Abstract: A multi-channel head includes a substrate, a plurality of write elements arranged in a track width direction above the substrate in a lamination direction, and a plurality of read elements arranged in the track width direction above the plurality of write elements in the lamination direction. At least one of the plurality of write elements is offset from the others in the lamination direction. All the plurality of read elements are located higher than an uppermost one of the plurality of write elements in the lamination direction.

Abstract: A invention provides a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head is provided, capable of forming a magnetic pole layer as easily as possible. By etching a lower insulating layer and the upper insulating layer by RIE using a fluorine-based gas (CF4 or CHF3) or chlorine-based gas (Cl2 or BCl3), a magnetic pole formation space R1 is formed so as to have a uniform width in an upper insulating layer by and a magnetic pole formation space R2 is formed in the lower insulating layer so as to have a width gradually narrowed from width W1 to width W4 with distance from the magnetic pole formation space R1. After that, a plating film is grown in the magnetic pole formation spaces R1 and R2, thereby forming a main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film magnetic head capable of suppressing unintentional wiring to a neighboring track and preventing information recorded on a recording medium from being erased. A main magnetic pole layer is constructed so that height of a widened end surface in a lower main magnetic pole layer specifying a wide portion is smaller than height of an exposed surface in an upper main magnetic pole layer (front end portion) specifying a uniform width portion.

Abstract: Provided are a thin film magnetic head and a method of manufacturing the same, which can locally miniaturized a pole width with high accuracy. A thin film coil is provided in a region located more rearward than a position (a first position) of a rear end of a top shield layer. A position of a surface of an underlayer of a rearward region of a write gap layer, i.e., the region in which the thin film coil is to be formed is lower than a position of a surface of an underlayer of a frontward region. Thus, a height (?m) of an apex portion formed of an insulating film decreases. Thus, a top pole can be formed so that a tip portion has a local miniature uniform width. Therefore, the pole width can be locally miniaturized with high accuracy.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic recording head which can enhance accuracy and simplify the manufacturing process. The method includes: forming a photoresist pattern having an opening part (the inclination of an inner wall); forming a non-magnetic layer (the inclination of another inner wall) so as to narrow the opening part by a dry film forming method such as ALD method; stacking a seed layer and a plating layer so as to bury the opening part provided with the non-magnetic layer; and forming a main magnetic pole layer (a front end portion having a bevel angle) by polishing the non-magnetic layer, the seed layer, and the plating layer by CMP method until the photoresist pattern is exposed. The final opening width (the forming width of the front end portion) is unsusceptible to variations, thus reducing the number of the steps of forming the main magnetic layer.

Abstract: Provided are a thin film magnetic head and a method of manufacturing the same, which can locally miniaturized a pole width with high accuracy. A thin film coil is provided in a region located more rearward than a position (a first position) of a rear end of a top shield layer. A position of a surface of an underlayer of a rearward region of a write gap layer, i.e., the region in which the thin film coil is to be formed is lower than a position of a surface of an underlayer of a frontward region. Thus, a height (?m) of an apex portion formed of an insulating film decreases. Thus, a top pole can be formed so that a tip portion has a local miniature uniform width. Therefore, the pole width can be locally miniaturized with high accuracy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film magnetic head achieving improved recording performance by sharpening recording magnetic field gradient as much as possible. The thin film magnetic head has a return yoke layer disposed on a trailing side of a magnetic pole layer, and width W3 of an exposed surface of a lower TH specifying part in a TH specifying portion in the return yoke layer is equal to or larger than width W1 of an exposed surface of the magnetic pole layer (W3?W1), and is less than width W4 of an exposed surface of an upper TH specifying part (W3<W4). Since a part (magnetic flux) of a magnetic flux emitted from the exposed surface to the outside flows in the exposed surface while being spread a little in the width direction, spread of the magnetic flux is suppressed at the time of recording. Therefore, the recording magnetic field gradient near an air bearing surface is sharpened and recording performance is improved.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head capable of preventing unintentional erasing of information during non-recording, ensuring its magnetic operating characteristics with stability. A top read shield layer extends rearward relative to a back gap (or a back-gap rear-end position), and a write shield layer also extends rearward relative to the back gap. Thus, a stray external magnetic field generated from a voice coil motor or the like is more likely to be taken in by not only the top read shield layer but also the write shield layer; the stray external magnetic field is less likely to converge on the top read shield layer. This reduces the likelihood of an undesired magnetic closed loop being formed between the top read shield layer and magnetic pole layer and a recording medium, and thus reduces the likelihood of unintentional overwriting of information taking place during non-recording due to the undesired magnetic closed loop.

