and the magnetoresistance effect element has terminals formed at least on the opposite magnetic layers, respectively, so that a current flows in the intermediate layer. The film surfaces of all the magnetic layers constituting the magnetoresistance effect element are opposed substantially at right angles to the recording surface of a magnetic recording medium. Therefore, the area of the magnetic layers facing the recording surface of the magnetic recording medium can be extremely reduced, and thus the magnetic field from a very narrow region of the high-denisity recorded magnetic recording medium can be detected by the current which has a tunneling characteristic and passes through the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A magnetic domain controlling film for controlling the magnetic domain of a magnetoresistive film is formed by the patterning technique on a lower insulating film formed on a lower shield film. The magnetoresistive film is formed on the magnetic domain controlling film for converting a magnetic signal from a magnetic recording medium into an electrical signal using the magnetoresistive effect. A resist pattern is formed by the lift-off method on the magnetoresistive film in such a fashion as to leave a region of the magnetoresistive film corresponding to the tracks of the magnetic recording medium. A magnetoresistive element is formed by ion milling leaving only the portion of the magnetoresistive film corresponding to the tracks.

Abstract: In a composite magnetic head comprising a magnetoresistive read head including a magnetic thin film having a magnetoresistive effect and soft magnetic members interposing the soft magnetic film between them through a non-magnetic insulation layer, an induction type write head including poles formed in a moving direction of a medium and a conductor crossing the poles, and disposed in the proximity of the magnetoresistive head, and a substrate supporting these heads, part of a floating surface inclusive of the magnetic head constituent members has recesses and the read/write operations to and from the medium are effected by the portion interposed by these recesses.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect reproduction head which comprises a magnetoresistive layer having a central sensing region and an end domain control region and formed into a thin film of a ferromagnetic material, a hard magnetic layer overlapping with the end domain control region in direct contact therewith and formed into a thin film of a hard magnetic material, a magnetic field and a longitudinal magnetic bias field by ferromagnetic exchange coupling is generated for maintaining the central sensing region of the magnetoresistive layer in single domain state.

Abstract: The magnetoresistance effect element is of a multilayered structure having at least magnetic layers and an intermediate layer of an insulating material, a semiconductor or an antiferromagnetic material against the magnetic layers, and the magnetoresistance effect element has terminals formed at least on the opposite magnetic layers, respectively, so that a current flows in the intermediate layer. The film surfaces of all the magnetic layers constituting the magnetoresistance effect element are opposed substantially at right angles to the recording surface of a magnetic recording medium. Therefore, the area of the magnetic layers facing the recording surface of the magnetic recording medium can be extremely reduced, and thus the magnetic field from a very narrow region of the high-density recorded magnetic recording medium can be detected by the current which has a tunneling characteristic and passes through the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A magnetic domain controlling film for controlling the magnetic domain of a magnetoresistive film is formed by a patterning technique on a lower insulating film formed on a lower shield film. The magnetoresistive film is formed on the magnetic domain controlling film for converting a magnetic signal from a magnetic recording medium into an electrical signal using the magnetoresistive effect. A resist pattern is formed by the lift-off method on the magnetoresistive film in such a fashion as to leave a region of the magnetoresistive film corresponding to the tracks of the magnetic recording medium. A magnetoresistive element is formed by ion milling leaving only the portion of the magnetoresistive film corresponding to the tracks.

Abstract: The magnetoresistance effect element is of a multilayered structure having at least magnetic layers and an intermediate layer of an insulating material, a semiconductor or an antiferromagnetic material against the magnetic layers, and the magneto-resistance effect element has terminals formed at least on the opposite magnetic layers, respectively, so that a current flows in the intermediate layer. The film surfaces of all the magnetic layers constituting the magnetoresistance effect element are opposed substantially at right angles to the recording surface of a magnetic recording medium. Therefore, the area of the magnetic layers facing the recording surface of the magnetic recording medium can be extremely reduced, and thus the magnetic field from a very narrow region of the high-density recorded magnetic recording medium can be detected by the current which has a tunneling characteristic and passes through the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head is fabricated with a high yield rate by preventing the electrode film from breaking down. An upper shield film is formed with an electrode separation layer and an upper gap film disposed between it and the electrode film. The electrode film is prevented from being etched when the upper shield film is subjected to ion milling as a result. Further, the upper gap film is laid on top of the electrode separation layer, and a lead is satisfactorily protected and prevented from being exposed. Thus, the upper shield film and the lead are prevented from becoming short-circuited as a result of the disconnection of the electrode film and the exposure of the lead.

