Magnetoresistance effect thin film head with interconnected electrode structure

Claim 1

A magnetoresistance-effect thin film head comprising: a substrate; an elongate magnetic field sensing element provided on the substrate; an electrode layer having portions respectively extending from first and second opposite ends of the magnetic field sensing element to supply a sensing current to the magnetic field sensing element so that the sense current will flow in the direction of a signal magnetic field; an insulating layer formed over the magnetic field sensing element; a bias magnetic field creating conductor formed on the insulating layer so as to extend across the magnetic field sensing element; and a magnetic shielding layer formed over the magnetic field sensing element; characterized in that the electrode layer consists of a laminated structure containing a principal conductive metal conductor and a moisture-resistant conductor, and a single portion of the electrode layer adjacent said first end of said sensing element is contiguous with the sliding surface and said single portion is formed only of the moisture-resistant conductor.