Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head realizing both high precision in formation of a main magnetic pole layer and proper position of a flare point and capable of contributing to an improvement in recording performance from a manufacturing viewpoint. By performing a series of patterning processes using a buffer layer and a non-magnetic layer of which etching rate is low as a stopper layer, a main magnetic pole layer is formed. First, at the time of forming a front end portion, a precursor main magnetic pole layer (preparation layer of the main magnetic pole layer) is patterned by using the buffer layer as a mask, so that the front end portion is formed with high precision to have a small width as designed.

Abstract: Provided is a thin film magnetic head which enables both ensuring overwrite characteristics and preventing an adverse effect resulting from side erase, such as degradation in an output signal. An exposed surface of a magnetic pole portion layer is configured to have the shape of an asymmetric inverted trapezoid corresponding to a remaining region which remains after removing a width increasing region in the shape of a right triangle from a rectangular region on the side of a side edge. The side edge of the exposed surface is caused to correspond to the side on which side erase occurs, more specifically the side on which a magnetic flux emitted from the magnetic pole portion layer onto a target track of a hard disk causes information to unintentionally overwrite existing information recorded on an adjacent track. This configuration allows preventing the exposed surface from extending to the adjacent track, thus preventing the adverse effect resulting from side erase.

Abstract: Provided is a thin film magnetic head capable of ensuring the strength of a perpendicular magnetic field and improving recording performance. A bottom pole portion layer and a top pole portion layer constituting a part of a main magnetic pole are formed so that a cross sectional area of a complex including front end portions of the bottom pole portion layer and the top pole portion layer is smaller than a cross sectional area of a complex including rear end portions thereof, and a width of a top edge in an exposed surface is larger than a width of a bottom edge, and is equal to or larger than a width of the exposed surface in a middle position between the top edge and the bottom edge. In recording, magnetic fluxes flowing in a main magnetic pole are focused toward an air bearing surface, and are concentrated on the front end portion of the top pole portion layer which is a main emitting portion of the magnetic fluxes, so sufficient magnetic fluxes can be supplied to the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises first and second magnetic layers, a gap layer provided between the first and second magnetic layers, and a thin-film coil at least a part of which is disposed between the first and second magnetic layers. The second magnetic layer has a pole portion layer, a yoke portion layer, and a coupling portion. The yoke portion layer is magnetically connected to the rear end surface of the pole portion layer and both side surfaces of the pole portion layer in the width direction. The rear end surface of the pole portion layer and the side surfaces of the pole portion layer in the width direction are each inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to the surface of the pole portion layer that faces the gap layer.