Abstract:
A multichannel magnetic head utilizing the magnetoresistive effect comprises a plurality of magnetoresistive effect type reproducing magnetic head elements arrayed between a first and second magnetic shield and electrodes wherein the reproducing magnetic head elements are arrayed in parallel on at least the first magnetic shield and electrode. Electrodes on one side are constructed commonly by the first magnetic shield and led out as a single common terminal decreasing the number of terminals. Therefore, the number of the terminals in the multichannel magnetic head using the magnetoresistive effect can be decreased, the multichannel magnetic head can be miniaturized, the occurrence of a short-circuit between the terminals or between the leads can be removed, the occurrence of fluctuations of element characteristics can be removed, the multichannel magnetic head using the magnetoresistive effect can become highly reliable and a yield of the multichannel magnetic head using the magnetoresistive effect can be improved.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect, mounted on a drive apparatus for driving a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic disk or a magnetic tape, in order to read out recorded information from a plurality of tracks on these magnetic recording media. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As a reproducing magnetic head for reading out recorded information from a magnetic recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk, for example, a magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect has widely been used as a high recording density reproducing head, in particular, because the magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect can obtain high sensitivity. 
     When the magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect is employed as the reproducing head as described above, a recording and reproducing head is comprised of a combination of a magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect and an electromagnetic induction type magnetic head, for example. 
     When a multichannel magnetic head is comprised of this recording and reproducing magnetic head, it is unavoidable that the number of terminals led out from the multichannel magnetic head increases enormously. 
     FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a schematic diagram showing a magnetic tape drive apparatus to which a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to the present invention can be applied. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, in a magnetic tape drive apparatus for driving a magnetic tape  101 , the magnetic tape  101  is supplied from a magnetic tape supply reel  103  within a tape cassette  102 , guided by a plurality of guide rollers  104  and wound around a magnetic tape take-up reel  105 . 
     Then, during the magnetic tape  101  is being transported, a multichannel magnetic head  100  comes in slidable contact with the magnetic tape  101  to record and reproduce information on and from the magnetic tape  101  in a multichannel fashion. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a main portion of this multichannel magnetic head  100 , and FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line III—III in FIG. 2, for example. As illustrated, in the multichannel magnetic head  100 , a first magnetic shield  131  and a first magnetic gap layer  141  are formed on a first guard substrate  121 , for example, and thereupon are parallelly disposed a plurality of magnetoresistive effect type reproducing magnetic head elements  106  facing the front end at which this magnetic head  100 , for example, comes in slidable contact with a magnetic recording medium (not shown), i.e., a sliding surface S. Leads  106 L made up of conductive layers respectively formed into required patterns are extended from sense current feeding electrodes toward the rear end edge on the opposite side of the sliding surface S. 
     On these reproducing magnetic head elements  106 , there is formed an insulating layer  107 , on which a second magnetic gap layer  142  having a predetermined thickness is formed. A second magnetic shield  132  is formed on the second magnetic gap layer  142 . 
     Then, on the second magnetic shield  132 , there are parallelly disposed electromagnetic induction type recording magnetic head elements  108  facing the sliding surface S corresponding to the respective reproducing magnetic head elements  106 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, each of the recording magnetic head elements  108  comprises an insulating non-magnetic layer  109  formed on the second magnetic shield  132 , for example, a thin-film coil  110  formed on the insulating non-magnetic layer  109  and a belt-like magnetic core  111  formed on this thin-film coil  110  through an insulating e layer in such a manner that its front end faces the sliding surface S. 
     The magnetic core  111  has at the central portion of the thin-film coil  110  through-holes penetrating the non-magnetic layer  109  formed on the second magnetic shield  132  and an insulating layer formed on the non-magnetic layer  109 . The respective magnetic cores  111  are magnetically coupled to the magnetic layers made up of the second magnetic shields  132  through these through-holes, and a closed magnetic circuit is formed of the magnetic core  111  and this magnetic layer. In this manner, there is constructed the electromagnetic induction type recording magnetic head element  108  around which the thin-film coil  110  is wound and in which a magnetic gap g is formed at the front end of this closed magnetic circuit by the non-magnetic layer  109  having a required thickness. 
