Method of manufacturing a magnetic head

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a magnetic head carries out a testing step, in which the magnetic head is heated, quickly and with a low operation cost and therefore can reduce delays in the manufacturing process and the need to repeat the manufacturing process. The method includes a row bar holding step of holding at least one surface in a lengthwise direction of a row bar using a holding jig with a lower thermal expansion coefficient than the row bar, a wire bonding step of connecting, using wires, connection terminals of respective magnetic heads on the row bar and test terminals for electrically connecting the connection terminals for test purposes, a heating step of heating the row bar, and a functional characteristic testing step of testing functional characteristics of the respective magnetic heads via the test terminals and the wires.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where a row bar is held on a holding jig;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state where the row bar has been placed in contact with a heating plate;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state where a magnetic field is applied to the row bar; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram useful in explaining a conventional method of testing a magnetic head.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head including a testing step that heats the magnetic head and tests the functional characteristics of the magnetic head, wherein the testing step comprises:a row bar holding step of holding at least one surface in a lengthwise direction of a row bar cut out from a wafer using a holding jig with a lower thermal expansion coefficient than the row bar;a wire bonding step of connecting, via wires, connection terminals of respective magnetic heads on the row bar and test terminals for electrically connecting the connection terminals for test purposes;a heating step of heating the row bar; anda functional characteristic testing step of testing functional characteristics of the respective magnetic heads via the test terminals and the wires.

2. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the row bar holding step holds the row bar on the holding jig so that a formation surface of the connection terminals on the row bar is exposed to one end surface of the holding jig and is substantially parallel to the end surface, andthe test terminals are provided on the end surface.

3. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head according to claim 2, wherein the test terminals are provided on a flexible printed circuit board disposed across an outer surface of the holding jig.

4. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head according to claim 2, wherein a cutaway part, which matches an outer shape of the row bar, is formed in an edge part of the end surface of the holding jig, andthe row bar holding step holds the row bar inside the cutaway part.

5. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the row bar holding step holds the row bar on the holding jig by adhesion.

6. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the holding jig is made of metal.

7. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the heating step is carried out by placing an opposite surface to the one surface in a lengthwise direction of a row bar in contact with a heating plate and heating the heating plate.

8. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein in the functional characteristic testing step, a magnetic field is applied to the row bar and electromagnetic conversion characteristics of MR elements of the respective magnetic heads are tested.