Patent ID: 7035057
Filing Date: 2006-04-25
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
1. A magnetoresistive effect thin-film magnetic head, comprising: a lower shield layer; a lower gap layer made of a nonmagnetic electrically conductive material and laminated on said lower shield layer; a magnetoresistive effect multilayer in which a current flows in a direction perpendicular to surfaces of layers of said magnetoresistive effect multilayer, said magnetoresistive effect multilayer being laminated on said lower gap layer; an upper gap layer made of a nonmagnetic electrically conductive material and laminated on said magnetoresistive effect multilayer; an insulation gap layer made of an insulation material and formed at least between said lower shield layer and said upper gap layer; an upper shield layer laminated on said upper gap layer; and an additional insulation layer formed so that a distance between said lower shield layer and said upper gap layer increases at a location where said magnetoresistive effect multilayer is absent.