     On these recording magnetic head elements  108 , there is formed a non-magnetic insulating layer  112  on which a third magnetic shield  133  and a second guard substrate  122  are formed. 
     At that very time, the rear end edge of the insulating non-magnetic layer  109 , for example, is exposed to the outside. 
     At the rear end edge of this non-magnetic layer  109 , there are parallelly disposed sense current feeding terminals  151  and  152  for the respective reproducing magnetic head elements  106 , and terminals  161  and  162  for the thin-film coils  110  of the respective recording head elements  108 . 
     The terminals  161  and  162  have connected thereto end portions of leads  108 L made up of conductive layers led out from both terminals of the respective thin-film coils  110  of the respective recording head elements  108 . 
     On the end portions of the sense current feeding leads  106 L of the respective reproducing magnetic head elements  106  as are extended below the rear end edge of the insulating layer  112 , there are bored through-holes  150  which are communicated with these leads  106 L. Leads  106 L are each connected to the respective terminals  151  and  152  by a conductive layer formed within this through-hole  150 . 
     As described above, in the ordinary multichannel magnetic head, since two terminals are respectively led out from the respective magnetoresistive effect type reproducing magnetic head elements  106  and recording magnetic head elements  108 , there are led out at least four terminals  151 ,  152  and  161 ,  162  with respect to each channel. 
     As a result, it is unavoidable that the number of terminals increases enormously and that the portion in which the terminals are arrayed occupies a large area of the whole of the magnetic head. This hinders the multichannel magnetic head from being miniaturized. 
     Moreover, in order to miniaturize the whole of the multichannel magnetic head, the space between the terminals and the space between the leads should be decreased by decreasing the width of the terminals or by reducing the widths of the lead portions themselves from which the terminals are led out. In this case, however, a resistance at the portion from which the terminal is led out increases, poor insulation, short-circuit occur between the terminals or between the leads and so forth, which causes characteristics of the magnetic head element to be fluctuated. Moreover, it is unavoidable that reliability and a yield of the magnetic head element are lowered. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the aforesaid aspect, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect in which the number of terminals can be decreased. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect in which the whole of a multichannel magnetic head can be miniaturized. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect in which the occurrence of short-circuit and poor insulation between the terminals or between the leads can be removed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect in which the occurrence of fluctuations of element characteristics can be removed. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect which can become highly reliable. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect the yield of which can be improved. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect which is comprised of a first magnetic shield, a second magnetic shield, the first and second magnetic shields being opposed to each other and a plurality of magnetoresistive effect type reproducing magnetic head elements parallelly arrayed between the opposing first and second magnetic shields, wherein at least the first magnetic shield is formed of a conductive soft magnetic material. 
     The reproducing magnetic head elements comprised of ferromagnetic tunnel type magnetoresistive effect elements are parallelly arrayed on the first magnetic shield. 
     Electrodes on one side for applying the sense current to these ferromagnetic tunnel type magnetoresistive effect elements in the direction crossing a tunnel barrier layer are commonly constructed by the first magnetic shield and led out as a common one terminal. 
     Further, the multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to the present invention can be modified as a contact type magnetic head which comes in contact with a magnetic recording medium. 
     As described above, the multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to the present invention is comprised of the reproducing magnetic head elements formed of the ferromagnetic tunnel type magnetoresistive effect elements (TMR elements). One magnetic shield disposed across these magnetic head elements serves as electrodes on one side for applying the sense current to these ferromagnetic tunnel type magnetoresistive effect elements, whereby electrodes on one side for a plurality of reproducing magnetic head elements can be made common. 
     As described above, with respect to the reproducing magnetic head elements formed of a plurality of TMR elements, since electrodes on one side can be led out as one terminal, the number of the terminals can be decreased considerably, whereby the area of the portion in which the terminals are arrayed can be reduced and the interval between the terminals and the interval between the leads can be increased. 
