Patent ID: 6476485
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: G11B,H01L,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
A thin-film magnetic head comprising:a thin film magnetic element having a lead layer; an electrically conductive layer connected to the lead layer; an insulating layer formed on the thin film element and the electrically conductive layer; and a bump formed on a surface of the electrically conductive layer, the bump being exposed at a surface of the insulating layer and an exposed surface of the bump being flush with the surface of the insulating layer to form a flat face; wherein the bump comprises an electrically conductive material layer and a protective layer covering a surface thereof and being composed of a material not as easily oxidized as the electrically conductive material layer, wherein the protective layer is the exposed surface of the bump that is flush with the surface of the insulating layer to form the flat face, wherein a thickness of the protective layer in an area other than the flat face of the bump is not less than 5 &mgr;m, wherein the electrically conductive material layer comprises one of a copper layer and a copper-containing layer, and the protective layer comprises one of a nickel layer and a nickel-containing layer, wherein a distance between the flat face of the protective layer and an uppermost surface of the electrically conductive material layer of the bump is 3 nm to 8 nm, and wherein an electrode layer electrically contacting the bump is formed on the flat face.