Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head works a part to be worked to a target length by carrying out an etching process on an object to be worked using an etching apparatus.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head works a part to be worked to a target length by carrying out an etching process on an object to be worked using an etching apparatus.

Abstract: A magnetic head with a spin valve effect MR element and a method of manufacturing the head. A plurality of spin valve effect MR elements on a substrate are formed, a plurality of pairs of lead conductors connected with the respective spin valve effect MR elements on the substrate are formed, and then a plurality of protection circuits of magnetization inversion connected between the respective pairs of lead conductors on the substrate are formed. Each of the protection circuits is constituted so as to turn on when it receives an energy with a level at which the pinned direction inversion in each of the spin valve effect MR elements occurs.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to prevention of breakdown caused by electrostatic discharge in an MR element.An MR element constitutes a read element. A head support device 2 supports a magnetic head 1. A lead wire 3 is constituted with at least a pair of lead wires 31 and 32 and each of the pair of lead wires 31 and 32 is connected to the read element at one end. A terminal board 5 is provided with at least one pair of terminal conductors 52 and 53 on top of a hard substrate 51. The pair of terminal conductors 52 and 53 are provided with connecting areas 54 and 55 respectively on the same side, to which one end of which are connected the other ends of the lead wires 31 and 32 respectively. The pair of terminal conductors 52 and 53 are electrically shorted from each other by a shorting portion 56 at a rearward position which is away from the connecting areas 54 and 55 over a distance.