Magnetic head slider

Abstract

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a magnetic head slider which includes a magnetic recording/reproducing element and a heater which are formed in an air outflow end surface of a slider. The heater includes a heating portion, terminal portions extending from both ends of the heating portion, and lead portions overlapping the respective terminal portions at an overlap ratio of approximately 50% or more.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a plan view showing the structure of a heater incorporated in a magnetic head slider in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a plan view showing the structure of a heater incorporated in a conventional magnetic head slider.

FIG. 1C is a plan view showing the overlaps between lead portions of the heater incorporated in the magnetic head slider and electrodes coupled to an MR element in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a magnetic disk unit including the magnetic head slider in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the magnetic head slider in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the magnetic head slider shown in FIG. 3 and seen from the side of an air outflow end surface.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along an X-X cutting-plane line shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along a Y-Y cutting-plane line shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the results of examination on the relationship between the ratio of the area of an overlapping lead portion of the heater to the area of a terminal portion thereof and the resistance of a heating resistor.

FIG. 8A shows a method of forming the terminal portions and lead portions of the heater incorporated in the magnetic head slider in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8B shows a case where the shape of each lead portion is abnormal.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the overlaps between the terminal portions and lead portions of the heater near the heating portion of the heater.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the results of examination on the relationship between the smallest dimension of part of each terminal portion of the heater that does not overlap each lead portion and the thicknesses of the terminal portion and lead portion respectively and the relationship between the smallest dimension and a pattern abnormality ratio.

Claims

1. A magnetic head slider comprising: a slider;a magnetic head formed in an air outflow end surface of the slider; anda heater located near the magnetic head and comprising a heating portion, terminal portions extending from both ends of the heating portion, and lead portions overlapping the respective terminal portions at an overlap ratio of approximately 50% or more.

2. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1, wherein a resistance offered by the lead portions is one-fifth or less of resistances offered by the heating portion and terminal portions respectively.

3. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1, wherein resistances offered by the heating portion and terminal portions respectively range from approximately 300Ω to approximately 600Ω, and a resistance offered by the lead portions ranges from approximately 3Ω to approximately 60Ω.

4. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the terminal portions ranges from approximately 100 nm to approximately 200 nm, and the thickness of the lead portions ranges from approximately 150 nm to approximately 250 nm.

5. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1, wherein the heating portion and terminal portions are made of NiCr or NiFe, and the lead portions are made of Cu or Au.

6. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1, wherein the lead portions overlie the respective terminal portions.

7. The magnetic head slider according to claim 6, wherein the dimension from the edge of each terminal portion in a lateral direction thereof to the edge of each lead portion is larger than the thicknesses of the terminal portion and lead portion respectively.

8. The magnetic head slider according to claim 6, wherein the dimension from the edge of each terminal portion in a lateral direction thereof to the edge of each lead portion is equal to or larger than 200 nm.

9. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1, wherein the lead portions underlie the respective terminal portions.

10. The magnetic head slider according to claim 9, wherein the dimension from the edge of each lead portion in a lateral direction thereof to the edge of each terminal portion is larger than the thicknesses of the lead portion and terminal portion respectively.

11. The magnetic head slider according to claim 9, wherein the dimension from the edge of each lead portion in a lateral direction thereof to the edge of each terminal portion is equal to or larger than 200 nm.

12. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1, wherein: the magnetic head includes a reproduction element and electrodes coupled to both ends of the reproduction element; the heater underlies or overlies the magnetic head; the lead portions of the heater are tapered toward the heating portion thereof; and the width of the widest of part of each electrode of the magnetic head, which overlaps each lead portion, is smaller than the smallest width of part of the electrode of the magnetic head that does not overlap the lead portion behind the lead portion.

13. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1, wherein: the magnetic head includes a reproduction element and electrodes coupled to both ends of the reproduction element; the heater underlies or overlies the magnetic head; the lead portions of the heater are tapered toward the heating portion thereof; and the width of the widest of part of each lead portion, which overlaps each electrode of the magnetic head, in a lateral direction of the lead portion is twenty times or less larger than the width of the narrowest part of the lead portion.