Abstract: A method of manufacturing the plasmon generator includes the steps of: forming a base part made of a dielectric material; forming a metal film that is to later become the plasmon generator; and forming a filler layer made of a dielectric material. The base part includes a base surface and a protruding part that protrudes from the base surface. The protruding part has a top surface that is different in level from the base surface, and a first sidewall connecting the top surface of the protruding part to the base surface. The metal film includes an adhesion part adhering to the first sidewall. The filler layer has a second sidewall disposed such that the adhesion part is interposed between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plasmon generator includes the steps of forming an accommodation part and forming the plasmon generator to be accommodated in the accommodation part. The step of forming the accommodation part includes the steps of: forming a dielectric layer having an upper surface; etching the dielectric layer by using an etching mask and thereby forming a groove in the dielectric layer; and forming a dielectric film in the groove. The groove has first and second sidewalls and a bottom. Each of the first and second sidewalls forms an angle in the range of 0° to 15° relative to the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the dielectric layer. The dielectric film includes a first portion interposed between the first sidewall and the first side surface, and a second portion interposed between the second sidewall and the second side surface.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head has a leading shield part opposing the main magnetic pole layer on the substrate side of the main magnetic pole layer. The thin-film magnetic head has a substrate side coil layer disposed between the main magnetic pole layer and the substrate. In the thin-film magnetic head, a space between a lower end face of the leading shield part and the substrate and a space between an upper end face in the substrate side coil layer and the substrate are formed equal to each other.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head has a leading shield part opposing the main magnetic pole layer on the substrate side of the main magnetic pole layer. The thin-film magnetic head has a substrate side coil layer disposed between the main magnetic pole layer and the substrate. In the thin-film magnetic head, a space between a lower end face of the leading shield part and the substrate and a space between an upper end face in the substrate side coil layer and the substrate are formed equal to each other.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a write shield, a gap part, and a return path section. The return path section is located on the front side in the direction of travel of a recording medium relative to the main pole, and connects the write shield and part of the main pole away from a medium facing surface to each other. The coil includes a specific coil element. The main pole has a top surface including an inclined portion and a flat portion. The write shield has an inclined surface. The inclined surface includes a first portion opposed to the inclined portion with the gap part therebetween, and a second portion located farther from the medium facing surface than the first portion. The specific coil element includes a portion interposed between the flat portion and the second portion.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes: a main pole; a coil; a first shield having an end face that is located in a medium facing surface at a position forward of an end face of the main pole along a direction of travel of a recording medium; and a first return path section disposed forward of the main pole along the direction of travel of the recording medium. The first return path section connects part of the main pole away from the medium facing surface to the first shield so that a first space is defined. The coil includes a first portion having a planar spiral shape and wound around a core part of the first return path section. The first portion includes first and second coil elements that each extend through the first space. No part of the coil other than the first and second coil elements exists in the first space.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film coil has a coil-layer. The coil-layer has a turn part arranged closer to an ABS than is a rear end part of the main magnetic pole layer farthest from the ABS. Regarding a substrate side coil-layer, arranged between the main magnetic pole layer and the substrate, of the coil-layer, a thickness of a non-corresponding magnetic pole part other than a magnetic pole corresponding part corresponding to an arrangement space of the main magnetic pole layer is larger than a thickness of the magnetic pole corresponding part.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a gap part, a write shield, and a return path section. The return path section includes a yoke part with a first coupling layer connected to the write shield and a second coupling layer magnetically coupling the first coupling layer to the yoke part. The second coupling layer has an end face facing toward a medium facing surface and located away from the medium facing surface. The coil includes i) a first coil element disposed with the first coupling layer interposed between the medium facing surface and the first coil element and ii) a plurality of second coil elements aligned perpendicularly to the medium facing surface and disposed with the second coupling layer interposed between the medium facing surface and the second coil elements. The first coil element being interposed between the main pole and the second coil elements.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a shield, a return path section, and an accommodation part that are disposed above the top surface of a substrate. The accommodation part accommodates at least part of the return path section. The return path section lies between the main pole and the top surface of the substrate, and connects the shield and part of the main pole away from a medium facing surface to each other so that a space through which part of the coil passes is defined. The accommodation part includes an interposer interposed between the return path section and the medium facing surface. The interposer has an inclined surface facing toward the return path section. The return path section includes an inclined portion located between part of the coil and the inclined surface and extending along the inclined surface.

Abstract: A main pole has a top surface and a bottom end that each include first, second, and third portions arranged contiguously in this order of increasing distance from a medium facing surface. A first virtual plane and a second virtual plane are assumed. The first virtual plane passes through an end of an end face of the main pole located forward in the direction of travel of a recording medium and is perpendicular to the medium facing surface and to the direction of travel of the recording medium. The second virtual plane passes through an end of the end face of the main pole located backward in the direction of travel of the recording medium and is perpendicular to the medium facing surface and to the direction of travel of the recording medium. The first and third portions are inclined relative to the first and second virtual planes and the medium facing surface. The second portion is parallel to the first and second virtual planes.

