Patent ID: 6400525
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A thin-film magnetic head comprising:a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer magnetically coupled to each other and including magnetic pole portions opposed to each other and placed in regions of the magnetic layers on a side of a medium facing surface of the head that faces toward a recording medium, each of the magnetic layers including at least one layer; a gap layer provided between the pole portions of the first and second magnetic layers; and a thin-film coil at least part of which is placed between the first and second magnetic layers, the at least part of the coil being insulated from the first and second magnetic layers; wherein each of the first and second magnetic layers includes a first portion located in a position that faces the at least part of the coil, and a second portion forming the pole portions and connected to a surface of the first portion that faces the coil; and the thin-film coil includes a first coil layer at least part of which is placed on a side of the second portion of the first magnetic layer, and a second coil layer at least part of which is placed on a side of the second portion of the second magnetic layer, the gap layer separating the at least part of the first coil layer from the at last part of the second coil layer; the head further comprising a first insulating layer on one side of the gap layer for insulating turns of the at least part of the first coil layer from each other, and a second insulating layer on the opposite side of the gap layer for insulating turns of the at least part of the second coil layer from each other; wherein the first insulating layer includes a first insulating film made of an insulating material that exhibits fluidity during formation and touching a layer to be a base of the at least part of the first coil layer, the first insulating film being placed to fill at least part of spaces between the turns of the at least part of the first coil layer and between the second portion of the first magnetic layer and the at least part of the first coil layer and a second insulating film distinct from the first insulating film and made of an inorganic insulating material and placed to cover the first insulating film, a surface of the second insulating film opposite to the first insulating film being flattened and the gap layer being formed on the flattened surface of the second insulating film; and the second insulating layer includes a first insulating film made of an insulating material that exhibits fluidity during formation and touching a layer to be a base of the at least part of the second coil layer, the first insulating film being placed on the gap layer to fill at least part of spaces between the turns of the at least part of the second coil layer and between the second portion of the second magnetic layer and the at least part of the second coil layer; and a second insulating film distinct from the first insulating film and made of an inorganic insulating material and placed to cover the first insulating film, a surface of the second insulating film opposite to the first insulating film being flattened.