Patent ID: 7808750

Claim:
A thin-film magnetic head comprising a magneto-resistive effect device including a multilayer film in which a fixed magnetization layer, a non-magnetic layer and a free layer stacked together in order, and a bias mechanism portion including a bias magnetic field-applying layer formed on each widthwise end of the multilayer film, characterized in that: said free layer functions such that a direction of magnetization changes depending on an external magnetic field; said bias magnetic field-applying layer functions in such a way as to apply a longitudinal magnetic field to said free layer; said magneto-resistive effect device including a multilayer film extends rearward from an air bearing surface that is a plane opposite to a medium, and is provided at a rear end thereof with a rear slant (PS) that inclines from an uppermost extremity (P 1 ) of the rear end of the device toward a lowermost extremity (P 2 ) of the rear end of the device in a thickness direction; said bias mechanism portion extends rearward from the air bearing surface that is the plane opposite to the medium, and is provided at a rear end thereof with a rear slant (BS) that inclines from an uppermost extremity (B 1 ) of the rear end of the bias mechanism portion toward a lowermost extremity (B 2 ) of the rear end of the bias mechanism portion in a thickness direction; and said rear slant (BS) of the bias mechanism portion is gentler in gradient than said rear slant (PS) of said magneto-resistive effect device.