Patent ID: 6223420
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: B82Y,G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making a magnetic head comprising:forming a first shield layer on a substrate;forming a first read gap layer on the substrate that covers the first read gap layer;forming a read sensor material layer on the substrate that covers the first read gap layer;forming a first mask on the substrate covering the read sensor material layer except for first and second openings at first and second spaced apart lead layer sites;removing first and second read sensor material layer portions exposed by said first and second openings so as to expose first read gap layer portions and define first and second side edges of the read sensor layer;depositing first and second high conductance lead layers on the first and second first read gap layer portions in the first and second openings so that the first high conductance lead layer has a side edge abutting the first side edge of the read sensor layer and the second high resistance lead layer has an edge abutting the second side edge of the read sensor layer;removing the first mask;forming a second mask on the substrate covering the first and second high conductance lead layers and the read sensor layer leaving read sensor material layer portions adjacent the first and second high conductance lead layers and adjacent a back edge site of the sensor layer exposed;removing the exposed read sensor material layer so as to expose another portion of the first read gap layer and define a back edge of the read sensor layer at said back edge site;depositing flux guide material on said another portion of the first read gap layer so that the back edge of the read sensor layer abuts a front edge of a partially completed flux guide layer and the partially completed flux guide layer has first and second side edges that abut a respective side edge of the first and second high conductance lead layers;forming a third mask covering the first and second high conductance lead layers, the partially completed read sensor layer and a portion of the partially completed flux guide layer;removing the exposed flux guide material layer portions down to the first read gap layer so that a flux guide layer is completed with a back edge at the back edge site of the sensor layer;forming a fourth mask on the substrate with first and second openings that expose a portion of the first and second high conductance lead layers;depositing first and second low resistance lead layers on the portions of the first and second high conductance lead layers;forming a second read gap layer on the substrate covering the read sensor layer, the first and second high conductance lead layers, the flux guide and the first and second low resistance lead layers; andforming a second shield layer on the substrate that covers the second read gap layer.