The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head, capable of easily manufacturing a thin film magnetic head with high precision, in which a magnetic shield layer is disposed so as to surround a magnetic pole layer from three directions of a medium outflow direction and two side directions In a magnetic pole formation region surrounded by a first gap layer portion, a magnetic pole layer and a second gap layer portion are formed and the magnetic pole layer is covered with the first and second gap layer portions After that, a write shield layer is formed on the first and second gap layer portions so as to surround the magnetic pole layer from three directions (a trailing direction and two side directions) Since a gap between the magnetic layer and the write shield layer exerting an influence on recording characteristics is specified on the basis of the thickness of the first gap layer portion, different from the case where the gap is specified on the basis of pattern precision of the photolithography technique, the gap is controlled with high precision

Thin film magnetic head and method of manufacturing the same

A thin-film, perpendicular magnetic head includes a magnetic recording and reproducing substrate having a mechanochemically polished principal surface that includes a plurality of grooves filled with a nonmagnetic material; a thin-film conducting coil located on the polished surface of the substrate; an insulating layer of inorganic oxide covering the conductor coil and the polished principle surface of the magnetic substrate, this insulating layer including a via hole formed therein and having an exposed surface which is mechanochemically polished; a thin-film main pole on the polished surface of the insulating layer; and a protective overcoat covering the main pole.

Thin-film magnetic head

A thin-film magnetic head includes a magnetic member (10) having a principal surface formed with a first groove (2) extending in parallel to a sliding surface adapted to face a magnetic recording medium, a non-magnetic material filling the groove, and at least a thin-film conductor coil (4), an interlaminar insulating film (5), a main magnetic-pole film (8) and a protective film (9) formed one upon another. The magnetic member (10) being connected to the main magnetic-pole film (8) though a via hole portion. The head has an exposed laminated surface defining the sliding surface. The magnetic member has also a second groove formed in its principal surface, crossing the first groove (20) at right angles thereto, and filled with a non-magnetic material. The conductor coil (4) and films are formed on the magnetic member (10) immediately above the intersection of the first (2) and second (20) grooves. The non-magnetic material in the second groove (20) is exposed in the sliding surface. The second groove (20) has a width which is smaller than that of the first groove (2) and is slightly larger than that of the main magnetic-pole film (8) adjacent to its end exposed in the sliding surface, and a depth which is at least equal to that of the first groove (2). The magnetic member (10) is exposed in the sliding surface in the vicinity of the main magnetic-pole film (8) adjacent to its exposed end.

Thin-film, perpendicular magnetic recording and reproducing head

The present invention uncouples the dependence between the zero throat height and the flare point of a write head by recessing the first insulation layer within the first pole piece layer. The first pole piece layer and the first insulation layer have planar surfaces which preferably lie in a common plane, the zero throat height being defined at the point where the planar surface of the first pole piece layer first meets the planar surface of the first insulation layer within the head. It is also at this point that the first and second pole piece layers separate from one another. Accordingly, the zero throat height can be accurately placed relative to the stripe height of a magneto-resistive (MR) sensor. Further, when a photoresist layer is spun onto the partially completed head for the construction of the pole tip of the second pole piece light directed into the photoresist layer for photo-imaging the pole tip does not reflect into the photoresist layer adjacent the pole tip. Accordingly, there is substantially no reflective notching of the photoresist layer because of the flatness of the surfaces of the first pole piece layer and the first insulation layer thereby permitting construction of a well defined second pole tip.

Thin film induction recording head having an inset first insulation layer that defines zero throat height and pole tip apex angle

An improved thin film magnetic recording head includes a pole tip assembly which has a precisely formed physical geometry. The physical geometry of the pole tip assembly minimizes deleterious effects due roundershoots, while the method of manufacturing the pole tip assembly allows for precise control of feature tolerances (up to 0.2 micrometer accuracy) of the pole tip assembly. In one embodiment, the pole tip assembly has a generally hexagonal configuration with a raised hexagonal center portion comprising leading and trailing pole tips and a raised gap portion, and a surrounding hexagonal trench which surrounds the raised center portion. The raised center portion is substantially flush with the surrounding face of the recording head. Alternative embodiments contemplate elliptical or circular raised center portions, and variously shaped trenches to facilitate the evacuation of debris. The method of manufacturing the improved recording head includes the steps of lapping the face of the head to form an air bearing surface, and ion milling the face of the head to form the desired features (i.e., the desired pole tip configuration). The ion milling is typically done to a depth of less than 2 micrometers which allows precise control of the feature tolerances.

Thin film magnetic recording head for minimizing undershoots

A perpendicular magnetic head of high recording and reproducing efficiency which integrally incorporates a step-up transformer. A main pole for picking up a reproduce magnetic flux from a recording medium and applying recording magnetic field thereto is formed of a magnetic thin film. A signal winding formed of a thin film is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the forward end of the main pole so as to have a high conversion sensitivity per turn with respect to the reproduce magnetic flux from the recording medium. The signal winding which itself constitutes a closed circuit interlinks a magnetic path of the step-up transformer, thereby forming a primary winding of the transformer. A secondary winding from which head output is taken out is wound in the magnetic path of the transformer.

Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording and reproduction

A magnetic head for the video tape recorder of azimuth recording type, which features an improved S/N ratio in the overwrite region and assures a high picture quality has a magnetic core for defining a magnetic gap in this head which is made of a plurality of magnetic materials differing in saturation flux density in the direction of track width, with the material having a higher saturation flux density being disposed on the overwriting side of the head. This arrangement permits recording to a greater depth than the depth of magnetization by previous recording to assure an improved picture quality with a higher S/N ratio.

Magnetic head for azimuth recording in a high density magnetic recording system

A magnetic head for attachment to a drum includes two magnetic cores butted against each other, and a gap is formed therebetween. A glass is bonded to the upper butted portion. A winding is provided on the magnetic cores, and electromagnetic transformation is carried out. On the sliding face of the magnetic head, two grooves and are formed with the gap positioned therebetween at positions symmetrical with each other in a rotation direction of the drum to provide good contact between the magnetic head and a magnetic tape or other magnetic medium. A protective film is formed on the surface of the sliding face. The magnetic head generates a negative pressure by virtue of the grooves formed in the sliding face in the rotation direction of the drum, thereby improving contact between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape.

Magnetic head having grooves to enhance contact with magnetic recording media and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus

There is disclosed herein a magnetic head comprising a ring-like magnetic core composed of first and second magnetic core halves made of a ferrite and held in abutment against each other so as to form a magnetic gap therebetween and an elongated tape-contact surface extending across the magnetic gap. The magnetic core has in the tape-contact surface a channel formed to as to extend in the direction across the magnetic gap and the channel is filled with a magnetic metal material having a high-saturation magnetization. Preferably, the channel has a substantially V-shaped cross section. The magnetic gap exposed on the tape-contact surface is surrounded by the magnetic metal material and non-magnetic glass members provided at both ends of the magnetic gap. The non-magnetic glass members are provided so that the track width is constant from the tape-contact surface to an upper end of a winding hole of the ring-like magnetic core.

Ken Takahashi

Papers

Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording and reproduction

Magnetic head for azimuth recording in a high density magnetic recording system

Magnetic head having grooves to enhance contact with magnetic recording media and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus

Magnetic head with a tape contacting surface having a metal filled channel therein

Magnetkopf fuer quermagnetische aufzeichnung und wiedergabe