Abstract: In order to prevent generation of Barkhausen noise of a magnetoresistance-effect element, a thin antiferromagnetic film formed of Fe-Mn-X alloy containing a third alloying element X (which serves to improve corrosion resistance of Fe-Mn alloy) by 0.1 to 20 atomic % is disposed in adjacent to a thin permalloy film. The element X is selected from the group consisting of Ir, Ru, Zr, Nb, Si, Ge, V, Co, Pt and Pd. It is particularly recommended to employ Ir of 4 to 15 atomic % or Ru of 5.5 to 15 atomic % as the element X. When one or more alloying element selected from Ru, Rh, Pt, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Ni, Cu, Al, Si and Ge is added to Fe and Mn which are essential components of the Fe-Mn-X alloy in addition to the element X, corrosion resistance of the alloy is improved more sufficiently.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head is disclosed. It comprises a lower gap film, a magnetoresistive film, a bias film, an electrode, an upper gap film, and upper shield film provided in sequence on a substrate. A protective film is provided under the upper shield film to prevent the upper gap film and electrode from the undesirable etching during patterning the upper shield film.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head has a first magnetic core member carried by a substrate, a gap layer formed on the first magnetic core member, and a second magnetic core member formed in a spaced relation with the first magnetic core member. The second magnetic core member is coupled to the first magnetic core member to form a magnetic path and to have an end portion of the gap layer sandwiched by gap defining portions of the first and second magnetic core members. A coil conductor is wound about the magnetic path. In one embodiment, the first magnetic core member includes a first magnetic layer made of a magnetic material having stable magnetic properties during heat treatment and the second magnetic core member includes a second magnetic layer made of a material having a saturation flux density higher than that of the material of the first magnetic core member.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a magnetoresistance element having the form of a loop and provided with a gap at a first portion opposite to a second portion confronting a magnetic recording medium, a coil conductor formed around the first portion of the magnetoresistance element for applying a bias magnetic field to the second portion of the magnetoresistance element in the direction of width of a track on the magnetic recording medium, and a lead conductor attached to the magnetoresistance element to cause a current which is necessary for detecting a signal recorded on the magnetic recording medium, to flow through the second portion of the magnetoresistance element, and formed together with the coil conductor as one body so that a part of a current supplied to the lead conductor flows through the coil conductor.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive type read head has a substrate, a magnetic film exhibiting a magneto-resistive effect arranged in the widthwise direction of the track of a magnetic writing disk, and lead electrodes for feeding an electric current to the track width portion of the magnetic film for reading the signals written in the magnetic writing disk. The magneto-resistive film extends over a width wider than the track width portion and a soft magnetic thin film is formed over the magneto-resistive film on either side of the track width portion to absorb the domain wall so that the magneto-resistive film takes the single domain structure.

Abstract: In a thin film magnetic head of the type wherein a lower magnetic pole, a gap layer, a first insulating layer, a coil, a second insulating layer and an upper magnetic pole are formed sequentially on a substrate, the present invention provides a thin film magnetic head characterized in that a surface active layer made of aluminum oxide, for example, is disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer except where the coil is formed on the first insulating layer so that the surface active layer is disposed between the coil and the second insulating layer. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of bubbles between coil conductors, and eventually to improve flatness of the surface of the second insulating layer and to prevent degradation of the characteristics of the upper magnetic pole.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thin film magnetic head having a structure wherein the main portion of a coil consists of a copper or copper alloy layer and its upper surface is covered with a thin film mask consisting of titanium, titanium oxide, chromium and/or chromium oxide. The magnetic head of the invention can prevent the occurrence of projecting etching residues at the upper edge portion of the coil and can easily increase the cross-sectional area and the winding density of the coil. Furthermore, when the thin film mask consists of titanium and/or titanium oxide, a titanium diffusion prevention film consisting of chromium, for example, is interposed between the thin film mask and the copper or copper alloy, so that the resistance change of the coil scarcely takes place owing to heat treatment in a production process after the formation of the coil and the head reliability can be further improved.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head which has a structure wherein a spiral conductor coil having a plurality of turns is disposed between first and second magnetic layers being substantially in parallel with each other, through upper and lower inorganic insulator layers, and in which a part of the outermost turn of the conductor coil is exposed on a face opposite a magnetic recording medium along with the upper and lower inorganic insulator layers, to form a magnetic gap. This head can be readily manufactured by a manufacturing method including the step of forming the outermost turn of the conductor coil on the side of the face opposite the magnetic recording medium so as to be wider than any other part of the conductor coil, and the step of thereafter machining the face opposite the magnetic recording medium so as to expose the outermost turn of the conductor coil on the face opposite the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording and reproducing thin film head of a structure excellent in magnetic characteristics and easy of fabrication, wherein a lower magnetic layer disposed on a flat nonmagnetic substrate is used as a main magnetic pole, a first insulator layer is formed on the main magnetic pole, a conductor for a coil and a second insulator layer are disposed on the first insulator layer, and an upper magnetic layer which lies in contact with the lower magnetic layer through the first insulator layer at one end thereof and directly at the other end thereof and which overlies the second insulator layer in a part thereof other than both the ends is disposed and used as an auxiliary magnetic pole.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing system comprising (i) a magnetic head including a first magnetic pole whose saturation flux density is at least 7 kG and whose edge face is 0.15-0.5 .mu.m thick, and a second magnetic pole which lies on the same side as the first magnetic pole with respect to a recording medium and whose edge face is at least 10 times thicker than that of the first magnetic pole, and (ii) the perpendicular magnetic recording medium including a perpendicular magnetization layer which has a coercive force of 250-600 Oe. in a direction perpendicular to a plane thereof and which is 0.1-0.5 .mu.m thick.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a thin film magnetic head which is so constructed that a conductor layer arranged in a non-magnetic insulating layer isolating two magnetic poles and adapted to form a coil of plural turns has a height made larger than the width and gap thereof. A method of fabricating that head includes the step of forming a non-magnetic insulating layer, the step of etching the insulating layer by using a mask layer formed thereover as a mask, the step of depositing a metal for providing a conductor layer, the step of removing the mask layer together with the metal thereover, and the step forming a coating of a non-magnetic insulating layer thereover, thereby to form the conductor layer. The head thus fabricated has its magnetic recording and reproducing characteristics improved.

Abstract: An ion beam source characterized in that a needle-like tip is comprised of a carbide, a nitride, or a diboride of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb and Ta, a hexaboride of at least one element of rare earth metal elements of atomic numbers 57-70, or carbon. Stable ion beam emission of high brightness and long life can be obtained by using the needle-like tip of the said material.