Patent ID: 6415500
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of providing electrostatic discharge protection during MR/GMR head fabrication, comprising the steps of:forming a first dielectric film upon a substrate of a semiconductor wafer; depositing a first magnetic shield upon said first dielectric film; depositing a second dielectric film upon said first magnetic shield; forming a first via hole through said second dielectric film, contacting said first magnetic shield; depositing a MR/GMR sensor film thereby putting said MR/GMR sensor film in direct contact with said first magnetic shield; patterning said MR/GMR sensor film into a patch and depositing leads; depositing a third dielectric film upon said MR/MRG sensor film; forming a second via hole in said third dielectric film; depositing a second magnetic shield in direct contact with said patch thereby constructing said first and said second magnetic shield and said MR/GMR sensor film as a contiguous piece having the same electrostatic potential; completing wafer processing in the normal manner after depositing said second magnetic shield and forming a MR/GMR sensor stripe; and disconnecting said MR/GMR sensor stripe from said first and said second magnetic shield by cutting said semiconductor wafer into sliders.