Patent ID: 6266868
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a combination thin film magnetic head having a magnetorcsistive reading thin film magnetic head including a magnetoresistive element, and an inductive writing thin film magnetic head stacked on each other, comprising the steps of:forming a recessed portion in a major surface of a substrate;forming a first magnetic layer extending along the major surface of the substrate from an end surface constituting an air bearing surface to a position near an edge of the recessed portion;forming a second magnetic layer extending along a part of an inner surface of the recessed portion such that the second magnetic layer is magnetically isolated from the first magnetic layer;forming a thin film coil constituting the inductive thin film magnetic head such that at least a part of the thin film coil is formed within the recessed portion to be isolated by an insulating layer;forming a magnetoresistive element extending along a surface of the first magnetic layer such that the magnetoresistive element is electrically and magnetically isolated;forming a third magnetic layer extending along a surface of the magnetoresistive element such that the third magnetic layer has a thick portion adjacent to the air bearing surface and a thin portion connected-to an edge of the second magnetic layer on the side of the air bearing surface;forming an insulating spacer layer such that a step between the thick portion and the thin portion of the third magnetic layer is buried and a surface of the insulating spacer layer becomes coplanar with a surface of the thick portion;forming a flat write gap layer on the coplanar surfaces of the thick portion of the third magnetic layer and the insulating spacer layer;forming a flat fourth magnetic layer extending along a surface f the wlite gap layer, being opposed to the thick portion of the third magnetic layer, and being magnetically coupled to the second magnetic layer at a rear position apart from the air bearing surface; andpolishing the air bearing surface.