Abstract: A plurality of thin film magnetic head bars are formed so as to include a plurality of thin film magnetic head precursors, a plurality of RLG sensors for read head core, and a plurality of RLG sensors for write head core. An air bearing surface is formed by grinding the thin film magnetic head bars with the use of the RLG sensors for read head core (secondary resistive film sensors); detecting and adjusting the inclinations of the grinding surfaces of the thin film magnetic head bars with the use of the RLG sensors for read head core (the secondary resistive film sensors) and the RLG sensors for write head core (primary resistive film sensors); and then finish-polishing the thin film magnetic head bars with the use of the RLG sensors for read head core.

Abstract: Provided is a thin film magnetic head capable of reducing expansion and bending of a recording pattern resulting from a skew so as to improve recording performance. A main pole layer comprises a laminate including a bottom main pole layer being disposed on a medium-incoming side and having a first saturated magnetic flux density and a top main pole layer being disposed on a medium-outgoing side and having a second saturated magnetic flux density larger than the first saturated magnetic flux density. When magnetic flux flows in the main pole layer, magnetic flux saturation occurs in the bottom main pole layer with a smaller saturated magnetic flux density, however, no magnetic flux saturation occurs in the top main pole layer with a larger saturated magnetic flux density, so the magnetic flux flows mainly in the top main pole layer on a priority basis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head, capable of easily manufacturing a thin film magnetic head with high precision, in which a magnetic shield layer is disposed so as to surround a magnetic pole layer from three directions of a medium outflow direction and two side directions. In a magnetic pole formation region surrounded by a first gap layer portion, a magnetic pole layer and a second gap layer portion are formed and the magnetic pole layer is covered with the first and second gap layer portions. After that, a write shield layer is formed on the first and second gap layer portions so as to surround the magnetic pole layer from three directions (a trailing direction and two side directions).

Abstract: Provided is a thin film magnetic head capable of securing recording characteristics even in the case where a return pole layer is disposed on a medium-outgoing side of the pole layer. The return yoke layer is disposed on a trailing side of the pole layer, and a neck height NH is within a range of NH?W1 (a width of a front end portion in a main pole layer)+0.05 ?m, and a height ratio (a ratio of the neck height NH to a throat height TH) NH/TH is within a range of 0.5<NH/TH<1.6. Thereby, the neck height NH and the height ratio NH/TH which have an influence on the recording characteristics can become appropriate, so even if the thickness of the gap layer is 0.2 ?m or less to bring the return yoke layer closer to the pole layer, overwrite characteristics can be secured.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head, capable of easily manufacturing a thin film magnetic head with high precision, in which a magnetic shield layer is disposed so as to surround a magnetic pole layer from three directions of a medium outflow direction and two side directions. In a magnetic pole formation region surrounded by a first gap layer portion, a magnetic pole layer and a second gap layer portion are formed and the magnetic pole layer is covered with the first and second gap layer portions. After that, a write shield layer is formed on the first and second gap layer portions so as to surround the magnetic pole layer from three directions (a trailing direction and two side directions).

