THIN-FILM MAGNETIC HEAD CONTROLLING FLOATING AMOUNT BY LOCALLY PROJECTING ELEMENT PORTION TOWARD RECORDING MEDIUM BY THERMAL EXPANSION AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

Abstract

A thin-film magnetic head which can locally project a reproduction element toward a recording medium and a method of manufacturing the thin-film magnetic head are provided. The thin-film magnetic head includes a reproduction element, a recording element which is stacked on the reproduction element and has a pair of magnetic core layers and a coil layer configured to apply a recording magnetic field to the magnetic core layers, and a heat-emitting member emitting heat by electrification, which causes the reproduction element to project toward the recording medium by thermal expansion. The heat-emitting member is disposed below the coil layer.

Description

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the stacked structure of a thin-film magnetic head according to a first embodiment of the invention showing a sectional view taken along Line I-I of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a position relationship of a heat-emitting member of FIG. 1 and a lower coil.

FIG. 3 is an expanded sectional view illustrating an edge portion of a medium-opposed surface of a heat-emitting member of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a stacked structure of a thin-film magnetic head according to a second embodiment of the invention showing a sectional view taken along Line IV-IV according to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a position relationship of a heat-emitting member of FIG. 4 and a lower coil.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of stacked structure of a thin-film magnetic head according to a third embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A thin-film magnetic head, comprising; a reproduction element;a recording element stacked on the reproduction element, including a pair of magnetic core layers and a coil layer configured to apply a recording magnetic field to the magnetic core layers; anda heat-emitting member emitting heat by electrification configured to cause the reproduction element to project toward a recording medium by thermal expansion,wherein the heat-emitting member is disposed below the coil layer.

2. The thin-film magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the coil layer has a coil pattern formed at predetermined pitches, the heat-emitting member has an edge portion parallel with the coil pattern, and the edge portion is disposed between the pitches of the coil layer.

3. The thin-film magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the coil layer has a coil pattern formed at predetermined pitches, the heat-emitting member has an edge portion parallel with the coil pattern, and the edge portion is disposed closer to a recording medium than to an end face of the coil layer opposite the recording medium.

4. The thin-film magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the heat-emitting member is contained within a coil insulating layer disposed immediately below the coil layer.

5. The thin-film magnetic head according to claim 4, wherein the coil insulating layer has a first insulating layer formed on the reproduction element, a second insulating layer formed on the first insulating layer so as to cover the heat-emitting member, which second insulating layer is planarized, and a third insulating layer which is stacked on the second insulating layer; andwherein the coil layer is formed on the third insulating layer.

6. The thin-film magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the coil layer includes an upper coil and a lower coil which are disposed above and below one of the pair of magnetic core layers, respectively and in which a plurality of coil lines longitudinal in a track width direction is arranged in a height direction, and a contact portion connection to the upper coil and the lower coil at both ends in the track width direction, andwherein the heat-emitting member is disposed below the lower coil.

7. A method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head which includes a reproduction element, a recording element stacked on the reproduction element and having a pair of magnetic core layers and a coil layer applying a recording magnetic field to the magnetic core layers, and a heat-emitting member emitting heat by electrification and configured to cause the reproduction element to project toward a recording medium by thermal expansion, the method comprising: forming a first insulating layer on the reproduction element;forming the heat-emitting member on the first insulating layer;forming a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer so as to cover the heat-emitting member;planarizing an upper surface of the second insulating layer;forming a coil insulating layer including the first insulating layer; the second insulating layer; and the third insulating layer by stacking the third insulating layer on the planarized second insulating layer; andforming the coil layer on the third insulating layer.