     Furthermore, since this TMR element is the element having a large resistance with respect to the direction in which the sense current is applied, when a contact type magnetic head which comes in contact with a magnetic recording medium is comprised of this TMR element, even though the area of the reproducing head element is increased, sufficiently large resistance can be maintained so that a high magnetoresistive effect ratio (MR ratio) can be obtained. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of a magnetic tape drive apparatus to which a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect can be applied; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a main portion of a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to the related art; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line III—III in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a partially-exploded main portion of a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to the present invention obtained when this multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect is applied to a recording and reproducing magnetic head; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a fundamental structure of a magnetoresistive effect element (TMR element) of a magnetic head according to the present invention; 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating manufacturing processes of the TMR element of the multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to the present invention, respectively; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view showing one process of the manufacturing method of the multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII—VIII in FIG. 7; 
     FIGS. 9A through 9D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating the main portions of the respective processes of the magnetic head manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively; 
     FIGS. 10A to  10 C are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating the main portions of the respective processes of the magnetic head manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively; 
     FIGS. 11A to  11 C are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating the main portions of the respective processes of the magnetic head manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively; 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the main portion of one example of the magnetic head manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view illustrating the main portion of one process of the magnetic head manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     A multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to the present invention can be applied to the multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect based upon the arrangement in which this multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect comes in slidable contact with the magnetic tape as earlier explained with reference to FIG. 1, for example. 
     FIG. 4 is a partly-exploded perspective view showing a main portion of a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the mmultichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to the present invention is formed as a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect of a magnetic recording and reproducing type. 
     In this case, a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect has an arrangement in which a reproducing magnetic head element HP based upon a ferromagnetic tunnel type magnetoresistive effect element (TMR element) and an electromagnetic induction type recording magnetic head element HR are laminated and thereby formed as one body at every channel. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a fundamental structure of a magnetoresistive effect element (TMR element) of a magnetic head according to the present invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the reproducing magnetic head element HP includes a TMR element  30  in which at least a first anti-ferromagnetic layer  31 , a fixed magnetic layer  32 , a tunnel barrier layer  33  and a free magnetic layer  34  are laminated. A sense current IS flows through the TMR element  30  in the direction perpendicular to the film planes of those layers. 
     In accordance with the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, a large number of reproducing magnetic heads HP are parallelly arrayed on a first guard substrate  1 . Electrodes on one side for supplying the sense current to all the reproducing magnetic head elements HP, for example, are comprised of a first common magnetic shield and electrodes  11 . 
     Then, on the respective reproducing magnetic head elements HP, there are parallelly arrayed second magnetic shield and electrodes  12  in opposing relation to the above-mentioned first magnetic shield and electrodes  11  in such a manner that these reproducing magnetic head elements HP are sandwiched by the second magnetic shield and electrodes  12 . 
     A magnetic layer  14  is formed on the second magnetic shield and electrode  12  through a non-magnetic insulting layer  13 . A non-magnetic insulating layer  15  is formed on this magnetic layer  14 . On this non-magnetic insulating layer  15 , there is formed a head winding  16  formed of a conductive thin film and thereupon is formed a non-magnetic insulating layer  17 . A though-hole (not shown) is bored through this non-magnetic insulating layer  17  and the insulating layer  15  so as to extend through the central portion of the head winding  16 . A belt-like magnetic core  18 , for example, is formed on the non-magnetic insulating layer  17 , and a part of the belt-like magnetic core  18  is magnetically coupled to the magnetic layer  14  through the through-hole of the non-magnetic insulating layers  17  and  15 . 
     In this manner, there is constructed the electromagnetic induction type recording magnetic head element HR in which the magnetic core  18  and the magnetic core  14  constitute a closed magnetic circuit, the head winding  16  is wound around this closed magnetic circuit and in which a magnetic gap g whose gap length is prescribed by the non-magnetic insulating layer  15  having the predetermined thickness is formed on a sliding surface S at which the electromagnetic induction type recording magnetic head HR comes in slidable contact with a magnetic recording medium (not shown). 
