Sony Corporation

Tadayuki Honda

Akio Takada

Takuji Shibata

Moriaki Abe

Hiroaki Narisawa

Tadao Suzuki

Kenji Yazawa

Yoshihiro Kanno

Yukio Kondo

A magneto-resistive effect type magnetic head employing a spin valve film in which the direction of magnetization of a free layer is constant even in the absence of an external magnetic field to assure magnetic stability. The magneto-resistive effect type magnetic head includes a magneto-resistive effect film of a planar substantially rectangular configuration, having its longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to a magnetic recording medium sliding surface, a first electrode connected to a longitudinal end of the magneto-resistive effect film, a second electrode connected to the other longitudinal end of the magneto-resistive effect film and hard magnetic films arranged on both ends along the width of the magneto-resistive effect film. The magneto-resistive effect film is made up of at least a first ferromagnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer and an anti-ferromagnetic layer, layered together. The hard magnetic films has an electrical resistance larger than that of the magneto-resistive effect film.

Magneto-resistive effect magnetic head

The present invention provides a high quality magnetoresistance effect type magnetic head having an increased reproduction output and capable of applying a uniform bias magnetic field to a magnetoresistance effect layer without increasing an impedance. The magnetoresistance effect type magnetic head according to the present invention includes: a magnetic layer 11 magnetized approximately in a vertical direction to a plane 14 opposing to a magnetic recording medium; a non-magnetic insulation layer 12 formed on the magnetic layer 11; and a magnetoresistance effect layer 13 formed on the non-magnetic insulation layer 12 and exhibiting the magnetoresistance effect. In the longitudinal type magnetoresistance effect type magnetic head according to the present, the detection current supplied to a magnetoresistance element is prevented from flowing into a hard magnetic film to lower the head reproduction output.

Magnetoresistance effect type magnetic head

A thin-film magnetic head in which magnetic stability of a magnetoresistance effect film is improved for further stabilizing the playback output. The thin-film magnetic head includes a magnetoresistance effect stabilizing layer 11 having a hard magnetic member 11d and a soft magnetic member 11e, a non-magnetic insulating layer 12 layered on the magnetoresistance effect stabilizing layer 11, a magnetoresistance effect layer 13 layered on the non-magnetic insulating layer 12 and a pair of electrodes connected on both ends of the magnetoresistance effect layer 13. Under the effect of the hard magnetic member 11d, the magnetoresistance effect layer 13 is reduced in coercivity and, under the effect of the soft magnetic member 11e, the magnetic filed which proves to be the saturation flex density is increased.

Thin-film magnetic head with MR element hard and soft magnetic films

A thin-film magnetic head improves magnetic stability of a magnetoresistance effect film 13 for further stabilizing the playback output. The thin-film magnetic head has a magnetoresistance effect stabilizing layer 11, a non-magnetic layer 12 and a magnetoresistance effect layer 13 exhibiting the magnetoresistance effect. The magnetoresistance effect stabilizing layer 11 has a hard magnetic film and a soft magnetic film. The magnetoresistance effect stabilizing layer 11 has a non-magnetic film 11c of a non-magnetic material in at least a partial area between a hard magnetic film 11b and a soft magnetic film 11d. In the thin-film magnetic head, there is produced a stable magnetostatic coupling action between the magnetoresistance effect stabilizing layer 11 and the magnetoresistance effect layer 13 for increasing the magnetic stability of the magnetoresistance effect layer 13 operating as a magnetically sensitive portion.

Thin-film magnetic head having magnetic resistance effect stabilizing

A magnetoresistance effect thin-film magnetic head superior in magnetic stability and capable of developing a high playback power. The thin-film magnetic head has a magnetoresistance effect stabilizing layer 11 inclusive a diamagnetic film or a hard magnetic film, a non-magnetic insulating layer 12 and a magnetoresistance effect layer 13 inclusive of a magnetoresistance effect film, layered together to form a magnetoresistance effect element 3. The thin-film magnetic head also has a non-magnetic insulating layer 4 arranged on a lateral surface of the magnetoresistance effect element 3 and a pair of electrodes connected to the magnetoresistance effect layer 13 on both ends of the upper surface of the magneto-resistance effect element 3. The playback signals are detected by the magnetoresistance effect of the magnetoresistance effect layer 13.

Thin-film magnetic head

A magneto-resistance effect type thin-film magnetic head for detecting reproduced signals by the magneto-resistance effect, which is suitable for detecting reproduced signals by magneto-resistance effects, is disclosed. The thin-film magnetic head includes a two-layered magneto-resistance effect element made up of a first magneto-resistance effect film and a second magneto-resistance effect film of substantially the same width as the first magneto-resistance effect film, layered with a non-magnetic insulating film in-between. Since the magneto-static coupling is produced between the first and second MR films, the magnetic state between the first and second MR films is stabilized. The film thickness contributing to the playback output can be reduced as in the case of a single-layer magnetic head constituted by a single-layer MR film for realizing a high playback output.

Growing community of inventors

Miyagi, Japan

Tadayuki Honda