Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes; an MR film that includes a pinned layer of which a magnetization direction is pinned, a free layer of which a magnetization direction varies, and a spacer that is disposed therebetween; a pair of shields that are disposed on both sides sandwiching the MR film in a direction orthogonal to a film surface of the MR film; and an anisotropy providing layer that provides anisotropy to a first shield so that the first shield is magnetized in a desired direction, and that is disposed on an opposite side from the MR film with respect to the first shield. The MR film includes a magnetic coupling layer that is disposed between the first shield and the free layer and that magnetically couples the first shield with the free layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head, including a magneto resistance effect (MR) element that reads a magnetic recording medium, is disclosed. A multilayer film is formed on a shield layer. Unnecessary portions of the multilayer film are removed from both sides of the MR element in a first direction orthogonal to a lamination direction of the multilayer film and parallel to the MR element surface facing the magnetic recording medium. An insulating layer is formed on a surface exposed by removal of the unnecessary portions. An integrated soft magnetic layer covering both sides of the MR element in the first direction and an upper side of the MR element is formed, thereby configuring a second shield layer. An anisotropy application layer is formed on the second shield layer, thereby providing exchange anisotropy to the soft magnetic layer, and magnetizing the soft magnetic layer in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a medium facing surface that faces a surface of a recording medium, a write head section, a contact sensor that detects contact of the medium facing surface with the surface of the recording medium, and a heat sink adjacent to the contact sensor. The write head section has a magnetic pole that produces a write magnetic field for writing data on the recording medium. The contact sensor and the heat sink have respective end faces located in the medium facing surface. The contact sensor varies in resistance in response to temperature variations, and is to be energized. The heat sink includes an intermediate layer made of a nonmagnetic metal material, and two ferromagnetic layers made of a metal-based magnetic material, the two ferromagnetic layers being disposed with the intermediate layer therebetween, and being antiferromagnetically exchange-coupled to each other via the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head that writes information to a recording medium includes a magnetic pole layer that generates a writing magnetic field to the recording medium, a microstripline that is disposed in proximity to the magnetic pole layer and to which high frequency current is applied, and a ferromagnetic thin film that is disposed on a portion of the microstripline that faces the recording medium, and that generates a high frequency alternate-current (AC) magnetic field to be applied to the recording medium, using a current magnetic field generated on the microstripline due to the high frequency current.

Abstract: A magnetic head that reads information of a magnetic recording medium is provided. The magnetic head according to one embodiment includes: an MR element, formed with multilayer films, of which an electrical resistance changes according to an external magnetic field; a first shield layer that is disposed on a lower side in an lamination direction of the MR element; a second shield layer that is disposed on an upper side in the lamination direction of the MR element, and that applies voltage to the MR element together with the first shield layer; and side shield layers that are disposed on both sides of the MR element in a truck width direction. The side shield layers include soft magnetic layers and hard magnetic layers magnetized in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head that includes a magneto resistance effect (MR) element of which an electrical resistance changes according to an external magnetic field and shield layers surrounding the MR element, and that reads information of a magnetic recording medium is provided.

Abstract: A measuring method measuring a resistance of a resistor of a magnetic sensor that includes the resistor is provided. The method includes a step of measuring an output voltage of the magnetic sensor in an AC magnetic field, a step of measuring a first combined resistance of the MR element and the resistor in no magnetic field, a step of measuring a second combined resistance of the MR element and the resistor in a constant magnetic field of which a direction and strength are substantially the same as a magnetic field, a step of measuring a third combined resistance of the MR element and the resistor in another constant magnetic field of which a direction and strength are substantially the same as another magnetic field, and a step of calculating the resistance of the resistor based on the output voltage, the first, second and third combined resistance.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes; an MR film that includes a pinned layer of which a magnetization direction is pinned, a free layer of which a magnetization direction varies, and a spacer that is disposed therebetween; a pair of shields that are disposed on both sides sandwiching the MR film in a direction orthogonal to a film surface of the MR film; and an anisotropy providing layer that provides anisotropy to a first shield so that the first shield is magnetized in a desired direction, and that is disposed on an opposite side from the MR film with respect to the first shield. The MR film includes a magnetic coupling layer that is disposed between the first shield and the free layer and that magnetically couples the first shield with the free layer.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes: a magneto resistance effect film of which electrical resistance varies corresponding to an external magnetic field; a pair of shields provided on both sides in a manner of sandwiching the MR film in a direction that is orthogonal to a film surface of the MR film; an anisotropy providing layer that provides exchange anisotropy to a first shield of the pair of shields in order to magnetize the first shield in a desired direction, and that is disposed on the opposite side from the MR film with respect to the first shield; and side shields that are disposed on both sides of the MR film in a track width direction and that include soft magnetic layers magnetically connected with the first shield.