Patent ID: 7718218
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head comprising: forming, on a first layer that is an insulating layer, a second layer that is a main pole layer with a magnetic pole tip at a medium-opposing surface side of the second layer that opposes a recording medium; forming, on the second layer, a third layer that is a recording gap layer with a section at a side distant from the medium-opposing surface of the second layer that is exposed; forming a fourth layer that comprises (1) an upper yoke pole layer formed on the second layer having a larger size than a section of the second layer that is more distant from the medium-opposing surface side of the second layer than the third layer, joined with the second layer at a location not covered by the third layer that is on the second layer, and (2) a shield tip formed on the third layer opposing a magnetic pole tip on the medium-opposing surface of the second layer, wherein, the edge surfaces of the shield tip and the upper yoke pole layer are subjected to a flattening treatment so that the edge surfaces of the shield tip and the upper yoke pole layer are the same height with respect to a surface of the first layer; forming a thin-film coil that contacts the upper yoke pole layer via an insulating film; and forming on the fourth layer, a fifth layer that is a magnetic shield layer in connection with the shield tip and in connection with the upper yoke pole layer at the side of the second layer that is distant from the medium-opposing surface of the second layer, forming a write shield layer that comprises the magnetic shield layer and the shield tip.