Thin-film magnetic head and method of manufacturing the magnetic head

A thin-film magnetic head having a head face and comprising:

• a flux-guiding element of a magnetically permeable material terminating in the head face;
• a further flux-guiding element of magnetically permeable material;
• and
• a magnetoresistive element oriented transversely to the head face, a peripheral area of the magnetoresistive element extending parallel to the head face and opposite the flux-guiding element for forming a magnetic connection between the magnetoresistive element and the flux-guiding element, and a further peripheral portion located opposite said peripheral portion and opposite the further flux-guiding element;
• and in which:
• the flux-guiding element and the peripheral area of the magnetoresistive element constitute a common magnetic contact face;
• the magnetically permeable material of the flux-guiding element is electrically insulating;
• and
• the further peripheral portion of the magnetoresistive element and the further flux-guiding element constitute a common further magnetic contact face,
• the magnetically permeable material of the flux-guiding element and the further flux-guiding element satisfying the condition:
• ρ f = c · ( t 1 · h 1 + t 2 · h 2 t m · b ) · ρ m
• in which:
• c is a numerical value of more than ⅓,
• rf is the resistivity of the magnetically permeable materials;
• rm is the resistivity of the material of the magnetoresistive element;
• t1 and t2 are the thicknesses, viewed in a direction transverse to the magnetoresistive element, of the flux-guiding element and of the further flux-guiding element, respectively;
• h1 is the height, viewed and measured from the head face, of the flux-guiding element;
• h2 is the height, viewed from the head face and measured from the magnetoresistive element, of the further flux-guiding element, or the width, measured parallel to the head face, of the further flux-guiding element if this width is smaller than the height of the further flux-guiding element;
• and
• b is the width, viewed in a direction transverse to the head face, of the magnetoresistive element.