Thin-film magnetic head and method of manufacturing same and thin-film magnetic head sub-structure and method of manufacturing same

A thin-film magnetic head sub-structure used for manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head that comprises:

• a reproducing head including:
• a magnetoresistive element;
• a first shield layer and a second shield layer for shielding the magnetoresistive element, portions of the first shield layer and the second shield layer that face a recording medium being opposed to each other with the magnetoresistive element in between;
• a first insulating layer provided between the magnetoresistive element and the first shield layer and a second insulating layer provided between the magnetoresistive element and the second shield layer;
• and
• a recording head including:
• a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer magnetically coupled to each other and each made up of at least one layer and including magnetic pole portions opposed to each other and each located in a respective end region of the magnetic layers that faces toward a recording medium;
• a gap layer placed between the pole portions of the first and second magnetic layers;
• and a thin-film coil at least part of which is placed between the first and second magnetic layers and insulated from the first and second magnetic layers;
• wherein:
• the second shield layer includes a first portion placed in a plane the same as a plane in which the first shield layer is placed, the first portion being insulated from the first shield layer by an insulating film, and a second portion connected to the first portion and opposed to the first shield layer with the magnetoresistive element in between, the first portion and the second portion being separate from each other;
• and the second shield layer also functions as the first magnetic layer;
• the thin-film magnetic head sub-structure comprising:
• the first shield layer;
• the first portion of the second shield layer placed in the same plane as the first shield layer, the first portion being insulated from the first shield layer by an insulating film, and
• at least part of the thin-film coil placed on the first portion of the second shield layer, the at least part of the thin-film coil being insulated from the first portion by an insulating layer.