Patent ID: 8189303
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,H01L

Abstract:
1. A thin film magnetic head, comprising a magneto-resistance (MR) laminated body that has a first magneto-resistance (MR) magnetic layer with a direction of magnetization that is changed according to an external magnetic field, a nonmagnetic middle layer and a second magneto-resistance (MR) magnetic layer with a direction of magnetization that is changed according to the external magnetic field, and wherein the first MR magnetic layer, the nonmagnetic middle layer and the second MR magnetic layer are respectively laminated by contacting each other in the order; a lower shield layer and an upper shield layer that face the first MR magnetic layer and the second MR magnetic layer, respectively, and which are arranged in a matter of sandwiching the MR laminated body in an orthogonal direction relative to a film surface of the MR laminated body, and also which function as electrodes for flowing a sense current in the orthogonal direction relative to the film surface of the MR laminated body; and a bias magnetic field applying means that is established on an opposite surface from an air bearing surface (ABS) of the MR laminated body, and that applies a bias magnetic field in a direction at right angles to the ABS to the MR laminated body, wherein the lower shield layer has the upper shield layer has the exchange coupling intensity relating to the exchange coupling between the second anti-parallel layer and the second antiferromagnetic layer is greater in the peripheral area of a projection area than that of the projection area of the upper shield layer side end surface of the MR laminated body to the film surface's orthogonal direction.