Patent ID: 7916430
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A thin-film magnetic head, comprising: a lower magnetic shield layer; a magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure formed on said lower magnetic shield layer so that current flows in a direction perpendicular to surfaces of laminated layers; an upper magnetic shield layer formed on said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure; an additional lower magnetic shield layer directly laminated on said lower magnetic shield layer outside both side ends in a track-width direction of said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure; an insulation layer laminated directly on said additional lower magnetic shield layer and surfaces of both the side ends in a track-width direction of said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure; and a magnetic bias layer laminated on said insulation layer, for controlling the magnetic domain of a magnetization-free layer of said magnetoresistive effect multi-layer structure, said additional lower magnetic shield layer being directly contacted with the surfaces of both the side ends in a track-width direction of said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure, a top surface of said additional lower magnetic shield layer being positioned higher in height than a top surface of said lower magnetic shield layer in a region where said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure is formed, said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure having a magnetization-fixed layer, a tunnel barrier layer or spacer layer laminated on said magnetization-fixed layer, and the magnetization-free layer laminated on said tunnel barrier layer or spacer layer, the top surface of said additional lower magnetic shield layer being positioned lower in height than a bottom surface of said magnetization-free layer of said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure.