Patent ID: 6961223

Claim:
A spin-valve thin-film magnetic element comprising: a laminate comprising at least a free magnetic layer and a pinned magnetic layer and exhibiting a magnetoresistive effect; a pair of hard bias layers lying at least on both sides of the free magnetic layer in the track width direction and orienting the magnetic moment of the free magnetic layer in one direction; a pair of insulating layers extending over the hard bias layers and both top ends of the laminate in the track width direction; and a pair of lead layers extending on said pair of insulating layers, wherein said pair of lead layers have overlay sections which extend towards the center of the laminate and edges of the overlay sections extend beyond ends of the insulating layers towards the center of the laminate, the edges of the overlay sections being in contact with the laminate, surfaces of portions of the laminate in contact with the edges of the overlay sections being recessed.