Abstract: A magnetoresistive head comprises a free magnetic layer that has first and second free magnetic films sandwiching a non-magnetic intermediate film therebetween, the respective magnetizing directions of the first and the second free magnetic films are antiparallel. The length of the free magnetic layer in the direction of the track width is 200 nm or less, and a difference between a product of saturation magnetic flux density and a film thickness of the first free magnetic film, and that of the second free magnetic film is within a range from 1 to 3 nmT. By this structure, the variation of output and the variation of asymmetry is greatly decreased at a track width of 200 nm or less.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a read head which is implemented in a magnetic disk drive that supports a high recording density and a high transfer rate and is excellent in static electricity durability. In one embodiment, a magnetic head wherein a charge diffuses from a read element to a slider at a time constant of about 100 ms or less.

Abstract: A read head having superior high frequency response characteristics is needed to achieve high-speed data transfer. Further, in perpendicular magnetic recording, since the read signal has a rectangular waveform, the harmonic components must be properly reproduced, requiring a read head having further improved high frequency read characteristics. A feature of the present invention is to provide a read head with superior high-speed response characteristics which can be applied to a magnetic disk drive to achieve high density and high-speed data transfer. In specific embodiments, the present invention provides a magnetic head having a capacitance of about 2 pF or less. It also provides a magnetic head in which the overlapping area of the upper and lower magnetic shields is about 5300 ?m2 or less.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head comprises a free magnetic layer that has first and second free magnetic films sandwiching a non-magnetic intermediate film therebetween, the respective magnetizing directions of the first and the second free magnetic films are antiparallel. The length of the free magnetic layer in the direction of the track width is 200 nm or less, and a difference between a product of saturation magnetic flux density and a film thickness of the first free magnetic film, and that of the second free magnetic film is within a range from 1 to 3 nmT. By this structure, the variation of output and the variation of asymmetry is greatly decreased at a track width of 200 nm or less.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a reading head structure that ensures a stable magnetic moment of a pinned layer, even in a very small sensor, against a great external magnetic field, and minimizes the pinned-layer damage occurring during air-bearing surface machining, and provide a reading head not suffering the deterioration of a pinned layer in terms of magnetic structure when the head is actually used in a hard disk. In one embodiment, a magnetoresistive head is based on a spin-valve effect and has free layers, a stacked-type pinned layer, and an electroconductive nonmagnetic spacer layer positioned between the free layers and the stacked-type pinned layer. The stacked-type pinned layer includes three ferromagnetic films, and antiferromagnetic coupling films interposed between the ferromagnetic films. Of these ferromagnetic films, the first two films have a high coercivity and a high resistivity. The third ferromagnetic film is made of a material that gives a great magnetoresistive effect.

Abstract: The CPP structure magnetoresistive head has a structure such that a first lead line is electrically connected to a lead contact portion attached to a lower shield layer the width of which is either equal to or shorter than the maximum length of the lower shield layer in the track direction, or the height of which is either equal to or shorter than the maximum length of the lower shield layer in the stripe height direction. With the structures above, it is possible to prevent that a bump is generated on the upper shield layer by the first lead line, and that a magnetic domain is formed by the bump, which is a cause of noise generation. Further, it is possible to avoid overlapping between the lead line and the upper shield layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnetic domain controlling structure wherein a lamination stack M1 adjacent to a magnetoresistive stack of a GMR, CPP-GMR or TMR magnetic head has at least two magnetic films 14 and 16 anti-ferromagnetically coupled through a non-magnetic film 15, or the lamination stack M2 disposed on the end portions of the free layer of the magnetoresistive stack of the GMR magnetic head has a magnetic layer anti-ferromagnetically coupled to the free layer 2 through the non-magnetic film 27. Ferromagnetic film deposition dead zone area problems and the consequent problem of film rippling in free layer portions that reduces element sensitivity are prevented, as is the problem of increased error from read drift in the magnetic field exchange coupling method, resulting in a highly stable, highly sensitive MR head with no loss of magnetic field intensity.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a magnetoresistive head with high yield, less in noise and superior in high frequency performance, as a CPP structure magnetoresistive head, which is capable of suppressing a noise caused by a bump on an upper shield layer or a lower shield layer, and reducing capacitance C.

