Patent ID: 7489481

Claim:
A magnetic head comprising: a base; a first magnetic shield layer, a magneto-resistive layer, and a second magnetic shield layer laminated on said base in this order; and a first and a second lead layer for applying a sense current to said magneto-resistive layer in a direction substantially perpendicular to a film plane in said magneto-resistive layer through said first and second magnetic shield layers, wherein said first and second magnetic shield layers have shapes and sizes which substantially overlap each other when viewed in a laminating direction, said first lead layer is electrically connected to said first magnetic shield layer, and at least a first portion of said first lead layer is made of a non-magnetic conductive material, the first portion of said first lead layer being closer to said first magnetic shield layer than an other portion of said first lead layer, said second lead layer is electrically connected to said second magnetic shield layer, and at least a first portion of said second lead layer is made of a non-magnetic conductive material, the first portion of said second lead layer being closer to said second magnetic shield layer than an other portion of said second lead layer, said first lead layer does not intervene between said first magnetic shield layer and said magneto-resistive layer in the laminating direction, and does not overlap with said magneto-resistive layer in the laminating direction, said second lead layer does not intervene between said second magnetic shield layer and said magneto-resistive layer in the laminating direction, and does not overlap with said magneto-resistive layer in the laminating direction, a second portion of said first lead layer overlaps with both of said first and second magnetic shield layers when viewed in the laminating direction, and a second portion of said second lead layer overlaps with both of said first and second magnetic shield layers when viewed in the laminating direction.