Patent ID: 6456461
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A thin-film magnetic head having a structure comprising: an upper core layer; a lower core layer; a coil; and a gap layer, the upper core layer and the lower core layer extending from a back region toward a magnetic pole region, ends of the upper core layer and the lower core layer being exposed at a medium-opposing face, the upper core layer and the lower core layer being coupled to each other at a coupling portion in the back region, the coil being disposed near the coupling portion between the upper core layer and the lower core layer, the gap layer being disposed in the magnetic pole region between the upper core layer and the lower core layer;wherein an insulating layer is formed on the lower core layer, a back insulating layer is formed on the gap layer in the back region, a groove is formed in the insulating layer so as to extend from the medium-opposing face in the magnetic pole region toward the back region, a lower magnetic pole layer, the gap layer, and an upper magnetic pole layer are formed in the groove, the lower magnetic pole layer being connected to the lower core layer, the upper magnetic pole layer being connected to the upper core layer, the upper magnetic pole layer composing a upper magnetic pole, the lower magnetic pole layer composing a lower magnetic pole, and the groove comprises openings at the lower core layer side, the upper core layer side, and the medium-opposing face side, a groove body portion having a cross-sectional size approximately equivalent to the opening at the medium-opposing face and extending at least in a part of the magnetic pole region, and a groove-continuing portion continuing from the groove body portion and extending in the back region.