Abstract: One of the major requirements for higher frequency extendability is to reduce yoke length and inductance in order to have fast saturation. This has been accomplished by using a design that provides a cavity in the lower pole piece inside which is located at least two coils, one on top of the other. A process for manufacturing the device is also described.

Abstract: A read/write head for a disk drive having a magnetoresistive (MR) read element and an inductive write element suitable for perpendicular recording of data onto a disk having a media layer in which the data is stored perpendicularly to the planar surface of the disk and a soft underlayer (SUL) underneath the media layer to provide a low reluctance return path for the magnetic recording field. The read element includes an MR sensor sandwiched between a pair of shields. The write element includes a vertically-oriented write pole and a horizontally-oriented yoke that connects the write pole and the adjacent shield of the read element. One or more pancake coils are looped around the yoke to produce a magnetic field that is focused by the tip of the write pole which is relatively smaller than the remainder of the write pole. A floating write shield is located downstream of the write pole, the shield having a throat region in close proximity to the write pole and a ramp portion sloping away from the write pole.

Abstract: In a composite magnetic head comprising a magnetoresistive read head including a magnetic thin film having a magnetoresistive effect and soft magnetic members interposing the soft magnetic film between them through a non-magnetic insulation layer, an induction type write head including poles formed in a moving direction of a medium and a conductor crossing the poles, and disposed in the proximity of the magnetoresistive head, and a substrate supporting these heads, the present invention discloses a composite magnetic head characterized in that part of a floating surface inclusive of the magnetic head constituent members has recesses and the read/write operations to and from the medium are effected by the portion interposed by these recesses.

Abstract: The influence of ion milling is extremely suppressed even in a composite magnetic thin film head comprising a magnetoresistive thin film head used by passing an electric current perpendicularly to a multilayer structure. The number of ion milling steps after the formation of a magnetoresistive thin film head is reduced as much as possible, whereby the influence of electrostatic charging arising from an ion milling apparatus is obviated. In specific embodiments, an inductive magnetic thin film head is first formed on a substrate, and thereafter a magnetoresistive thin film head is formed thereon. The magneto resistive thin film head includes a magneto resistive film having a multilayer structure and configured to be used by passing a detection current perpendicularly to the multilayer structure. In one embodiment, the inductive magnetic thin film head has a structure in which a coil is buried at the same horizontal position as a lower pole.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, in a magnetic recording medium for perpendicular magnetic recording, a recording characteristic which is not inferior to that of double-layer medium and a resolution of reproduction which is not inferior to that of single layer medium are provided. On a non-magnetic substrate, a soft magnetic layer for increasing a perpendicular component of recording magnetic field in a perpendicular magnetic recording layer is formed. A non-magnetic layer for suppressing extension of signal magnetic field loop from recording magnetization in the perpendicular magnetic recording layer is formed on the soft magnetic layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer is formed on the non-magnetic layer. The non-magnetic layer has a thickness required to effectively reduce the signal magnetic field loop. The required thickness exceeds 20 nm.

