Patent ID: 7398591

Claim:
A manufacturing method of a thin-film magnetic head, comprising: depositing a magnetoresistive effect multi-layered film on a lower electrode layer; patterning the deposited magnetoresistive effect multi-layered film to define a track width; forming a layer comprising at least first insulation layer at both track-width direction sides of the patterned magnetoresistive effect multi-layered film; depositing a first additional upper metal layer on the patterned magnetoresistive effect multi-layered film and on said layer comprising at least first insulation layer; patterning said first additional upper metal layer and said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered film to define a length in a direction perpendicular to the track-width direction so as to obtain a magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure; forming a second insulation layer to surround said first additional upper metal layer and said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure; removing by etching the second insulation layer on the first additional upper metal layer formed on said magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure; thereafter, forming a second additional upper metal layer on said first additional upper metal layer and on said second insulation layer; and forming an upper electrode layer on said second additional upper metal layer.