Patent ID: 6228276
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: B82Y,G01R,G11B

Abstract:
A method for forming a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor element comprising:providing a substrate;forming over the substrate a shield layer;forming over the shield layer a dielectric isolation layer;forming over the dielectric isolation layer a first seed layer;forming a lift-off stencil to serve as an etch mask over a central portion of said first seed layer;etching away, using a first ion etching process, that portion of the first seed layer laterally disposed to either side of the lift-off stencil and a corresponding portion of the dielectric layer beneath it, exposing, thereby, regions of said dielectric layer that are sunken relative to the surface plane of the remaining portion of said first seed layer;forming a patterned conducting lead layer structure on each exposed surface of the sunken regions of said dielectric layer, while the central portion of the seed layer remains covered by the lift-off stencil;removing the lift-off stencil, together with whatever remnants of the lead layer structure that may have been deposited upon it, from the central portion of the first seed layer;etching, using a second ion etch process, the upper surface of the resulting fabrication, said upper surface now comprising the upper surface of a central portion of a first seed layer together with the upper surface of the patterned conducting lead layer structure laterally disposed to either side of it;forming on said second ion etched surface a magnetoresistive (MR) layered structure.