Abstract: A magnetic head for perpendicular recording having reduced side writing and erasing is disclosed. The writer portion of the magnetic head includes a main pole and a return pole. The main pole includes a multilayer main pole tip and a multilayer yoke. The layers of the main pole tip and the yoke are antiferromagnetically coupled to each other with a non-magnetic metal. Antiferromagnetic coupling between the layers of the main pole tip and the yoke dramatically reduces fringing flux emanated from the sides of the main pole intending to close through an upper portion of the return pole. A biasing antiferromagnetic layer is coupled to the upper portion of the return pole to bias the return pole parallel to the air bearing surface. This prevents or reduces the effect of domain wall formation in the return pole, which results in further reduction in side writing and erasing.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive device having a first pole, a second pole, and a first tapered pole pedestal therebetween and magnetically connected to the second pole. The first tapered pole has a width that increases with increasing distance away from the air bearing surface, ABS. The magnetoresistive device can also include a second tapered pole pedestal magnetically connected to the first pole, and separated from the first tapered pole pedestal by a write gap. The second tapered pole pedestal has a width that increases with increasing distance away from the air bearing surface. A method of the present invention includes defining the trackwidth of a write element by lapping a tapered pole pedestal. More specifically, the trackwidth is given by a known taper angle, a zero throat width, and a throat height, wherein the throat height is controlled precisely by lapping.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider with at least one thin-film magnetic head element on a suspension is mounted. This mounting includes electrically connecting the magnetic head slider with the suspension with ball bonding connections. Electrical property of the thin-film magnetic head element is inspected, and then the ball bonding connections are separated when it is judged that the thin-film magnetic head element has defective electrical property. Then, the magnetic head slider is detached from the suspension, and thereafter a new magnetic head slider with at least one thin-film magnetic head element is mounted on the suspension from which the magnetic head slider was detached.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a metallic material layer between a lower core layer and an upper shield layer. This metallic material layer extends to the rear of the magnetic head in the height direction to overlap with a first metal layer. The metallic material layer can therefore efficiently dissipate joule heat generated from a write head section to the outside of the magnetic head through the first metal layer. In addition, the metallic material layer can block a fluctuating magnetic field generated from the write head section. Thus, this magnetic head can reduce variations in the magnetic domain structures of upper and lower shield layers to stabilize the read output of a read head section.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a first magnetic core, a second magnetic core, a connecting layer which connects the first magnetic core and the second magnetic core, a toroidal coil layer, and a shielding layer. The connecting layer extends in the height direction so as to face the back side in the height direction of the shielding layer. Alternatively, the width in the track width direction of the connecting layer is larger than the width in the track width direction of the toroidal coil layer. Consequently, the volume of the connecting layer is increased, and thereby the heat capacity is increased. Heat generated in the thin-film magnetic head can be properly dissipated via the connecting layer, and an increase in the temperature inside the thin-film magnetic head can be prevented. As a result, protrusion of the thin-film magnetic head due to thermal expansion can be prevented.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head having little temperature rise in the element, good heat dissipation and a short magnetic path length (narrow coil pitch) and manufacturing method for same is provided. To form the coil of the thin-film magnetic head, a lower coil is first formed and after forming alumina and an inorganic compound containing alumina, a trench is formed for the upper coil by reactive ion etching. The lower coil allows uniform etching at this time and functions as a film to prevent loading effects occurring during reactive ion etching. This trench is then plated in copper and chemical mechanical planarization performed to form the upper layer coil as the dual-layer coil of the present invention. Heat from the coil is efficiently radiated towards the substrate by alumina and an inorganic compound containing alumina with good heat propagation.

Abstract: A two bump magnetic head for writing and reading information to a tape includes a merged-pole read/write element structure with inverted write elements. Each inverted write element includes top and bottom write poles. The write poles are fabricated such that the longitudinal dimension of the bottom write pole is smaller than the longitudinal dimension of the top write pole in a zero throat region. This results in an “inverted” structure. An upper portion of the bottom write pole is milled in at least the zero throat region early in fabrication to produce a precise width adjoining a write gap. The trimmed upper portion of bottom write pole results in an improved write geometry that produces tightly defined tracks.

