Patent ID: 6741430
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A thin-film magnetic head including a magnetoresistive element for reading out information as a result of sliding relative to a magnetic recording medium, the thin-film magnetic head comprising:a base; a lower shield layer which is formed on the base; a lower insulating layer which is formed on the lower shield layer; the magnetoresistive element which is formed on the lower insulating layer; an upper insulating layer which is formed on the magnetoresistive element; and an upper shield layer; wherein, on a surface which slides with respect to the medium, the magnetoresistive element is disposed in a sandwiched state between the upper insulating layer and the lower insulating layer; and wherein a middle insulating layer is formed on both sides of the magnetoresistive element in a widthwise direction thereof so as to be positioned in a same film plane as the magnetoresistive element, wherein the magnetoresistive element comprises a magnetoresistive film and a bias layer, the bias layer being positioned on both sides of the magnetoresistive film on the surface which slides with respect to the medium and being directly connected to the magnetoresistive film, and wherein the bias layer and the middle insulating layer are connected together on the surface which slides with respect to the medium.