Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head has at least either an electromagnetic transducer or a magnetoresistive device, and a sheet-shaped heater for generating heat when energized. The heater has a heating part and a lead part connected in series to the heating part. The lead part has a sheet resistance lower than that of the heating part.

Abstract: A heater member is formed in structure including a heater layer with a low electrical resistivity and a cap layer with a higher electrical resistivity, an electrically conductive electrode film is formed thereon, and electrically conductive bumps are formed thereon by plating. Unnecessary part of the electrode film is removed using the bumps as a mask. The heater member generates heat to thermally expand a thin-film magnetic head, whereby the distance is reduced between a recording medium and, a magnetoresistive device and/or an electromagnetic conversion device. During removal of the electrode film part of the cap layer with the higher electrical resistivity in the heater member is removed together with the electrode film, which reduces the variation in the total resistance of the heater member.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head on a support includes an electromagnetic transducer for writing, a magnetoresistive device for reading, an overcoat layer and a heating element. The transducer and magnetoresistive device are disposed on the support. The overcoat layer is disposed at the opposite side of them from the support. The heating element is provided in the overcoat layer and generates heat when energized.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises at least one of a magnetoresistive device and an electromagnetic transducer, and a heater adapted to generate heat upon energization. A method of making this thin-film magnetic head comprises a heater forming step of forming the heater, and an annealing step of annealing the heater formed by the heater forming step.

Abstract: In the head slider of the present invention, recording and reproducing electrode pads and heater electrode pads are attached to the same surface of an overcoat layer. The heater electrode pads are located on both sides of a group constituted by the recording and reproducing electrode pads. As a consequence, leads for the heater are located between respective leads for recording and reproducing head parts, whereby crosstalk can be prevented from occurring between the leads for the recording and reproducing head parts.

Abstract: The head slider in accordance with the present invention comprises a thin-film magnetic head including a magnetoresistive device and an electromagnetic transducer, and a heater adapted to generate heat upon energization. At least one of a reproducing bump, a recording bump, and a heater bump includes a bypass layer extending in a direction intersecting a bump extending direction, a first bump portion positioned closer to a pad-forming surface than is the bypass layer, and a second bump portion positioned on the side of the bypass layer opposite from the first bump portion. The first and second bump portions are displaced from each other in the bypass layer extending direction.

Abstract: The heaters in the respective thin-film magnetic head in the bar are electrically connected to its neighbors, and a variable resistor is connected to each of the heaters in parallel. The resistance of each of the variable resistors is varied depending on the amount that the medium-opposing surface (ABS) of the thin-film magnetic head is to project. Also, the medium-opposing surface of the thin-film magnetic head in the magnetic head bar is polished while energizing all the heaters by the same power supply.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of an MR sensor including a step of stacking an anti-ferromagnetic layer made of an electrically conductive anti-ferromagnetic material, a step of stacking a pinned layer on the anti-ferromagnetic layer, a step of stacking a nonmagnetic spacer layer on the pinned layer, a step of exposing at least once a surface of the nonmagnetic spacer layer to an oxygen-contained atmosphere, a step of stacking a free layer on the nonmagnetic spacer layer, a magnetization direction of the free layer being free depending upon a magnetic filed applied thereto, and a step of providing the pinned layer a magnetization direction fixed by an exchange coupling between the anti-ferromagnetic layer and the pinned layer.

Abstract: During a process of manufacturing a spin valve film which produces a large read out signal upon being used as a reading element of a thin film magnetic head, after a completion of a film making process for forming a previous film of two films to be formed successively, but before an initiation of a film making process for forming a succeeding film of the two films, a step of decreasing an anisotropic magnetic field of the spin valve film by interrupting a film making process is introduced. The anisotropic magnetic field reducing step may be performed by keeping a substrate within a sputtering vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is formed on a support and is provided with a reproducing head part, a recording head part, and a heater for generating heat upon energization. A medium-opposing surface S of the magnetic head is polished while energizing the heater or recording head part.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spin valve film, which produces a large read out signal. After a completion of a film making process for forming a previous film of two films to be formed successively, but before an initiation of a film making process forming a succeeding film of the two the films, a step of decreasing an anisotropic magnetic field of the spin valve film is introduced by interrupting a film making process. This step may be performed by keeping a substrate within a sputtering vacuum chamber. The interruption can be shortened by exposing the substrate to a plasma, transferring the substrate in a separate vacuum chamber whose degree of vacuum is lower or whose H2O or O2 concentration is higher than that in the sputtering vacuum chamber, conducting a surface treatment with a gas containing H2O or O2, or flowing a process gas.

Abstract: The head slider in accordance with the present invention comprises a thin-film magnetic head including a magnetoresistive device and an electromagnetic transducer, and a heater adapted to generate heat upon energization. At least one of a reproducing bump, a recording bump, and a heater bump includes a bypass layer extending in a direction intersecting a bump extending direction, a first bump portion positioned closer to a pad-forming surface than is the bypass layer, and a second bump portion positioned on the side of the bypass layer opposite from the first bump portion. The first and second bump portions are displaced from each other in the bypass layer extending direction.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises at least one of a magnetoresistive device and an electromagnetic transducer, and a heater adapted to generate heat upon energization. A method of making this thin-film magnetic head comprises a heater forming step of forming the heater, and an annealing step of annealing the heater formed by the heater forming step.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises at least one of an electromagnetic transducer and a magnetoresistive device, and a heater member adapted to generate heat upon energization. The heater member contains NiCu.

Abstract: In the head slider of the present invention, recording and reproducing electrode pads and heater electrode pads are attached to the same surface of an overcoat layer. The heater electrode pads are located on both sides of a group constituted by the recording and reproducing electrode pads. As a consequence, leads for the heater are located between respective leads for recording and reproducing head parts, whereby crosstalk can be prevented from occurring between the leads for the recording and reproducing head parts.

Abstract: The heaters in the respective thin-film magnetic head in the bar are electrically connected to its neighbors, and a variable resistor is connected to each of the heaters in parallel. The resistance of each of the variable resistors is varied depending on the amount that the medium-opposing surface (ABS) of the thin-film magnetic head is to project. Also, the medium-opposing surface of the thin-film magnetic head in the magnetic head bar is polished while energizing all the heaters by the same power supply.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is formed on a support and is provided with a reproducing head part, a recording head part, and a heater for generating heat upon energization. A medium-opposing surface S of the magnetic head is polished while energizing the heater or recording head part.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head has at least either an electromagnetic transducer or a magnetoresistive device, and a sheet-shaped heater for generating heat when energized. The heater has a heating part and a lead part connected in series to the heating part. The lead part has a sheet resistance lower than that of the heating part.

Abstract: A magnetic head part is constituted by a reproducing head part having a GMR device and a recording head part acting as an inductive electromagnetic transducer which are laminated on a support. The magnetic head part further comprises a heater. One of poles of the heater is electrically connected to a heater electrode pad disposed on a first surface of a head slider. The other pole is electrically connected to a substrate constituting the support, and is energized by way of a second surface of the head slider.

Abstract: A heater member is formed in structure including a heater layer with a low electrical resistivity and a cap layer with a higher electrical resistivity, an electrically conductive electrode film is formed thereon, and electrically conductive bumps are formed thereon by plating. Unnecessary part of the electrode film is removed using the bumps as a mask. The heater member generates heat to thermally expand a thin-film magnetic head, whereby the distance is reduced between a recording medium and, a magnetoresistive device and/or an electromagnetic conversion device. During removal of the electrode film part of the cap layer with the higher electrical resistivity in the heater member is removed together with the electrode film, which reduces the variation in the total resistance of the heater member.