Patent ID: 7505232

Claim:
A magnetic head comprising: a reproduction device including a pinned layer whose magnetization direction is fixed, a free layer whose magnetization direction is changed by an external magnetic field, and a longitudinal bias layer disposed on or under the free layer to stabilize a magnetized structure in the free layer; a lower shield disposed under the reproduction device; an upper shield disposed on the reproduction device; and an insulator for electrically insulating a non-reproducing device portion between the upper shield and the lower shield, wherein a soft magnet is formed on an extension line in the film plane direction of the free layer through the insulator, and an angle α formed by the interface between the insulator and the soft magnet and the film plane of the reproduction device is changed to two or more values in a film thickness direction of the reproduction device, wherein the angle α at a position close to the lower shield from the free layer is smaller than the angle α at a position close to the upper shield from the free layer, and wherein the angle α at a position close to the lower shield from the free layer is 60° or less.