Patent ID: 7275305
Filing Date: 2007-10-02
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head comprising: a medium facing surface that faces toward a recording medium; a magnetoresistive element; a first shield layer and a second shield layer for shielding the magnetoresistive element, the shield layers having portions located on a side of the medium facing surface and opposed to each other, the magnetoresistive element being placed between these portions of the shield layers; a first shield gap film, provided between the magnetoresistive element and the first shield layer, for insulating the magnetoresistive element and the first shield layer from each other; and a second shield gap film, provided between the magnetoresistive element and the second shield layer, for insulating the magnetoresistive element and the second shield layer from each other; the method including the steps of: forming the first shield layer; forming the first shield gap film on the first shield layer; forming the magnetoresistive element on the first shield gap film; forming the second shield gap film on the magnetoresistive element; and forming the second shield layer on the second shield gap film; wherein at least one of the first and second shield gap films is formed by stacking a plurality of insulating films formed by chemical vapor deposition, and each of the insulating films has a thickness of 0.1 nm to 0.2 nm.