Patent ID: 6459543
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A thin-film magnetic head comprising:a medium facing surface that faces toward a recording medium; a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer magnetically coupled to each other and including magnetic pole portions opposed to each other and placed in regions on a side of the medium facing surface, each of the magnetic layers including at least one layer; a gap layer provided between the pole portions of the first and second magnetic layers; and a thin-film coil wound around at least one of the magnetic layers in a helical manner and insulated from the first and second magnetic layers, a part of the coil passing between the first and second magnetic layers; wherein: one of the magnetic layers includes: a pole portion layer having a surface adjacent to the gap layer and including one of the pole portions; and a yoke portion layer connected to the other surface of the pole portion layer and making up a yoke portion; the part of the coil is located on a side of the pole portion layer; the yoke portion layer has an end face facing toward the medium facing surface, the end face being located at a distance from the medium facing surface; and the pole portion layer includes: a track portion that defines a track width; a contact portion that is indirect or indirect contact with the yoke portion layer; and a coupling portion that couples the track portion and the contact portion to each other; the contact portion including a plurality of branch portions that branch off from the coupling portion; the coupling portion having an end located between the branch portions and located opposite to the medium facing surface, the end defining a throat height.