Patent ID: 6490127
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A thin film magnetic head comprising:a first magnetic layer having a magnetic pole and a second magnetic layer having a magnetic pole, which are magnetically coupled to each other, the magnetic poles facing each other with a gap layer having a flat surface region in between in part of a side of a recording-medium-facing surface facing a recording medium, and the first magnetic layer including a first magnetic portion having a constant width portion which extends from the recording medium facing surface in a length direction so as to be apart from the recording medium facing surface and which specifics a recording track width of the recording medium, the first magnetic portion further comprising: at least two connection portions disposed so as to be separated from each other in the track width direction; and a coupling portion for magnetically coupling the constant width portion and at least two connection portions; a thin film coil part disposed between the two magnetic layers sandwiching an insulating layer; and a first non-magnetic pattern which is embedded in a recess formed in part on the side in contact with the gap layer, of the second magnetic layer, and which serves as part of the insulating layer, the position of the front end of the first non-magnetic pattern specifying the position of the front end of the insulating layer, wherein the front end of the first non-magnetic pattern is positioned in a region where the constant width portion extends of the region where the first magnetic portion extends.