     Then, a second guard substrate  2  having a depth smaller than that of the first guard substrate  1  is bonded to the mmultichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect covering the portion in which the recording magnetic head elements HR are arrayed. 
     With this arrangement, according to the present invention, with respect to each reproducing magnetic head HP formed of the TMR element, the first magnetic shield and electrodes  11  is made common and the sense current I s  is applied to the space between the first magnetic shield and electrodes  11  and the second magnetic shield and electrodes  12  provided with respect to each reproducing magnetic head HP. 
     In the multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to the present invention, the terminals are arrayed on the g portion which is not covered with the second guard substrate  2 , for example. 
     When these terminals are led out from this multichannel magnetic a head using magnetoresistive effect according to the present invention, electrode terminals TPa on one side as are common to a plurality of reproducing magnetic head elements HP are led out from the common first magnetic shield and electrodes  11 , and respective electrode terminals TPb on the other side for the respective reproducing magnetic head elements HP are led out from the second magnetic shield and electrodes  12 . 
     Further, terminals TRa and TRb are respectively led out from both terminals of the head winding  16  of each recording magnetic head element HR. 
     Next, for the sake of facilitating comprehension, the multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail together with an example of a manufacturing method thereof. 
     In this embodiment, let us describe the case in which a plurality of multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effects are formed simultaneously. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing one process of a manufacturing method of a multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII—VIII in FIG.  7 . As illustrated, there is constructed the wafer-like first guard substrate  1  made up of AlTiC, for example, comprising a plurality of multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effects. 
     As illustrated, on this first guard substrate  1 , first magnetic shield and electrodes  11  formed of, for example, conductive soft magnetic thin-films are formed, by deposition, into belt-like patterns, respectively corresponding to the portions where the respective multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effects are ultimately formed. 
     This first magnetic shield and electrode  11  can be formed in such a manner that the whole surface of a soft magnetic material, e.g., NiFe having a thickness of 2 micrometers is formed by plating and then patterned by dry etching using photolithography. 
     While the multichannel heads are simultaneously formed on these first magnetic shield and electrodes  11 , respectively, cross-sectional views in respective processes in FIGS. 8 to  12  and a plan view of FIG. 13 typically illustrate one first magnetic shield and electrode  11 , i.e., one multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect. 
     As shown in FIG. 9A, a non-magnetic insulating layer  3  made of a non-magnetic material such as A1203 is formed by sputtering so as to bury the first magnetic shield and electrode  11 . 
     Then, the surface is flattened by polishing this insulating layer  3  from the surface to the position at which the first magnetic shield and electrode  11  is exposed by CMP (chemical mechanical polish) as shown in FIG.  9 B. 
     Then, as shown in FIG. 9C, a first magnetic gap layer  21  is formed on the whole of the flattened surface by sputtering a non-magnetic conductive material, e.g., Cu as thick as 100 nanometers. 
     Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9D, a TMR laminated layer arrangement film  4  comprising a ferromagnetic tunnel type magnetoresistive effect element (TMR element) is formed on this first magnetic gap layer  21 . 
     While this TMR laminated layer arrangement film  4  has the arrangement shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A, for example, the TMR laminated layer arrangement film  4  can be formed in such a manner that a first underlayer  35  having a thickness of 3 nanometers of Ta, a second underlayer  36  having a thickness of 3 nanometers of NiFe, a first anti-ferromagnetic layer  31  having a thickness of 10 nanometers of IrMn, a fixed magnetic layer  32  having a thickness of 4 nanometers of CoFe, a tunnel barrier layer  33  having a thickness of 1.3 nanometers, a free magnetic layer  34  having a two-layer structure of a layer having a thickness of 4 nanometers of CoFe and a layer having a thickness of 5 nanometers of NiFe, a non-magnetic spacer layer  37  having a thickness of 0.8 nanometer, a second anti-ferromagnetic layer  38  having a thickness of 15 nanometers of IrMn and a protecting layer  39  having a thickness of 5 nanometers of Ta can be formed on the first magnetic gap layer  21  by sputtering, in that order. 