Abstract: A separate read/write magnetic head of the present invention includes a magnetoresistive head 11 having a magnetoresistive film 25 disposed between a lower shield 23 and an upper shield 28, both of which are formed on a substrate 21, and a pair of electrodes 26 electrically connected to the magnetoresistive film 25; and an inductive magnetic thin film head 12 having a coil 33 between a lower pole piece 31 and an upper pole piece 35, both of which are disposed on the upper shield 28 of the magnetoresistive head 11 with a separation film 29 being sandwiched therebetween, and through a magnetic gap film 32 and an interlayer insulating film 34. Reduced protrusion of the read head element toward the air bearing surface due to heat deformation caused by changes in ambient temperature can be achieved by configuring the lower shield 23 and the upper shield 28 so that the sum of their thicknesses is 0.4 &mgr;m or more and less than 3.4 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reading device having a transfer rate of not less than 50 MB/s includes a magnetic recording medium having an absolute value of normalized noise coefficient per recording density of not more than 2.5×10−8 (&mgr;Vrms)(inch)(&mgr;m)0.5/(&mgr;Vpp), and magnetic head which is mounted on an integrated circuit suspension so that a total inductance is reduced to be not more than 65 nH and having a magnetic core which is not more than 35 &mgr;m of length, wherein a part of the magnetic core being formed by a magnetic film having a resistivity exceeding at least 50 &mgr;&OHgr;cm or by a multilayer film consisting of a magnetic film and an insulating film. The device also includes a fast R/W-IC having a line width of not more than 0.35 &mgr;m which is installed in a position within 2 cm from a rear end of the magnetic head.

Abstract: A magnetic material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion of 11.5×10−6/K or less is used for forming at least one of a lower shield or an upper shield. A laminated film comprising a layer of the magnetic material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion of 11.5×10−6/K or less, and an 80 wt % NiFe alloy layer, is used for forming at least one of the lower shield and the upper shield. Thus, the thin film magnetic head having reduced after-record noise and reduced thermal protrusion can be obtained.

Abstract: A conventional magnetic head has a structure, in which a MR element and a recording element are stacked. The influence of a recording magnetic field on the magnetically sensitive portion of a reproduction element is lessened and the performance of the MR element is stabilized. Also, the reliability of the magnetic disk drive using a MR element is enhanced. The magnetic disk drive uses a composite magnetic head, which has a plurality of reproduction elements arranged such that the magnetically sensitive layer of a reproduction element of the composite magnetic head does not overlap with the normal direction projection of the recording element, and which lessens the influence of a recording magnetic field on the magnetically sensitive portion of each reproduction element.

Abstract: A liquid resist is introduced between adjacent conductive lines of a coil pattern girdling around a magnetic core piece. When the liquid resist is cured, an insulating resin filler can be fixed between the adjacent conductive lines of the coil pattern. An insulating metallic layer is formed to extend over the insulting resin filler and the conductive lines of the coil pattern. Thereafter, the insulating metallic layer is subjected to a flattening grinding treatment until at least a part of the conductive line is exposed at a flattened surface. Of the resist, of a higher fluidity, penetrates in every hole and corner between the adjacent conductive lines, the gap defined between the adjacent conductive lines is fully filled with the insulating material. No voids remain in the gap. The conductive line of the coil can be reliably prevented from corrosion or oxidation. Moreover, a relatively brittle of fragile insulating resin filler is reliably prevented from being subjected to the flattening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head, capable of easily manufacturing a thin film magnetic head with high precision, in which a magnetic shield layer is disposed so as to surround a magnetic pole layer from three directions of a medium outflow direction and two side directions. In a magnetic pole formation region surrounded by a first gap layer portion, a magnetic pole layer and a second gap layer portion are formed and the magnetic pole layer is covered with the first and second gap layer portions. After that, a write shield layer is formed on the first and second gap layer portions so as to surround the magnetic pole layer from three directions (a trailing direction and two side directions).

Abstract: There is provided a combined magnetic head including an inductive head and an MR head, which are fabricated separately and joined together. The inductive head includes a magnetic core having a plurality of magnetic films with non-magnetic films interleaved therebetween, a coil for inducing a magnetic flux in the magnetic core, and an insulator serving as a write gap at which the magnetic flux produces a flux leakage. End faces of the magnetic films are disposed to face the write gap. Accordingly, stronger read signals can be obtained and data stored with increasing recording densities can be encoded and decoded.

