THIN MAGNETIC HEAD WITH INTERMEDIATE GAP LAYER, MAGNETORESISTIVE LAYER AND ELECTRODE LAYERS DISPOSED BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER GAP LAYERS

摘要

A thin-film magnetic head includes a nonmagnetic lower gap layer, a nonmagnetic upper gap layer, a magnetoresistive layer, an electrode layer, and an intermediate gap layer. The magnetoresistive layer and the electrode layer are formed between the lower gap layer and the upper gap layer. The intermediate gap layer is disposed between the lower gap layer and the upper gap layer, and is formed in the region at both sides of the magnetoresistive layer in the track width direction and/or in the region behind the magnetoresistive layer in the depth direction. The length of the magnetoresistive layer in the depth direction is first determined, the width of the magnetoresistive layer in the track width direction is determined, and then the hard magnetic bias layers and the electrode layers are formed.