     However, it is needless to say that the TMR laminated layer arrangement film  4  is not limited to the above-mentioned example Then, the patterning is effected on this TMR laminated layer arrangement film  4  by ion etching using photolithography, whereby a large number of TMR elements  30  (four TMR elements  30  are typically illustrated in FIG. 10C) are linearly arrayed on each first magnetic shield and electrode  11  such that a part of each laminated layer arrangement film  4  may be left as shown in FIG.  10 C. 
     Next, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 6B, a mask  5 , e.g., photoresist layer having a predetermined width w is formed on a central portion of each TMR element  30  by pattern exposure and development. 
     The width W of this mask  5  is selected to be a width which becomes coincident with the track width of each TMR element  30  which is ultimately formed. 
     Then, while this mask  5  is being used as an etching mask, the operation portion of the TMR element  30  is etched. Specifically, the TMR element  30  is etched to a depth from the upper surface through the tunnel barrier layer  33  and to a depth such that the layers down from, at least, the first anti-ferromagnetic layer  31  are remaining. 
     Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10C, the non-magnetic insulating layer  6  made of a non-magnetic material such as A1203 is formed on the whole surface by a suitable method such as sputtering or the like. 
     Next, as shown in FIG. 11A, when the mask  5  shown in FIG. 10C is removed, the insulating layer  6  is lifted off with the result that an electrode contact-hole  7  is produced on the operation portion of each TMR element  30 . 
     In this manner, as shown in FIG. 11C, the second magnetic gap layers  22 , each having conductivity, are formed on the insulating layer  6  with the contact holes  7  produced thereon such that they may cover the respective TMR elements  30 . Then, the second magnetic shield and electrodes  12  are formed on the second magnetic gap layers  22 . 
     To this end, as shown in FIG. 11B, the lift-off mask  8  made of the photoresist, for example, is formed on the portions except for the portions in which the above-mentioned second magnetic gap layers  22  and the second magnetic shield and electrodes  12  are formed by photolithography. Then, a conductive material forming the second gap layers  22 , for example, Ta is formed on the whole surface by sputtering. Subsequently, a film forming the second magnetic shield and electrodes  12 , e.g., a soft magnetic amorphous laminated layer film, e.g., CoZrNbTa having a thickness of about 2.3 micrometers is formed on the whole surface by sputtering. 
     Thereafter, the second magnetic gap layers  22  and the second magnetic shield and electrodes  12  having the predetermined patterns shown in FIG. 11C can be formed by removing the photoresist layer. 
     In this manner, on the common first guard substrate  1 , there are arrayed a plurality of multichannel magnetic head portions in which a plurality of TMR elements  30  are arrayed on the common first magnetic shield and electrode  11  through the conductive first magnetic gap  21  and in which the second magnetic shield and electrodes  12  are formed with respect to the respective TMR elements  30  through the conductive second magnetic gap layers  22 . 
     Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a non-magnetic insulating layer  13  made of a non-magnetic material such as A1203 is formed on the whole surface. 
     On this non-magnetic insulating layer  13 , there are bored through-holes  13 P which expose one portion of, for example, the rear end portions of the respective second magnetic shield and electrodes  12  to the outside by, for example, photolithography as shown in FIG. 13 which is a plan view of the cross-sectional view of FIG.  12 . 
     Then, leads  19  for leading out terminals which electrically contact one ends to the respective second magnetic shield and electrodes  12  through these through-holes  13 P, e.g., Cu conductive layers are extended to the rear end edge portion of the insulating layer  13  by sputtering and patterning using photolithography. 
     In this fashion, there are arrayed the reproducing magnetic head elements HP in which the TMR elements  30  are respectively formed between the common first magnetic shield and electrode  11  and the second magnetic shield and electrodes  12  formed individually. 