Abstract: Electromagnetic transducers are disclosed having write poles with a leading edge that is smaller than a trailing edge, which can reduce erroneous writing for perpendicular recording systems. The write poles may have a trapezoidal shape when viewed from a direction of an associated medium. The write poles may be incorporated in heads or sliders that also contain read elements such as magnetoresistive sensors, and may be employed with information storage systems such as disk drives.

Abstract: A light induction type thin film magnetic recording head according to the present invention includes a lower magnetic core (2) formed on a substrate, an upper magnetic core (6) whose front end part is connected to the lower magnetic core through a magnetic gap film and whose rear end part is directly connected to the lower magnetic core with a back contact part (11) formed of a magnetic substance, and an insulating layer (3) formed between the upper magnetic core and the lower magnetic core, characterized in that an optically transparent waveguide part (5) whose width is smaller than the width of the upper magnetic core and whose thickness is thinner than the thickness of the upper magnetic core is buried in the upper magnetic core, and a coil (8) which generates magnetic flux in a magnetic circuit composed of the upper magnetic core, lower magnetic core, magnetic gap, and back contact part is arranged around the back contact part.

Abstract: A transducing head includes at least three magnetic layers. At least two of these magnetic layers function as shields of a reader portion of the transducing head, and at least one of these magnetic layers functions as a pole of a writer portion of the transducing head. Importantly, at least one of the three magnetic layers is formed of a thin film structure having a first and a second ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a bias layer. The spacer layer is positioned between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers. The bias layer is positioned adjacent the first ferromagnetic layer. The second ferromagnetic layer has a thickness-magnetic moment product substantially equal to a thickness-magnetic moment product of the first ferromagnetic layer. An easy axis of the second ferromagnetic layer is substantially parallel to an easy axis of the first ferromagnetic layer.

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 working method of a bar block with a plurality of magnetic head elements and a plurality of pairs of electrode terminals electrically connected to the plurality of magnetic head elements arranged on an element-formed surface of the bar block in at least one line. This method includes a step of pre-laminating an ACF on the element-formed surface of the bar block, a step of bonding a conductive plate member with a plurality of projections located at positions faced to the plurality of pairs of terminal electrodes of the bar block, respectively, on the ACF so that each pair of the terminal electrodes is electrically short-circuited with each other, and a step of, then, working the bar block.

Abstract: A magnetic head including an MR head and a write head exposed to a medium-sliding surface. The MR head includes a magnetoresistive element and slides over a magnetic recording medium to read information magnetically recorded in the magnetic recording medium. The MR head further includes a shield layer and a shield core layer which includes a shield section and a core section. A smear-preventing layer is provided between the shield section and the core section in the shield core layer, the smear-preventing layer protruding from the medium-sliding surface farther than at least the core section. The write head includes a gap layer and a thin-film coil section deposited in that order on the shield core layer, and a magnetic core layer deposited over the gap layer and the thin-film coil section so as to be insulated from the thin-film coil section.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a recording pole layer that is divided into a tip portion, a wide rear portion, a flare portion, and a yoke portion as viewed from the air bearing surface (ABS). The tip portion and the wide rear portion directly contact a write gap layer. Part of the wide rear portion has a greater width that the tip portion. The wide rear portion is provided between the tip portion and the flare portion to reduce magnetic reluctance. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the pattern accuracy of the tip portion width by providing the flare portion, which reflects a large quantity of light, far from the ABS, while preventing an increase of the magnetic reluctance.

Abstract: A write gap film and a first magnetic material film are formed on a bottom pole, a first non-magnetic film is formed in a space formed by etching a portion of the first magnetic material film other than a portion extending from an air bearing surface to a throat height zero reference position to constitute a flat coplanar surface with the first magnetic material film, a second magnetic material film is formed on the flat coplanar surface, a two-layer track pole consisting of a top track pole and a bottom track pole is formed in a self-aligned manner by removing by RIE the second magnetic material film, first magnetic material film, write gap film and a part of the bottom pole, a second non-magnetic material film is formed to have a flat coplanar surface with the top track pole, and a thin film coil is formed on the flat coplanar surface.

