Patent ID: 6550131
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for making a thin-film magnetic head comprising:forming a nonmagnetic lower gap layer on a lower shielding layer; forming a magnetoresistive layer on the entire surface of said lower gap layer; forming a first lift-off-type resist layer on a portion of said magnetoresistance layer, thereby resulting in first exposed regions of said magnetoresistance layer not covered with the first lift-off-type resist layer; removing by etching the first exposed regions of said magnetoresistive layer not covered with the first lift-off-type resist layer, thereby resulting in second exposed regions comprising portions of the lower gap layer not covered by the magnetoresistive layer; forming an intermediate gap layer on said second exposed regions; removing the first lift-off type resist layer; forming a second lift-off-type resist layer on the magnetoresistive layer and both ends of the intermediate gap layer, thereby resulting in third exposed regions comprising portions of the magnetoresistive layer or the intermediate gap layer not covered with the second lift-off-type resist layer, wherein a length of said magnetoresistive layer in a depth direction is determined by said first lift-off-type resist layer, and a width of said magnetoresistive layer in track width direction is determined by said second lift-off-type resist layer; removing by etching said third exposed regions not covered with the second lift-off-type resist layer, thereby resulting in fourth exposed regions comprising portions of the lower gap layer; forming an electrode layer on said fourth exposed regions; and removing the second lift-off-type resist layer.