Magneto-resistance effect type composite head and production method thereof

A magneto-resistance effect type composite head comprising:

• a first magnetic shield serving as a first electrode and running in a first planar direction;
• a reproduction head having a perimeter defined by upper and lower surface together with end surfaces, the lower surface contacting a center portion of an upper surface of said first magnetic shield;
• a first non-magnetic insulation film contacting the upper surface of said first magnetic shield and the end surfaces of said reproduction head;
• a second magnetic shield serving as a second electrode running in the first planar direction and contacting the upper surface of said reproduction head;
• said reproduction head having a ferromagnetic tunnel junction magneto-resistance effect film with a tunnel barrier layer intermediate first and second ferromagnetic layers for generating a magneto-resistance effect using said first and said second magnetic shields as electrodes so that a current flows in a vertical direction between said first and said second magnetic shields;
• a recording head arranged adjacent to said reproduction head so as to use said second magnetic shield as a first magnetic pole film and having a second magnetic pole film opposing to said first magnetic pole film via a magnetic gap;
• and
• a first end region extending from said first magnetic shield to said second magnetic shield and contacting a first of the end surfaces of said reproduction head and a second end region extending from said first magnetic shield to said second magnetic shield and contacting a second of the end surfaces of said reproduction head, said first and second end regions for applying a bias magnetic field to said reproduction head,
• wherein the reproduction head has a base contacting the first magnetic shield and a top contacting the second magnetic shield, the base having a first length and the top having a second, smaller length so that, as viewed in cross section, the reproduction head decreasingly tapers from the base to the top with inclined end walls,
• the inclined end walls, from the base to the top, directly contacted by and covered by the first non-magnetic insulation film, a thickness of the insulation film being greater at the base than at the top of the center region,
• the non-magnetic insulation film directly contacted by a permanent magnet layer for applying the bias magnetic field to said reproduction head, the permanent magnet layer extending from the base to the top with a decreasing cross-section towards the top.

A magneto-resistance effect head comprising:

• a pair of magnetic shields arranged facing to each other as electrodes;
• a first magnetic shield serving as a first electrode and running in a first planar direction;
• a reproduction head having a perimeter defined by upper and lower surface together with end surfaces, the lower surface contacting a center portion of an upper surface of said first magnetic shield;
• a first non-magnetic insulation film contacting the upper surface of said first magnetic shield and the end surfaces of said reproduction head;
• a second magnetic shield serving as a second electrode running in the first planar direction and contacting the upper surface of said reproduction head;
• said reproduction head having a center region comprising a ferromagnetic tunnel junction magneto-resistance effect film with a tunnel barrier layer intermediate first and second ferromagnetic layers for generating a magneto-resistance effect using said first and said second magnetic shields as electrodes so that a current flows in a vertical direction between said first and said second magnetic shields;
• a recording head arranged adjacent to said reproduction head so as to use said second magnetic shield as a first magnetic pole film and having a second magnetic pole film opposing to said first magnetic pole via a magnetic gap;
• and
• a first end region extending from said first magnetic shield to said second magnetic shield and contacting a first of the end surfaces of said reproduction head and a second end region extending from said first magnetic shield to said second magnetic shield and contacting a second of the end surfaces of said reproduction head, said first and second end regions for applying a bias magnetic field to said reproduction head;
• the center region being intermediate the pair of magnetic shields so that a magneto-resistance effect is generated by a current flowing almost in a vertical direction to the magnetic shields,
• wherein the center region has a base contacting the first magnetic shield and a top contacting the second magnetic shield, the base having a first length and the top having a second, smaller length so that, as viewed in cross section, the center region decreasingly tapers from the base to the top with inclined end walls,
• the inclined end walls, from the base to the top, directly contacted by and covered by the first non-magnetic insulation film, a tapering thickness of the non-magnetic insulation film being greater at the base than at the top of the center region,
• the non-magnetic insulation film directly contacted by a permanent magnet layer for applying the bias magnetic field to said reproduction head, the permanent magnet layer extending from the base to the top and with an upper portion having a tapering decreasing cross-section.