Abstract: Provided is a thin film single pole head for perpendicular magnetic recording, which has a structure offering a high formatted volume, easy servo, difficulty of influencing a recording pattern on a medium, and capability of shortening processing time. This thin film single pole head for perpendicular magnetic recording is formed on a reproducing head composed of a pair of shield layers formed on a substrate, and a reproducing element formed therebetween. A structure is provided, where an auxiliary pole is not disposed between the reproducing element of the reproducing head and the main pole of a recording head when seen from a surface facing to recording media.

Abstract: A first magnetic film, a gap film, a thin film coil supported by a insulated film and a second magnetic film are formed in turn. The second magnetic film has a pole part opposite to the first magnetic film via the gap film and a yoke part extending backward from the pole part to be magnetically connected to the first magnetic film. The forefront surface of the yoke part is receded from an air bearing surface. The pole part of the second magnetic film has a step d1 in a running direction of a magnetic recording medium and a step d2 in the perpendicular direction to the running direction within the yoke forefront surface and its periphery as is viewed from the yoke forefront surface. A protective film embeds the steps d1 and d2, and covers an inductive type thin film magnetic head element entirely. Thereby, without debasing the overwrite characteristic when the pole part is miniaturized, a thin film magnetic head having a narrowed track width can be provided.

Abstract: A write head has a variable throat height wherein the throat height is dependent upon the frequency of operation of the write head. At high frequency operation the throat height is small and at low frequency operation the throat height is large. The write head writes hard into a circular track of a rotating magnetic disk at all frequencies but not overly hard at low frequencies thereby avoiding excessive erase bands and adjacent track interference (ATI) on each side of the track being written.

Abstract: The invention fabricates a perpendicular recording head eliminating influence of external magnetic field and provides a magnetic disk drive having high stability by using the magnetic recording head and constructs a structure in which shield against external magnetic field is formed from a main pole via a gap layer and an edge portion thereof is recessed from a surface against a medium. By providing the shield against the external magnetic field, the influence of the external magnetic field is restrained and by recessing the edge from the surface against the medium, leakage of magnetic field from the shield against the external magnetic field to the medium is prevented to thereby prevent a magnetization signal from being erased.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises a reproducing head and a recording head. The reproducing head comprises: a GMR element; a bottom shield layer and a top shield layer for shielding the GMR element; conductive layers connected to the GMR element; and shield gap films formed between the shield layers. Each of the shield gap films is made up of a plurality of thin alumina films stacked that are formed by performing the step of forming a thin alumina film by low pressure CVD, for example, a plurality of times.

Abstract: A specified amount of N2O or N2 is employed in a process gas of a DC magnetron for sputter depositing single or laminated films of NiFeCo—O—N or NiFeCo—N with a high uniaxial anisotropy HK after annealing these films along their hard axes. The films can be used for shield layers and/or pole piece layers in a magnetic head.

Abstract: A magnetic head is fabricated by providing a substrate with a planar surface, forming at least one cavity in the planar substrate, depositing a second yoke layer in the cavity, forming a second pole tip in the cavity in contact with the second yoke layer, patterning an inductive coil in the cavity, depositing a gap layer over the second pole tip, sputtering a first pole tip over the gap layer, etching the first and second pole tips and the gap layer to form a stack of layers, depositing a protective layer over the stack of layers, leveling the protective layer to expose the first pole tip, and patterning a first yoke layer in contact with the first pole tip.

