Patent ID: 7218103
Filing Date: 2007-05-15
Classification: G01R,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic sensor comprising the steps of: depositing a GMR film on a surface of an insulating substrate formed of an insulating nonmagnetic material; forming a projection by depositing a thin film formed of an insulating nonmagnetic material on the GMR film, followed by removing the thin film except a region forming the projection and partly removing the GMR film, with a region forming the projection left unremoved, until the GMR film is partly or entirely exposed to at least a side wall surface of the projection; and forming a pair of thin film yokes positioned to face each other with the projection interposed therebetween and electrically connected to the GMR film alone, the thin film yokes being formed by depositing a thin film formed of a soft magnetic material having an electrical resistivity lower than that of the GMR film on the surface of the insulating substrate having the projection formed thereon such that the deposited thin film is electrically connected to the GMR film exposed in advance to a side wall surface of the projection, followed by partially removing the thin film formed of the soft magnetic material until at least a tip surface of the projection is exposed to the outside.