Patent ID: 7161773
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of making a read head that has an air bearing surface (ABS) comprising the steps of: forming a ferromagnetic first shield layer; forming a plurality of sensor material layers on the first shield layer; forming a first mask on the sensor material layers recessed from the ABS for defining a stripe height of a read sensor; milling exposed portions of the sensor material layers and back filling with a first insulation that has a thickness less than a thickness of the sensor material layers milled away; removing the first mask; forming a ferromagnetic free material layer on the remaining sensor material layers and the first insulation layer; forming a longitudinal biasing stack (LBS) material layer on the free material layer; forming a second mask on the LBS material layer recessed from the ABS for defining a track width of the read sensor and a flux guide; milling away all exposed portions of the LBS and free material layers to form said track width and back filling with a second insulation layer; removing the second mask; forming a third mask on a remaining LBS material layer defining a back edge of the flux guide wherein the read head is located between the ABS and said back edge; milling away all exposed LBS and free material layers and back filling with a third insulation layer; removing the third mask; forming a second shield layer on the remaining LBS and free material layers; and lapping all remaining layers to form said ABS with the flux guide having a front edge located at the ABS.