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US 7,352,539 B2Granted
Thin-film magnetic head having a covered insulating layer
AssigneeTDK Corporation
InventorsKazuki Sato, Takeo Kagami
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Abstract
The method of making a thin-film magnetic head in accordance with the present invention forms a cover layer on an insulating layer about a magnetoresistive film so as to eliminate a protrusion riding on the magnetoresistive film. The protrusion can be eliminated by etching. The part of insulating layer clad with the cover layer is not etched. This can prevent short-circuit from occurring because of thinning the insulating layer.
Claims1
A thin-film magnetic head comprising:
- a magnetoresistive film having a magnetoresistance effect;
- lower and upper shield layers formed on respective sides of the magnetoresistive film by a ferromagnetic material;
- an insulating layer formed at least in a region, between the lower and upper shield layers, on a side opposite from the surface facing a recording medium in the magnetoresistive film;
- and
- a cover layer not covering the surface of the magnetoresistive film facing the upper shield layer but the surface of the insulating layer facing the upper shield layer, wherein
- the surface of the insulating layer facing the upper shield layer has a depression near the magnetoresisitive film, and
- the cover layer covers the depression.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.