Patent ID: 6130805
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A thin film magnetic head comprising:a first magnetic layer having a pole portion and a flat surface;a second magnetic layer having a pole portion whose end surface constitutes an air bearing surface together with said pole portion of the first magnetic layer, said pole portion of the second magnetic layer having a width defining a width of a record track on a magnetic record medium to be opposed to the air bearing surface;a third magnetic layer which is brought into contact with said second magnetic layer on a side opposite to said first magnetic layer and is magnetically coupled with said first magnetic layer at a rear position remote from the air bearing surface;a gap layer made of a non-magnetic material and being interposed at least between said pole portion of the first magnetic layer and said pole portion of the second magnetic layer;a thin film coil having a portion which is supported by an insulating material in an electrically isolated manner between said first magnetic layer and said second and third magnetic layers; anda substrate supporting said first, second and third magnetic layers, gap layer and thin film coil;wherein a band-shaped or strip-shaped insulating layer having at least a portion whose edge on a side of the pole portions of said first and second magnetic layers defines a reference position for the air bearing surface is provided on said flat surface of the first magnetic layer, at least a surface of said insulating layer opposite to said first magnetic layer is covered with the non-magnetic material constituting said gap layer, and said thin film coil is provided in a rear region with respect to said insulating layer such that a lower surface of said thin film coil is closer to the flat surface of the first magnetic layer then a surface of said insulating layer remote from said flat surface of the first magnetic layer.