Patent ID: 6379570
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making a magnetoresistive (MR) head that has a MR sensor sandwiched between first and second gap layers, each of the MR sensor and the first and second gap layers having first and second surfaces that face in opposite directions and are substantially perpendicular to a head surface, the first surface of the MR sensor interfacially engaging the second surface of the first gap layer and the second surface of the MR sensor interfacially engaging the first surface of the second gap layer, the method comprising:forming the first gap layer of a first material that is resistant to a reactive ion etch (RIE); forming an etchable layer of a second material on the second surface of the first gap layer, the etchable layer being etchable by said reactive ion etch (RIE); forming a mask on a second surface of the etchable layer with a plurality of alternating elongated ridges and elongated spaces; the ridges and spaces of the mask having longitudinal axes that are parallel with respect to one another and that slant at an angle &thgr; between 0Â° and 90Â° with respect to said head surface and the spaces exposing spaced apart elongated surface portions of the etchable layer; etching the exposed surface portions of the etchable layer with said RIE down to said first gap layer to form alternating elongated ridges and elongated spaces in the etchable layer that are substantially parallel with respect to one another and slanted at said angle &thgr; to said head surface; removing the mask; depositing ferromagnetic material on the ridges and in the spaces of the etchable layer to form said chevron type MR sensor; and forming said second gap layer on the chevron type MR sensor.