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 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 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 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: 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 thin-film magnetic head includes a lower core layer, a gap layer, an upper pole layer, and an upper core layer. At the joint between the upper pole layer and the upper core layer, the width of the upper core layer is larger than the width of the upper pole layer, and also the inner end of the upper core layer is located at the back of the inner end of the upper pole layer. Alternatively, a thin-film magnetic head includes a lower core layer, a recording core, an upper core layer, a coil, and a magnetic intermediate layer. The magnetic intermediate layer has a higher saturation flux density than that of the upper core layer. Methods for fabricating thin-film magnetic heads are also disclosed.

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: An exposure mask for exposing a photosensitive resist layer formed on the surface of a substrate having an element so that the resist layer remains in the shape of an ABS pattern includes a mark provided within a light transmission section for exposure. The mark determines a relative position between the substrate and the light transmission section on the basis of the element. An exposure method using the exposure mask includes the steps of: determining a relative position between the substrate and the light transmission section on the basis of the element by the mark provided within the light transmission section of the exposure mask; exposing the photosensitive resist layer on the surface of the substrate through the light transmission section of the exposure mask; and developing the exposed photosensitive resist layer so that the resist layer is left in the shape of the ABS pattern.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a lower core layer, a gap layer, an upper pole layer, and an upper core layer. At the joint between the upper pole layer and the upper core layer, the width of the upper core layer is larger than the width of the upper pole layer, and also the inner end of the upper core layer is located at the back of the inner end of the upper pole layer. Alternatively, a thin-film magnetic head includes a lower core layer, a recording core, an upper core layer, a coil, and a magnetic intermediate layer. The magnetic intermediate layer has a higher saturation flux density than that of the upper core layer. Methods for fabricating thin-film magnetic heads are also disclosed.