Abstract: A method of taper-etching a layer to be etched that is made of SiO2 or SiON and has a top surface. The method includes the step of forming an etching mask with an opening on the top surface of the layer to be etched, and the step of taper-etching a portion of the layer to be etched, the portion being exposed from the opening, by reactive ion etching so that a groove having two wall faces that intersect at a predetermined angle is formed in the layer to be etched. The etching mask is formed of a material containing elemental Al. The step of taper-etching employs an etching gas that contains a main component gas, which contributes to the etching of the layer to be etched, and N2.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a gap part, a write shield, and a return path section. The return path section includes a yoke part and first and second coupling layers. The first coupling layer is connected to the write shield. The second coupling layer magnetically couples the first coupling layer to the yoke part, and has an end face facing toward a medium facing surface and located away from the medium facing surface. The coil includes a first coil element and a plurality of second coil elements that each extend to pass through a space defined by the main pole, the gap part, the write shield, and the return path section. The first coil element is disposed with the first coupling layer interposed between the medium facing surface and the first coil element. The second coil elements are disposed with the second coupling layer interposed between the medium facing surface and the second coil elements, and with the first coil element interposed between the main pole and the second coil elements.

Abstract: A plurality of intermediate terminal portions are evenly arranged and held in an insulating housing. Each intermediate terminal portion has a structure in which a first metal piece and a second metal piece overlap each other. In the first metal piece, a curved portion and a flat portion form a first elastic piece. In the second metal piece, a curved portion and a flat portion form a second elastic piece. When an external force is not exerted, the first elastic piece of the first metal piece and the second elastic piece of the second metal piece are separated from each other. When the intermediate terminal portion is pressed against the component electrode portion of the electronic component, first only the first metal piece is deformed, and then the first metal piece and the second metal piece are deformed together.

Abstract: In a method of forming a main pole, an initial accommodation layer is etched by RIE using a first etching mask having a first opening, whereby a groove is formed in the initial accommodation layer. Next, a part of the initial accommodation layer including the groove is etched by RIE using a second etching mask having a second opening, so that the groove becomes an accommodation part. The main pole is then formed in the accommodation part. The first etching mask has first and second sidewalls that face the first opening and are opposed to each other at a first distance in a track width direction. The second etching mask has third and fourth sidewalls that face the second opening and are opposed to each other at a second distance greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head has a shield magnetic layer. The shield magnetic layer is connected to the main magnetic pole layer. The shield magnetic layer has a lower front shield part. A front end angle representing an angle formed between a front end face of the lower front shield part and a lower end face is set at an obtuse angle. The front end face is disposed in the medium-opposing surface. The lower end face is disposed at a position closest to the substrate in the lower front shield part.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head includes a return magnetic pole layer and a connecting magnetic layer. The return magnetic pole layer is formed at a position distanced from the medium-opposing surface on the side opposite to the write shield layer with the main magnetic pole layer intervening therebetween. The connecting magnetic layer is formed using a magnetic material so as to connect the return magnetic pole layer to the write shield layer on the side closer to the medium-opposing surface than is the thin-film coil. The thin-film coil is wound as a flat spiral around the write shield layer. A part of the thin-film coil wound as the flat spiral is disposed only at a position distanced from the substrate than is the main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes first and second coils, a main pole, a first shield, and first and second return path sections. The first shield and the first return path section are located forward of the main pole in the direction of travel of the recording medium. The first return path section connects the main pole and the first shield so that a first space is defined. The second return path section is located backward of the main pole in the direction of travel of the recording medium so that a second space is defined. The first coil includes at least one first coil element passing through the first space. The second coil includes a plurality of second coil elements passing through the second space. The at least one first coil element is smaller in number than the second coil elements.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield, and a gap part. The write shield includes first and second side shields and a top shield. The main pole has first and second side parts. The first side shield has a first sidewall. The second side shield has a second sidewall. The gap part includes a gap film and a nonmagnetic layer. The gap film is disposed to be in contact with the first and second sidewalls. The first side part has first and third side surfaces arranged in this order from the medium facing surface side. The second side part has second and fourth side surfaces arranged in this order from the medium facing surface side. The nonmagnetic layer is present between the third side surface and the first sidewall and between the fourth side surface and the second sidewall.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The write shield layer has an opposing shield part opposing the main magnetic pole layer and a front shield part. The front shield part is connected to the opposing shield part without straddling the thin-film coil. Besides, the front shield part has a shield front end face disposed in the medium-opposing surface and a shield upper end face formed distanced from the medium-opposing surface. Further, the front shield part has a shield connecting part. The shield front end face is connected to the shield upper end face by the shield connecting part.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole, a shield having an end face located in a medium facing surface to wrap around an end face of the main magnetic pole, and a gap part provided between the main magnetic pole and the shield. The shield includes a bottom shield, two side shields, and a top shield. The gap part includes first and second gap layers. In a manufacturing method of the magnetic head, a mold is formed on the top surface of the bottom shield, the mold having a shape determined by photolithography and being intended to be removed later. Next, the two side shields are formed on the top surface of the bottom shield by performing plating without forming a seed layer. Next, the mold is removed and then the first gap layer, the main magnetic pole, the second gap layer, and the top shield are formed in succession.