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head capable of preventing information erasing without intention at the time of non-recording through making the magnetic domain structure of a pole layer appropriate is provided. A main pole layer is formed so as to include a first pole layer portion having a first width W1 which determines the recording track width of a recording medium and a length L1, a second pole layer portion having a width which gradually expands from the first width W1 to a second width W2 larger than the first width W1 (W2>W1) and a length L2, and a third pole layer portion having a third width W3 larger than the second width W2 (W3>W2) and a length L3. When the ratio W3/(L1+L2+L3) satisfies a relationship of W3/(L1+L2+L3)?1.0, on the basis of the shape magnetic anisotropy of the main pole layer, the magnetic domain structure of the main pole layer is made appropriate so that an unnecessary magnetic flux is not easily leaked at the time of non-recording.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head and a method of manufacturing the same allowing miniaturization of a magnetic pole width with high precision are provided. After forming a first insulating layer portion having an opening between a thin film coil and a position corresponding to the ABS to cover the thin film coil, a second insulating layer portion is formed to cover at least this opening. A top pole is then formed on the second insulating layer portion. Because part of the second insulating layer portion is provided in the opening, the surface of the second insulating layer portion is positioned lower at the portion corresponding to the opening region as compared to the configuration where no opening is disposed in the first insulating layer portion. As a result, the apex angle is reduced, thereby making it possible to miniaturize a tip portion of the top pole with high precision.

Abstract: A main magnetic pole layer is constructed so as to have a stacking structure in which a lower main magnetic pole layer having relative low saturated magnetic flux density and an exposed surface area is positioned on a leading side, and an upper main magnetic pole layer having relative high saturated magnetic flux density and having an exposed surface area is positioned on a trailing side. The exposed surface of a main magnetic pole layer has a planar shape of a bilaterally-symmetrical inverted trapezoidal shape in which a width of an upper edge is larger than a width of a lower edge and is equal to or larger than a width of the exposed surface of the main magnetic pole layer at an arbitrary intermediate position between the lower edge and the upper edge. In particular, a height at a center position in the exposed surface area in the upper main magnetic pole layer is larger than a height in the exposed surface area in an arbitrary peripheral position around the center point.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head with which an error rate is decreased due to a reduction of a jitter without significant decrease in write field, is provided. The head comprises at least one inductive write head element comprising: a main magnetic pole layer having an inner saturation magnetic flux density varying from both side end surfaces in a track-width direction and a leading end surface, toward a center portion in the track-width direction of a trailing end surface; an auxiliary magnetic pole layer; and at least one coil layer, a curvature width WC of a contour line of a write field adjacent to a trailing edge on an ABS side of the main magnetic pole layer satisfying the following expression: ?0.15*WT=WC<12 where WT is a track width and a unit of WC and WT is nanometer.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head which has a thin film coil for generating a magnetic flux and a magnetic pole layer for emitting the magnetic flux generated by the thin film coil toward a recording medium. The magnetic pole layer having a stacked structure including a main magnetic pole layer, an auxiliary magnetic pole layer, and a non-magnetic pole layer. The main magnetic pole layer is disposed so as to be exposed in a recording medium facing surface which faces the recording medium. The auxiliary magnetic pole layer has one end face recessed from the recording medium facing surface and which is disposed so as to face a part of the main magnetic pole layer. The non-magnetic layer is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the main magnetic pole layer and the auxiliary magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: Provided is a thin film magnetic head capable of inhibiting the occurrence of track erasing and improving the reliability of magnetic recording. Two taper surfaces are disposed on both sides of a return yoke layer. As no corner portion which may induce concentration of a magnetic flux exists on the both sides of the return yoke layer, even if the magnetic flux emitted from a pole layer is returned to the return yoke layer through a hard disk, a magnetic field strength is not locally and pronouncedly concentrated in proximity to the taper surfaces of the return yoke layer. Thereby, the concentration of the magnetic flux can be prevented, and the probability of the occurrence of unnecessary recording decreases, so the occurrence of track erasing can be inhibited, and the reliability of magnetic recording can be improved.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording is disclosed. The method comprising: a first step of depositing a non-magnetic film over and around the main magnetic pole, and subsequently polishing and planarizing the non-magnetic film, wherein the non-magnetic film is made of a non-magnetic material which exhibits a lower ion milling rate than that of a magnetic metal material which constitutes the main magnetic pole; a second step of etching the surface by means of ion milling at a first angle relative to a stacked direction of the magnetic head, to form a stepped portion in which the main magnetic pole is lower from the non-magnetic film around the main magnetic pole; and a third step of etching the stepped portion, by means of ion milling, at a second angle relative to the stacked direction, wherein the second angle is larger than the first angle.