Patent ID: 7293345
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head comprising: providing a thin film coil for generating a magnetic flux; and a magnetic pole layer extending rearward from a recording-medium-facing surface facing a recording medium traveling in a medium travel direction and having a magnetic pole portion which emits the magnetic flux generated by the thin film coil toward the recording medium, wherein a method of forming the magnetic pole portion in the magnetic pole layer includes: a first step of forming a first insulating layer on the medium travel direction and forming a second insulating layer on a direction opposite to the medium travel direction, thereby laminating the first and second insulating layers; a second step of patterning a mask having an opening corresponding to a shape in plan view of the magnetic pole portion, on the first insulating layer; a third step of forming a first magnetic pole formation space so as to have a uniform width, in the first insulating layer by selectively etching the first insulating layer by using reactive ion etching until the second insulating layer is exposed via the opening in the mask; a fourth step of forming a second magnetic pole formation space so as to have a width gradually narrowed with distance from the first magnetic pole formation space, in the second insulating layer by selectively etching the second insulating layer via the first magnetic pole formation space formed in the first insulating layer by using reactive ion etching; and a fifth step of forming the magnetic pole portion in the first and second magnetic pole formation spaces, and the magnetic pole portion is formed so as to include a first magnetic pole portion positioned on the medium travel direction and having the uniform width in the medium travel direction and a second magnetic pole portion positioned on the direction opposite to the medium travel direction, magnetically coupled to the first magnetic pole portion, and having the width gradually narrowed with distance from the first magnetic pole portion, and so as to have a configuration in which the first and second magnetic pole portions are integrated.