Patent ID: 7120990

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head comprising: forming a first magnetic layer having a pole portion supported by a base substrate; forming a gap layer of a non-magnetic material on the first magnetic layer; forming a first insulating layer having a pole portion with an end edge which forms a reference position for an air bearing surface; forming a second magnetic layer over the pole portion of the first magnetic layer that extends to a region beyond the pole portion of the gap layer and the first insulating layer; forming a thin film coil having a portion supported between the first magnetic layer and the second and third magnetic layers, the thin film coil being isolated by a second insulation layer, the second insulation layer located above the first insulation layer and forming a coplanar surface with the second magnetic layer, the thin film coil being formed on the coplanar surface of the second insulating layer; forming a third magnetic layer on the second insulation layer, the third magnetic layer contacting the second magnetic layer on a side opposite the first magnetic layer, the third magnetic layer being magnetically coupled to the first magnetic layer at a rear position separated from the air bearing surface; and forming the air bearing surface by grinding in part an end face of the pole portion of the first magnetic layer and an end face of the pole portion of the second magnetic layer and the gap layer placed therebetween.