Patent ID: 6535363
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: B82Y,G11B

Abstract:
A thin-film magnetic resistance effect type magnetic head, comprising:upper and lower shield layers; upper and lower gap layers disposed between the upper and lower shield layers, respectively, a structure being disposed between the upper and lower gap layers which includes: a thin-film magnetic resistance effect element that includes an upper antiferromagnetic layer; a pair of electrode layers, each overlapping and being electrically coupled to an opposite end of the upper antiferromagnetic layer of the thin-film magnetic resistance effect element; a pair of magnetic domain control layers disposed on opposite sides of the thin-film magnetic resistance effect element, wherein a spacing between the pair of electrode layers is smaller than a spacing between the pair of magnetic domain control layers; and a thin protective layer of Ta covering an uppermost part of the upper antiferromagnetic layer between the pair of electrode layers, the protective layer being absent on each opposite end of the uppermost part where the electrode layers are electrically coupled to the upper antiferromagnetic layer of the thin-film magnetic resistance effect element.