Patent ID: 6651312
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a composite type thin film magnetic head in which a magnetoresistive type thin film magnetic head for reading and an inductive type thin film magnetic head for writing are supported by a substrate in a stacked fashion, comprising:a substrate having a recessed portion formed in one surface thereof; a first magnetic layer constituting one of shields for the magnetoresistive type thin film magnetic head and extending along said surface of the substrate from an end surface forming an air bearing surface to a vicinity of an edge of said recessed portion or to an inner surface of the recessed portion beyond the edge thereof; a second magnetic layer constituting a part of one of poles for the inductive type thin film magnetic head and extending over a part of the inner surface of the recessed portion such that the second magnetic layer is magnetically separated from the first magnetic layer; a thin film coil of the inductive type thin film magnetic head, at least a part of said thin film coil being formed within said recessed portion in an electrically isolated manner by an insulating film; a magnetoresistive element arranged within a shield gap layer in an electrically and magnetically separated manner, said shield gap layer extending along a surface of said first magnetic layer opposite to the substrate; a third magnetic layer constituting the other shield for the magnetoresistive type thin film magnetic head and extending along a surface of said shield gap layer opposite to the substrate, said third magnetic layer being coupled with said second magnetic layer formed within said recessed portion to constitute a rest of said one of poles of the inductive type thin film magnetic head; a write gap layer extending at least along a surface of the third magnetic layer opposite to the substrate; and a fourth magnetic layer constituting the other pole of the inductive type thin film magnetic head, extending along a surface of said write gap layer opposite to the substrate to be opposed to said third magnetic layer and being coupled with said second magnetic layer at a rear position remote from the air bearing surface, the method comprising: the step of forming a recessed portion in a surface of the substrate; the step of forming a first magnetic layer constituting one of shields for the magnetoresistive type thin film magnetic head such that the first magnetic layer extends along the surface of the substrate from an end surface forming an air bearing surface to a vicinity of an edge of the recessed portion; the step of forming a second magnetic layer constituting a part of one of poles for the inductive type thin film magnetic head such that the second magnetic layer extends along a part of an inner surface of the recessed portion in a magnetically isolated manner from the first magnetic layer; the step of forming at least a part of a thin film coil for the inductive type thin film magnetic head within the recessed portion such that the thin film coil is isolated by an insulating layer; the step of forming a magnetoresistive element along the surface of the first magnetic layer such that the magnetoresistive element extends in an electrically insulated and magnetically isolated manner; the step of forming a third magnetic layer constituting the other shield for the magnetoresistive type thin film magnetic head such that the third magnetic layer extends along the magnetoresistive element and is coupled with said second magnetic layer formed within said recessed portion to constitute the remaining part of said one of poles for the inductive type thin film magnetic head; the step of forming a write gap layer such that the write gap layer extends along at least a surface of the third magnetic layer; the step of forming a fourth magnetic layer along a surface of the write gap layer such that the fourth magnetic layer is opposed to said third magnetic layer and is magnetically coupled with said second magnetic layer at a rear position remote from the air bearing surface to constitute the other pole for the inductive type thin film magnetic head; and the step of polishing the air bearing surface.