Patent ID: 7131186

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a combination type thin film magnetic head including a substrate, an inductive type thin film magnetic head element and a magnetoresistive type thin film magnetic head element which are supported by the substrate to define an air bearing surface, wherein a process of forming said inductive type thin film magnetic head element comprises: a step of forming a first pole made of a magnetic material; a step of forming a write gap film made of a non-magnetic material on one surface of said first pole; a step of forming a first magnetic material film on a surface of said write gap film; a first etching step for removing said first magnetic material film such that a portion of the first magnetic material film extending from at least a position which will define an air bearing surface to a throat height zero reference position; a step of forming a first non-magnetic material film such that the first non-magnetic material film is brought into contact with said first magnetic material film at said throat height zero reference position; a step of polishing said first non-magnetic material film to form a flat surface which is coplanar with a surface of said first magnetic material film opposite to a surface which is brought into contact with said write gap film; a step of forming, on said flat coplanar surfaces of the first magnetic material film and first non-magnetic material film, an top track poles made of a magnetic material such that the top track pole includes a track chip portion which extends inwardly from at least said position for defining the air bearing surface to at least an inner end surface of said first non-magnetic material film and a contact portion which continues from said track chip portion and has a wider width than said track chip portion; a second etching step for selectively removing said first non-magnetic material film and first magnetic material film to form a bottom track pole by a reactive ion etching, while said top track pole is used as a mask; a step of forming a second non-magnetic material film in an area which is removed by said second etching step; a step of polishing said second non-magnetic material film to obtain a flat surface which is coplanar with the surface of said top track pole; a step of forming a thin film coil in an inner area with respect to adjoining end surfaces of the first and second non-magnetic material films such that the thin film coil is isolated electrically; and a step of forming a second pole made of a magnetic material such that one end of the second pole is magnetically coupled with said contact portion of the top track pole and the other end is magnetically coupled with said first pole at a back-gap remote from the air bearing surface.