Patent ID: 8323518
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a head using near field light, the head comprising an air bearing surface that faces a surface of a recording medium and a near field optical element having a truncated pyramid including a top surface that faces the surface of the recording medium and a plurality of side surfaces, the method comprising: a step of forming on a surface of a substrate a first projection having the top surface and the plurality of side surfaces and corresponding to the truncated pyramid of the near field optical element, and a second projection for the air bearing surface; a step of forming a metal film on at least a first side surface of the plurality of side surfaces of the first projection; a step of providing at least a part of a sacrificial interconnect on anyone of the first projection and the second projection; a step of disposing on the surface of the substrate a conductive interconnect electrically connected to the sacrificial interconnect; a step of electrically connecting the conductive interconnect to an electrical resistance detecting unit; a step of arranging a flat polishing material so as to face the surface of the substrate; and a step of polishing the first projection, the second projection, and the sacrificial interconnect using the polishing material until a value of an electrical resistance of the sacrificial interconnect detected by the electrical resistance detecting unit reaches a predetermined value so that the top surface of the first projection has a predetermined size and is arranged on the same plane as that of the air bearing surface.