Patent · US Expired

Magnetoresistive device and method of manufacturing same, and thin-film magnetic head and method of manufacturing same

US6842314B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
5References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 29, 2002
Grant dateJan 11, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 8, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49052
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A reproducing head of a thin-film magnetic head incorporates an MR element, a pair of bias field applying layers located to be adjacent to side portions of the MR element, and a pair of electrode layers that are located on the bias field applying layers and overlap the MR element. The electrode layers each have a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer is laid over part of the top surface of the MR element via a protection layer, the second layer overlaps the first layer, and the third layer is located on the second layer. The second layer is thinner than the third layer. In the method of manufacturing the reproducing head, after the protection layer is formed on an element-to-be film to make the MR element, a first electrode-to-be film to make the first layers is formed continuously without interposing a step of exposing the protection layer to the air.

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