Patent ID: 7253994

Claim:
A magnetic head comprising: a base; and a magneto-resistive device supported by said base, said magneto-resistive device including: a magneto-resistive layer formed on one surface side of said base, said magneto-resistive layer including a free layer; a first film formed to be in contact with an effective region effectively involved in detection of magnetism in said magneto-resistive layer on at least one side of the effective region in a track width direction without overlapping with the effective region; and a layer for applying a biasing magnetic field to said free layer such that said layer overlaps with said effective region, wherein: the track width direction is substantially parallel to a film surface of said magneto-resistive layer; said first film is a single-layer film or a multiple-layer film; and said first film includes a soft magnetic layer which does not form part of a layer for applying a biasing magnetic field to said free layer.