Abstract: A magnetic head having a magnetic shield and/or pole layer that is fabricated as a plurality of laminated layers, in which each layer includes a sublayer thickness of Fe(N) and a sublayer thickness of NiFe(N), and where the relative thickness of these two sublayers is graduated. Particularly, the initially deposited laminations include sublayers of NiFe(N) having a thickness that is substantially greater than the thickness of the Fe(N) sublayers, whereas the finally deposited laminations include sublayers having an Fe(N) thickness that is substantially greater than the thickness of the NiFe(N) sublayers.

Abstract: A magnetic head including a flux closure layer that functions with a magnetic shield layer to reduce the flow of magnetic flux from the edge of the magnetic shield to an MR sensor element of the magnetic head. The flux closure layer is disposed adjacent to the magnetic shield to prevent magnetic flux leakage from the edges of the magnetic shield from flowing to the MR sensor element and create unwanted signal noise.

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises: an induction type head for recording including a lower magnetic core, a writing gap film formed on the lower magnetic core, an upper magnetic core having a track portion and a portion spreading from the track portion, a plurality of insulating films laminated between the lower magnetic core and the upper magnetic core, and a coil formed between the plurality of insulating films. One of the plurality of insulating films is an insulating film determining a zero throat level position. The track portion of the upper magnetic core extends to an air bearing surface. A magnetoresistance effect type head for reproducing includes a lower shielding film and a magnetoresistance effect sensor film between the lower shielding film and the lower magnetic core.

Abstract: Methods of forming a head assembly, a head assembly, and a linear tape drive are provided. One aspect provides a method of forming a head assembly including providing a base member; forming a plurality of head components upon the base member individually adapted to communicate information relative to a tape; providing a plurality of component regions adjacent respective ones of the head components and a path of travel of the tape; and providing a support region intermediate adjacent ones of the head components and positioned to support the tape moving along the path of travel, the support region comprising a material different than a material of the component regions.

Abstract: A process of forming a two-piece pole for an inductive write head involves first forming a first pole piece having a width between opposite side surfaces defining a gap width of a transducing gap at an air bearing surface of the head. The process next involves forming a second pole piece having a first region remote from the air bearing surface and a second region extending from the first region toward the air bearing surface. The first region is wider than the width of the first pole piece. The second pole piece is formed so that at least a portion of the second region is contiguous a portion of the first pole piece and so that no sharp external corners exist between the first pole tip piece and the second pole piece within a pole tip region of the head.

Abstract: A perpendicular recording head has a second pole piece which includes a bottom ferromagnetic shaping layer and a top ferromagnetic probe layer. Each of these layers has a flare point where the layers first commence to widen after the ABS with the flare point of the shaping layer being located between an air bearing surface (ABS) of the head and the flare point of the probe layer. Further, the probe layer has a probe at the ABS which has a decreasing width from its top to its bottom to provide a trapezoidal shape which minimizes side writing due to skew of the probe at outermost and innermost circular tracks of a rotating magnetic disk.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a magnetic lower core layer, a magnetic upper core layer, a coil layer, for inducing a recording magnetic field in the lower core layer and the upper core layer, formed so as to go around the base of the upper core layer, and a planarizing layer formed in the periphery of the lower core layer, excluding the section exposed to the air bearing surface, so that the surface of the planarizing layer is level with the surface of the lower core layer, the coil layer being formed from on the lower core layer to on the planarizing layer. A method of producing a thin film magnetic head is also disclosed.

Abstract: Perpendicular recording and magnetoresistive sensing transducers are disclosed having additional coil windings carrying current in an opposite direction to windings encircled by a core. The magnetic influence of the recording transducer on the sense transducer is reduced or eliminated. The inductance of the coils used to drive the recording transducer is reduced, facilitating high-frequency operation. Moreover, the magnetic flux induced by the coils and transmitted by the recording pole tip is increased, improving recording capabilities.