Abstract: Magneto-resistive effect head arrangements, including a single magnetic domain control layer made of plural layers.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head comprises a free magnetic layer that has first and second free magnetic films sandwiching a non-magnetic intermediate film therebetween, the respective magnetizing directions of the first and the second free magnetic films are antiparallel. The length of the free magnetic layer in the direction of the track width is 200 nm or less, and a difference between a product of saturation magnetic flux density and a film thickness of the first free magnetic film, and that of the second free magnetic film is within a range from 1 to 3 nmT. By this structure, the variation of output and the variation of asymmetry is greatly decreased at a track width of 200 nm or less.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive effect head includes a magnetic domain control construction using both of an antiferromagnetic film and a magnetic domain control layer made of a magnet layer. The head is constructed by: an antiferromagnetic layer; a pinned layer which is formed on the antiferromagnetic layer and whose magnetizing direction has been fixed; a spacer formed on the pinned layer; a free layer formed on the spacer; magnetic domain control layers having antiferromagnetic films and magnet layers for performing a magnetic domain control of the free layer; and a pair of lead layers for supplying a current to a stack of the antiferromagnetic layer, pinned layer, spacer, and free layer. Thus, even for realization of a narrow track, a magneto-resistive effect head having large sensitivity and small side reading can be realized.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing separation type magnetic head has a recording head with an upper core and a lower core that writes information on a magnetic disk and a reproducing head with an upper magnetic film and a lower magnetic film, as sealed layers, that reads the information from the magnetic disk. A thickness of the upper part of the upper core is less than a thickness of the tip minute of the upper core. The magnetic head has excellent overwriting performance and achieves high speed transfer.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head includes a substrate, first and second magnetic shields, a magnetoresistive effect film formed within a gap layer between the first and second magnetic shields, a permanent magnet layer provided on both sides of the magnetoresistive effect film in order to apply a magnetic field to the film, and an electrode film provided on the permanent magnet layer so as to permit a signal detected current to flow, wherein a magnetic film is stacked on the permanent magnet layer with a nonmagnetic separation layer interposed between the permanent magnet layer and the magnetic film so that the magnetic film has formed therein a magnetic path, thus, it is possible to provide a GMR reproduce head of which the reproduction sensitivity can be maintained high even if the track width is narrow.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnetic domain controlling structure wherein a lamination stack M1 adjacent to a magnetoresistive stack of a GMR, CPP-GMR or TMR magnetic head has at least two magnetic films 14 and 16 anti-ferromagnetically coupled through a non-magnetic film 15, or the lamination stack M2 disposed on the end portions of the free layer of the magnetoresistive stack of the GMR magnetic head has a magnetic layer anti-ferromagnetically coupled to the free layer 2 through the non-magnetic film 27. Ferromagnetic film deposition dead zone area problems and the consequent problem of film rippling in free layer portions that reduces element sensitivity are prevented, as is the problem of increased error from read drift in the magnetic field exchange coupling method, resulting in a highly stable, highly sensitive MR head with no loss of magnetic field intensity.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive effect head includes a magnetic domain control construction using both of an antiferromagnetic film and a magnetic domain control layer made of a magnet layer. The head is constructed by: an antiferromagnetic layer; a pinned layer which is formed on the antiferromagnetic layer and whose magnetizing direction has been fixed; a spacer formed on the pinned layer; a free layer formed on the spacer; magnetic domain control layers having antiferromagnetic films and magnet layers for performing a magnetic domain control of the free layer; and a pair of lead layers for supplying a current to a stack of the antiferromagnetic layer, pinned layer, spacer, and free layer. Thus, even for realization of a narrow track, a magneto-resistive effect head having large sensitivity and small side reading can be realized.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing separation type magnetic head has a recording head with an upper core and a lower core that writes information on a magnetic disk and a reproducing head with an upper magnetic film and a lower magnetic film, as sealed layers, that reads the information from the magnetic disk. A thickness of the upper part of the upper core is less than a thickness of the tip minute of the upper core. The magnetic head has excellent overwriting performance and achieves high speed transfer.

Abstract: Formation of magnetic domains in a perpendicularly magnetized medium comprising an underlayer of a soft magnetic layer is prevented by appropriate magnetic domain control in the soft magnetic layer. One method controls magnetic domains of the soft magnetic layer by applying an external magnetic field to the medium. Another method provides a mechanism in the magnetic head for generating a magnetic field to control the magnetic domains of the soft magnetic layer of the medium.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head includes a substrate, first and second magnetic shields, a magnetoresistive effect film formed within a gap layer between the first and second magnetic shields, a permanent magnet layer provided on both sides of the magnetoresistive effect film in order to apply a magnetic field to the film, and an electrode film provided on the permanent magnet layer so as to permit a signal detected current to flow, wherein a magnetic film is stacked on the permanent magnet layer with a nonmagnetic separation layer interposed between the permanent magnet layer and the magnetic film so that the magnetic film has formed therein a magnetic path, thus, it is possible to provide a GMR reproduce head of which the reproduction sensitivity can be maintained high even if the track width is narrow.

Abstract: A magnetic recording apparatus for recording information on a magnetic recording medium. A circuit for generates a recording current pulse train and supplies the pulse train to a magnetic head. The last pulse of the recording current pulse train dampled waveform. A ripple current is superposed on the damped waveform.

Abstract: A compound magnetic head includes first and second magnetic poles arranged to face each other to define a recording gap therebetween, a magnetic film arranged between the first and second magnetic poles, a first non-magnetic film arranged between the first magnetic pole and the magnetic film to define a first reproducing gap therebetween, and a second non-magnetic film arranged between the second magnetic pole and the magnetic pole to define a second reproducing gap therebetween. The recording gap and the first and second reproducing gaps have the same width and a common center line of the gap widths parallel to the direction of movement of a magnetic recording medium.