Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head has a magnetoresistive effect read head element. The magnetoresistive effect read head element includes a lower shield layer, an upper shield layer, and a magnetoresistive effect layer formed between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer. The magnetoresistive effect read head element also includes a lower antiferromagnetic layer. The lower antiferromagnetic layer is contacted with the lower shield layer only at an edge area of the lower shield layer.

Abstract: A multi-channel thin-film magnetic head includes a substrate, a plurality of thin-film magnetic head elements formed on the substrate, a closure fixed onto the plurality of thin-film magnetic head elements, a protection film laminated on a whole area of a TBS of the plurality of thin-film magnetic head elements and the closure, and many micro-grooves formed in a surface of the protection film.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head provided with at least one MR read head element includes a lower shield layer, an upper shield layer, and an MR layer formed between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer. A profile of the upper shield layer, appeared at an ABS, has obtuse or rounded upper corners at end edges of the upper shield layer along a track-width direction.

Abstract: A multi-channel thin-film magnetic head includes a substrate, a plurality of thin-film magnetic head elements formed on the substrate, a closure fixed onto the plurality of thin-film magnetic head elements, a protection film laminated on a whole area of a TBS of the plurality of thin-film magnetic head elements and the closure, and many micro-grooves formed in a surface of the protection film.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a thin-film magnetic head with a dishing suppressed in the case of planarizing a magnetic shield which a read head portion has or a magnetic pole which a write head portion has is provided.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head provided with at least one MR read head element includes a lower shield layer, an upper shield layer, and an MR layer formed between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer. A profile of the upper shield layer, appeared at an ABS, has obtuse or rounded upper corners at end edges of the upper shield layer along a track-width direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin-film magnetic head which prevents leakage of magnetic fluxes from an edge area of a lower and/or an upper shield layers of a magnetoresistive effect read head element. The thin-film magnetic head have a magnetoresistive effect read head element that includes a lower shield layer, an upper shield layer, a magnetoresistive effect layer, which is formed between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer, and a lower antiferromagnetic layer which is contacted with the lower shield layer only at an edge area of the lower shield layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head, includes the steps of: forming, on a lower auxiliary pole, a three-layer pole tip structure consisting of a lower pole tip element, a recording gap layer and an upper pole tip element; depositing a lower insulating layer on the three-layer pole tip structure; polishing the lower insulating layer by chemical-mechanical polishing so that a top surface of the lower insulating layer is leveled lower than a top of the three-layer pole tip structure over at least a region within which a coil conductor is formed; forming the coil conductor on the lower insulating layer; forming an upper insulating to cover the coil conductor; and forming an upper auxiliary pole so that a part of which contacts to the upper pole tip element.

Abstract: A method of patterning at least one object layer, includes a step of forming a mask on the object layer, and a step of selectively etching the object layer using the mask. The mask is made of a magnetic metallic compound with a basic metal of nickel or cobalt containing at least group 3B element and/or group 5B element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin film magnetic head which eliminates the problems of degradation in the recording magnetic field pitch and recording bleed occurring due to leaked magnetic field by preventing magnetic saturation from occurring at pole tips. A write element is provided with a first pole portion, a second pole portion and a gap film. The gap film is provided between the first pole portion and the second pole portion. The second pole portion includes a third magnetic film and a fourth magnetic film. The third magnetic film is adjacent to the gap film and the fourth magnetic film is adjacent to the third magnetic film. The third magnetic film has a width W20 at a position receding from its surface facing opposite the medium by a receding quantity &Dgr;L, which is larger than the width W21 at the surface facing opposite the medium.