Abstract: A data transducer having an air bearing surface is used to reduce thermal pole tip protrusion. The data transducer includes a write via and a top pole having one end adjacent the air bearing surface and an opposite end contacting the write via. The yoke extends from the write via in two directions towards the air bearing surface and is recessed from the air bearing surface. The yoke has a first end and a second end. The data transducer includes a shared pole adjacent the air bearing surface and co-planar to the yoke wherein a gap is located between the shared pole and the yoke. A shared pole extension extends between the shared pole and the first and second ends of the yoke.

Abstract: A first and a second longitudinal bias-applying films are formed via a first mask at both sides of a magnetoresistive effective element film so that the difference in surface level between the magnetoresistive effective element film and the first and the second longitudinal bias-applying films is set within ±20 nm. Then, a first and a second electrode films are formed so as to cover edge portions of the magnetoresistive effective element film and the first and the second longitudinal bias-applying films.

Abstract: A single-sided, notched write head is provided for writing narrow erase band servo tracks as well as a double-notched write head, and for writing data tracks better than a double-notched write head. The single-sided, notched write head writes a narrow erase band on the notched side and a wide erase band on the unnotched side. In one embodiment, only one side of the first pole piece layer is notched, and in another embodiment a first side of the first pole piece layer is notched more than a second side. By writing servo tracks only a fraction of the track width of the write head, a wide erase band region is overwritten so that a narrow erase band is on each side of the servo track. Data tracks are written with a narrow erase band on one side and a wide erase band on the other side. The wide erase band on one side of the data track allows more flexibility in spacing the read head from adjacent tracks.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises a reproducing head and a recording head. The reproducing head comprises: a GMR element; a bottom shield layer and a top shield layer for shielding the GMR element; conductive layers connected to the GMR element; and shield gap films formed between the shield layers. Each of the shield gap films is made up of a plurality of thin alumina films stacked that are formed by performing the step of forming a thin alumina film by low pressure CVD, for example, a plurality of times.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a combination type thin film magnetic head having an inductive type thin film magnetic head supported by a substrate including forming a first magnetic layer extending from an air bearing surface and forming an insulating layer on a surface of a portion of the first magnetic layer such that the insulating layer extends at least the air bearing surface and includes a -shaped cut-out portion.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide thin-film magnetic heads that meet specifications required by the customer in a short time and to improve yields of the thin-film magnetic heads. A reproducing head of a thin-film magnetic head includes an MR element and a bottom shield layer and a top shield layer. A recording head of the thin-film magnetic head includes a bottom pole layer (top shield layer) and a top pole layer which include pole portions opposed to each other while a recording gap layer is placed between the pole portions. The recording head further includes a thin-film coil placed between the bottom pole layer and the top pole layer. The top shield layer includes: a first portion placed in a region including a region facing the thin-film coil; a second portion connected to a surface of the first portion facing the coil and placed on a side of a bottom shield layer; and a third portion connected to the second portion and facing the bottom shield layer with the MR element in between.

Abstract: A method of making an inductive transducer having inorganic nonferromagnetic material disposed in an apex region adjacent to a submicron nonferromagnetic gap in a magnetic core. The inorganic nonferromagnetic apex region can be made by chemical etching of a layer of inorganic nonferromagnetic material, deposition of inorganic nonferromagnetic material through a mask that is then lifted-off, or anisotropic etching of a layer of inorganic nonferromagnetic material that is covered by a hardbaked photoriesist mask.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head which can suppress magnetic saturation at opposite ends of width of a narrow track width to reduce the amount of recording side-fringing onto a recording medium and which can assure a necessary recording magnetic field satisfactorily. Also a magnetic disk apparatus using the head. A second magnetic yoke has a magnetic gap depth over which the spacing of a magnetic gap keeps substantially equal toward a rear portion of the second magnetic yoke, starting at the tip of a second magnetic pole and the spacing between a first magnetic yoke and the second magnetic yoke is increased toward the rear portion, starting at a position corresponding to the magnetic gap depth. The second magnetic pole of the second magnetic yoke has in the track width direction a width for recording a signal on a track width of the recording medium.