Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording and method of manufacturing same

A method of manufacturing a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording, the magnetic head comprising:

• a medium facing surface that faces toward a recording medium;
• a coil for generating a magnetic field corresponding to data to be written on the recording medium;
• a pole layer having an end face located in the medium facing surface, allowing a magnetic flux corresponding to the field generated by the coil to pass therethrough, and generating a write magnetic field for writing the data on the recording medium by means of a perpendicular magnetic recording system;
• and
• a shield, wherein:
• the shield incorporates:
• a first layer having an end face located in a region of the medium facing surface forward of the end face of the pole layer along a direction of travel of the recording medium;
• a second layer disposed in a region sandwiching the pole layer with the first layer;
• a first coupling portion coupling the first layer to the second layer without touching the pole layer;
• and a second coupling portion coupling the pole layer to the second layer and located farther from the medium facing surface than the first coupling portion;
• the magnetic head further comprises a gap layer made of a nonmagnetic material and disposed between the pole layer and the first layer;
• in the medium facing surface, the end face of the first layer is located at a specific distance created by a thickness of the gap layer from the end face of the pole layer;
• the end face of the pole layer has a side located adjacent to the gap layer, the side defining a track width;
• and
• part of the coil passes through a space surrounded by the pole layer, the second layer, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion;
• the first coupling portion couples the first layer to the second layer on both sides of the pole layer opposed to each other in a direction of track width, the first coupling portion incorporating:
• a first portion and a second portion that are connected to the first layer and disposed on both sides of the pole layer opposed to each other in the direction of track width;
• and
• a third portion coupling the second layer to the first and second portions and disposed between the medium facing surface and the part of the coil;
• and
• the first layer is coupled to the pole layer through the first coupling portions, the second layer and the second coupling portion only, wherein the first coupling portion, the second layer and the second coupling portion form only one magnetic path for passing a magnetic flux between the first layer and the pole layer, the method comprising the steps of:
• forming the second layer;
• forming the coil;
• forming the first and second coupling portions;
• forming the pole layer;
• forming the gap layer on the pole layer;
• and
• forming the first layer on the gap layer.

A magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording comprising:

• a medium facing surface that faces toward a recording medium;
• a coil for generating a magnetic field corresponding to data to be written on the recording medium;
• a pole layer having an end face located in the medium facing surface, allowing a magnetic flux corresponding to the field generated by the coil to pass therethrough, and generating a write magnetic field for writing the data on the recording medium by means of a perpendicular magnetic recording system;
• and
• a shield, wherein:
• the shield incorporates:
• a first layer having an end face located in a region of the medium facing surface forward of the end face of the pole layer along a direction of travel of the recording medium;
• a second layer disposed in a region sandwiching the pole layer with the first layer;
• a first coupling portion coupling the first layer to the second layer without touching the pole layer;
• and a second coupling portion coupling the pole layer to the second layer and located farther from the medium facing surface than the first coupling portion;
• the magnetic head further comprises a gap layer made of a nonmagnetic material and disposed between the pole layer and the first layer;
• in the medium facing surface, the end face of the first layer is located at a specific distance created by a thickness of the gap layer from the end face of the pole layer;
• the end face of the pole layer has a side located adjacent to the gap layer, the side defining a track width;
• part of the coil passes through a space surrounded by the pole layer, the second layer, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion;
• the first coupling portion incorporates:
• a first portion and a second portion that are connected to the first layer and disposed on both sides of the pole layer opposed to each other in a direction of track width;
• and a third portion coupling the second layer to the first and second portions and disposed between the medium facing surface and the part of the coil;
• and
• the first coupling portion couples the first layer to the second layer on both sides of the pole layer opposed to each other in the direction of track width.

A method of manufacturing a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording, the magnetic head comprising:

• a medium facing surface that faces toward a recording medium;
• a coil for generating a magnetic field corresponding to data to be written on the recording medium;
• a pole layer having an end face located in the medium facing surface, allowing a magnetic flux corresponding to the field generated by the coil to pass therethrough, and generating a write magnetic field for writing the data on the recording medium by means of a perpendicular magnetic recording system;
• and
• a shield, wherein:
• the shield incorporates:
• a first layer having an end face located in a region of the medium facing surface forward of the end face of the pole layer along a direction of travel of the recording medium;
• a second layer disposed in a region sandwiching the pole layer with the first layer;
• a first coupling portion coupling the first layer to the second layer without touching the pole layer;
• and a second coupling portion coupling the pole layer to the second layer and located farther from the medium facing surface than the first coupling portion;
• the magnetic head further comprises a gap layer made of a nonmagnetic material and disposed between the pole layer and the first layer;
• in the medium facing surface, the end face of the first layer is located at a specific distance created by a thickness of the gap layer from the end face of the pole layer;
• the end face of the pole layer has a side located adjacent to the gap layer, the side defining a track width;
• and
• part of the coil passes through a space surrounded by the pole layer, the second layer, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion, the method comprising the steps of:
• forming the second layer;
• forming the coil;
• forming the first and second coupling portions;
• forming the pole layer;
• forming the gap layer on the pole layer;
• and
• forming the first layer on the gap layer, wherein:
• the first coupling portion incorporates:
• a first portion and a second portion that are connected to the first layer and disposed on both sides of the pole layer opposed to each other in a direction of track width;
• and a third portion coupling the second layer to the first and second portions and disposed between the medium facing surface and the part of the coil;
• and
• the first coupling portion couples the first layer to the second layer on both sides of the pole layer opposed to each other in the direction of track width.