Patent · US Expired

Method for producing a thin film magnetic head

US5992004A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
2References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 4, 1997
Grant dateNov 30, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 4, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49046
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A longitudinal bias layer and an electrode layer are formed on a non-magnetic material layer. The longitudinal bias layer and the electrode layer are partially removed by an etching technique so that a narrow gap defining the track width Tw is formed in the longitudinal bias layer and the electrode layer. Furthermore, a three-layer film consisting of, from bottom to top, a magnetoresistance effect layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a transverse bias layer, or otherwise a spin valve film consisting of a free magnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, a fixed magnetic layer and a bias layer is formed on the above structure. The three-layer film or the spin valve film is then partially removed by an etching technique so that the three-layer film or the spin valve film remains only in the above-described narrow gap formed in the longitudinal bias layer and the electrode layer. The shape of the side walls of the three-layer film or the spin valve film is precisely determined by the side walls of the longitudinal bias layer and the electrode layer. The resultant three-layer film or the spin valve film exhibits excellent magnetic detection characteristics. Furthermore, the longitudinal bias laye…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.