Abstract: A method of patterning at least one object layer, includes a step of forming a mask on the object layer, and a step of selectively etching the object layer using the mask. The mask is made of a magnetic metallic compound with a basic metal of nickel or cobalt containing at least group 3B element and/or group 5B element.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a recording gap layer, and lower and upper magnetic pole layers made of polycrystalline magnetic substances, deposited to sandwich the recording gap layer. An average particle size D of crystal substances at least in a region of the upper magnetic pole layer, near the recording gap layer with respect to a recording track width W is set to D≦W/20.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head has a recording gap layer made of a nonmagnetic material, lower and upper magnetic pole layers made of a magnetic material, the lower and upper magnetic pole layers sandwiching the recording gap layer, and a magnetic material side layer deposited via a nonmagnetic material side layer on at least a part of a side surface of at least the upper magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head having an air bearing surface, includes a three-layer pole tip structure consisting of a lower pole tip element, a recording gap layer and an upper pole tip element, the structure having side surfaces, a rear surface and top surface, a lower auxiliary pole, a part of which contacts to the lower pole tip element, an upper auxiliary pole, a part of which contacts to the upper pole tip element, the upper auxiliary pole being magnetically connected at its rear portion with respect to the air bearing surface to the lower auxiliary pole so as to form a yoke together with the lower auxiliary pole, a lower insulating layer, surrounding the side surfaces and the rear surfaces of the three-layer pole tip structure, the lower insulating layer being located between the lower and upper auxiliary poles and having a top surface, a coil conductor formed on the top surface of the lower insulating layer, and an upper insulating layer covering the coil conductor, a part of the upper insulating layer be

Abstract: A first pole tip 212 at a write element 2 is provided projecting above a first yoke 211. A second pole tip 222 is adhered onto a gap film 23 that is adhered onto the first pole tip 212. The front end portion of a second yoke 221 is laminated on the second pole tip 222. At least either the first pole tip 212 or the second pole tip 222 is constituted of a material having a higher saturation magnetic flux density than that of permalloy. At least either the first yoke 211 or the second yoke 221 is constituted of a material having a higher resistivity than that of permalloy.

Abstract: A magnetic pole or magnetic shielding film is constructed of a soft magnetic thin film that has a composition represented by formula (Fe.sub.1-x M.sub.x).sub.1-y N.sub.y wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, yttrium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, and boron, and an atomic ratio x is 0.01.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.1 and an atomic ratio y is 0.01.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.1. This soft magnetic thin film has a I(200)/I(110) ratio of 0.1 inclusive to 1 exclusive with the proviso that I(200), and I(110) represents an intensity of a diffraction peak for an iron (200) plane, and an iron (110) plane, respectively, as found from an X-ray diffraction pattern, and is substantially free from a diffraction peak for a nitride of the element M, as found from the X-ray diffraction pattern.

Abstract: An Fe--Zr--N base thin film composed of a metal nitride is formed by reactive sputtering. At the reactive sputtering step, the stress of the thin film is controlled by causing relative movement of the substrate with respect to a target in such a manner that the substrate can be periodically opposite to the target, or applying a negative bias voltage to the substrate, or performing said relative movement of the substrate with the application of the negative bias voltage to the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a magnetic transducer element with outstanding productivity, with which the track width can be defined to a high degree of accuracy and required magnetic characteristics can be reliably imposed upon the central active area. Laminated films which generate a magnetoresistance effect, a magnetic domain control film, which applies a magnetic bias to the laminated films and a pair of lead conductor films are provided. The laminated films and the magnetic domain control film are laminated to each other to constitute a central active area. The lead conductor films terminate the side end surfaces of the central active area at the two sides in direction running at a right angle to direction of the lamination of the central active area.

Abstract: A central active area includes a MR film, a nonmagnetic spacer film and a soft magnetic film with the MR film constituting the lowermost layer on top of a supporting body, the nonmagnetic spacer film laminated on top of the MR film and the soft magnetic film laminated on top of the nonmagnetic spacer film to provide a lateral bias field to the MR film. A magnetic transducer and a thin film magnetic head with which the main peak width in the off track characteristics can be increased and, consequently, the margin can be increased are provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head apparatus with a magnetoresistive head utilizing the spin valve effect includes a final heat treatment step (S14) of heating the multi-layered spin valve structure (15) with application of a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a track width direction of the spin valve magnetoresistive head so that a thin film layer of soft ferromagnetic material (3, 5) to be pinned by a thin film layer of antiferromagnetic material (6) has a uniaxial anisotropy. This final heat treatment step (S14) is executed after all the steps (S1, S3, S5, S7, S8, S9, S11) each of which includes a heat treatment stage executed at a temperature which will vary a uniaxial anisotropy of the pinned thin film layer of soft ferromagnetic material (3,5) are completed.