     In this reproducing magnetic head element HP, when required applying-magnetic-field heat treating is carried out, magnetization of the fixed magnetic layer  32  is fixed to the detecting magnetic field introduced into the reproducing magnetic head element HP by interactive-exchange-coupling with the first anti-ferromagnetic layer  31 , i.e., the magnetization in the direction extended along the direction of the signal magnetic field based upon recorded information from the magnetic recording medium. On the other hand, a stabilizing bias magnetic field for setting magnetization in the direction perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the fixed magnetic layer  32  is applied to the whole area of the free magnetic layer  34  of the TMR element by the second anti-ferromagnetic layer  38  under the state in which a signal magnetic field is not applied to the free magnetic layer  34  by a required long-range interactive-exchange-coupling energy controlled based on the thickness of, for example, the non-magnetic spacer  37 . 
     Thereafter, when the recording and reproducing type multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect is constructed on the portion in which the reproducing magnetic head elements HP are arrayed as already described with reference to FIG. 4, the magnetic layer  14 , the head winding  16 , the insulating layer  17 , the magnetic core  18 , the second guard substrate  2  and so forth are formed. 
     Then, toward the rear side from this guard substrate  2 , there are respectively formed and arrayed the common terminal TP a  which is brought in electrical contact with the first magnetic shield and electrode  11  through the contact hole formed up to the first magnetic shield and electrode  11 , terminals Tb . . . , connected to the rear ends of the leads  19  extended from the second magnetic shield and electrodes  12  toward the rear side of the second guard substrate  2  and a couple of terminals TRa, TRb . . . , respectively connected to the respective terminals of the head winding  16  by Au layers, for example. 
     Then, the wafer-like substrate  1  is cut with respect to each multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect, the front surface is polished and thereby the sliding surface S with the magnetic recording medium is formed. In this embodiment, the TMR element  30  of each reproducing magnetic head element HP is directly faced to the sliding surface S and each magnetic gap g of the recording magnetic head element HR is disposed in a facing relation to the sliding surface S. 
     However, when the TMR element  30  is directly exposed to the sliding surface S with the magnetic recording medium as described above, the TMR element  30  is worn and considerably affected by heat and noises generated when the TMR element  30  is brought in slidable contact with the magnetic recording medium. Then, there arise problems as to reliability and a life of the recording. In order to obviate the above-mentioned disadvantages, although not shown, a magnetic flux guide may magnetically be coupled at the front of the TMR element  30  and the front end of this magnetic flux guide may be faced to the sliding surface S, whereby the signal magnetic field, introduced into the first and second magnetic shield and electrodes from the magnetic recording medium, may be introduced into the TMR element  30 . 
     As described above, according to the arrangement of the present invention, in the multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect in which the first and second magnetic shields are disposed, the common magnetic shield and electrodes on one side of a large number of magnetoresistive effect elements, i.e., TMR elements are made common, whereby the number of channels can be decreased from 2 n (this is the ordinary case) to n+1 where n represents the number of channels. 
     As described above, in the multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect, since its reproducing magnetic head elements are comprised of, in particular, the ferromagnetic tunnel type magnetoresistive effect elements (TMR elements), the direction in which the sense current is applied is set to the direction crossing the tunnel barrier layer, i.e., electrodes on one side are comprised of the first magnetic shield common to a plurality of channels. 
     Specifically, since electrodes on one side can be led out as one terminal with respect to a plurality of TMR elements, the number of terminals can be decreased remarkably. 
     As a consequence, the area of the portion in which the terminals are arrayed can be reduced, whereby the interval between the terminals and the interval between the leads led out can be increased. Therefore, when the multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect is formed as the magnetic recording and reproducing head arrangement in which the recording magnetic head elements are laminated and integrally laminated on the portion where the reproducing magnetic head elements, each having terminals in enormous numbers, are arrayed, insulation property between the leads led out from the terminals can be improved, the short-circuit accident can be avoided, the multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect can be made highly reliable, and the yield of the multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect can be improved. 
     Furthermore, since the reproducing head elements are comprised of the TMR elements which are the elements whose resistance with respect to the direction in which the sense current is applied is large, when the contact type magnetic head which comes in contact with the magnetic recording medium is comprised of this multichannel magnetic head using magnetoresistive effect, even though the areas of the reproducing head elements increase, a sufficiently large resistance can be maintained with the result that a high magnetoresistive effect ratio (MR ratio) can be obtained. 
     Having described a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications could be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.