Method of fabricating thin-film magnetic head

A method of fabricating a thin-film magnetic head, comprising the steps of:

• forming a first magnetic film on a substrate;
• forming a magnetic gap film on the first magnetic film;
• forming a first mask film on the magnetic gap film;
• forming a second mask film on the first mask film, a material for the second mask film being different from a material for the first mask film;
• etching the second mask film, the first mask film, the magnetic gap film and the first magnetic film to a predetermined pattern;
• forming a non-magnetic film on the second mask film and the exposed region of the substrate;
• removing a portion of the non-magnetic film to expose the second mask film;
• removing the second mask film;
• removing the first mask film;
• and
• forming a second magnetic film on the magnetic gap film, the width of the upper edge of the second magnetic film being larger than the width of the lower edge of the second magnetic film, the lower edge of the second magnetic film being contiguous to the magnetic gap film.

A method of fabricating a thin-film magnetic head, comprising the steps of:

• forming a first magnetic film on a substrate;
• forming a magnetic gap film on the first magnetic film;
• forming a first mask film on the magnetic gap film;
• forming a second mask film on the first mask film, a material for the second mask film being different from a material for the first mask film;
• etching the second mask film, the first mask film, the magnetic gap film and the first magnetic film to a predetermined pattern;
• removing the second mask film;
• forming a non-magnetic film on the first mask film and the exposed region of the substrate;
• removing a portion of the non-magnetic film to expose the first mask film;
• removing the first mask film;
• and
• forming a second magnetic film on the magnetic gap film, the width of the upper edge of the second magnetic film being larger than the width of the lower edge of the second magnetic film, the lower edge of the second magnetic film being contiguous to the magnetic gap film.