Patent ID: 6683760
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A thin film magnetic head mounted on a helical scan type magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a lower shield layer made of a magnetic material formed on a substrate, a lower gap layer made of a non-magnetic material formed on the lower shield layer, a magnetoresistive layer formed on the lower shield layer via the lower gap layer, an upper gap layer made of a non-magnetic material formed on the magnetoresistive layer, and an upper shield layer made of a magnetic material formed on the magnetoresistive layer via the upper gap layer,wherein either a convex portion or a concave portion is provided on at least one principal face of the upper shield layer, a height of the convex portion or a depth of the concave portion of at least either the convex portion or the concave portion is greater than a thickness of the magnetoresistive layer, a distance from an end portion of at least either a convex portion or a concave portion to a base substrate is approximately equal to a distance from an end portion of a magnetoresistive layer and the base substrate, and wherein at least the convex portion or the concave portion serves as a marker for specifying a position of the magnetoresistive layer, and the marker is identifiable with an optical microscope.