Patent ID: 6134091
Filing Date: 2000-10-17
Classification: B82Y,G11B,H01F

Abstract:
A magneto-resistive head, comprising:a spin-valve device unit having both surfaces coated with one insulating layer and another insulating layer, the resultant outer surfaces being coated with one magnetic shield layer and another magnetic shield layer, respectively; andone electrical lead layer and another electrical lead layer provided on both end portions of said spin-valve device unit, wherein said spin-valve device unit includes:a first ferromagnetic layer provided to contact with said one insulating layer;one permanent magnet layer and another permanent magnet layer provided to contact with both end portions of said first ferromagnetic layer, respectively, and to contact with said one insulating layer, to thereby form a magnetic path from one end portion of said first ferromagnetic layer toward the other end portion thereof;a second ferromagnetic layer provided above said first ferromagnetic layer through a non-magnetic conductive layer to surround the first ferromagnetic layer; anda soft magnetic layer provided above the second ferromagnetic layer through a non-magnetic layer, and whereinboth end portions of said second ferromagnetic layer contact with outer end portions of said one and said another permanent magnet layers, respectively, andsaid spin-valve device unit is fixedly installed to a head main body such that surfaces of the one and said another permanent magnet layers are arranged on the same surface and are perpendicular to a surface of a magnetic storage medium and to a magnetization direction of the magnetic storage medium.