Abstract:
A tool for use in fabricating an electronic component includes a plurality of processing modules and a transfer chamber in communication with each of the plurality of processing modules. The transfer chamber includes a component for transferring a structure to each of the plurality of processing modules. The plurality of processing modules and the transfer chamber are sealed from the surrounding environment and are under a vacuum. The plurality of processing modules includes a first module configured to perform a first process on the structure and a second module configured to perform a second process on the structure. The first process includes performing at least one shaping operation on the structure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/109,797, filed Oct. 30, 2008, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    With the never-ending need to increase the areal density of a storage device, the width of magnetic transducers, such as reader sensors and write poles are becoming smaller to enable the write and read back of the smaller track and bit sizes on a medium. 
         [0003]    Both reader sensors and write poles are defined via some type of micro fabrication, such as ion beam etching (IBE). However, after the reader sensor and the write pole are defined, formation of reaction zones or dead layers of an uncontrolled thickness occur on the sides of the device. Formation of these dead layers can be caused by various reasons. For example, an argon beam bombards the sidewalls of the device during ion milling and can cause ion induced physical damage. In another example, after the reader sensor and the write pole are defined by ion milling, these devices are exposed to atmosphere for transition to other fabricating processes. Due to the atmospheric exposure of the freshly ion milled device, oxygen and water moisture can readily react with the device edges. In yet another example, subsequent oxidation to the sidewalls can occur during alumina insulation or other insulation/encapsulation layer formation process. 
         [0004]    These dead layers have a reduced magnetic moment. In the case of a write pole, dead layers can cause the write pole to write more curved transitions compared to a write pole without dead layers. In the case of a reader, the resistance of the device can vary depending on the thickness of the dead layer and, therefore, the edge effect of the reader is critical. Controlling or eliminating an edge reaction zone in write poles and readers is important for performance control. 
         [0005]    The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A tool for use in fabricating an electronic component, such as a transducer, includes a plurality of processing modules and a transfer chamber in communication with each of the plurality of processing modules. The transfer chamber includes a robotically moveable arm for transferring a structure to each of the plurality of processing modules. The plurality of processing modules and the transfer chamber are sealed from the surrounding environment and are under a vacuum. The plurality of processing modules includes a first module configured to perform a first process on the structure and a second module configured to perform a second process on the structure. The first process includes performing at least one shaping operation to the structure. 
         [0007]    The structure includes a layered magnetic device formed on a substrate or structure. After the structure is placed within the tool, the structure is transferred into the first module. After the at least one shaping operation is performed on the structure, the structure is transferred from the first module to the second module for undergoing the second process without breaking the vacuum. 
         [0008]    These and various other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a partial sectional view of an example read/write transducer for perpendicular recording to a medium. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a diagrammatic air bearing surface view of one embodiment of a reader sensor. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a diagrammatic air bearing surface view of one embodiment of a write pole. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of an integrated tool for forming one of a reader sensor and a write pole such as to eliminate the formation of reaction zones or dead layers on sidewall of the read sensor or the write pole 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates diagrammatic view of the integrated tool illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to the minimization of edge reaction zones of a magnetic device by integrating both device definition and subsequent protective layer deposition in an integrated tool without breaking vacuum. Such an approach allows a thickness of an edge reaction zone to be controlled/eliminated compared with conventional processes. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a partial sectional view of one example read/write transducer  102  for recording to a medium  104 .  FIG. 1  illustrates perpendicular recording. However, it should be realized that other configurations are possible, such as longitudinal recording. In  FIG. 1 , all spacing and insulating layers are omitted for clarity. Read/write transducer  102  includes a writing element  106  and a reading element  108  formed on a trailing edge of a slider (not shown). Reading element  108  includes a read sensor  110  that is spaced between a top shield  112  and a bottom shield  114 . Top and bottom shields  112  and  114  operate to isolate read sensor  110  from external magnetic fields that could affect sensing bits of data that have been recorded on medium  104 . 
         [0016]    Writing element  106  includes a writing main pole (or write pole)  116  and a return pole  118 . Main and return poles  116  and  118  are separated by a non-magnetic spacer  120 . Main pole  116  and return pole  118  are connected at a back gap closure  122 . A conductive coil  124  extends between main pole  116  and return pole  118  and around back gap closure  122 . An insulating material (not shown) electrically insulates conductive coils  124  from main and return poles  116  and  118 . Main and return poles  116  and  118  include main and return pole tips  126  and  128 , respectively, which face a surface  130  of medium  104  and form a portion of an air bearing surface (ABS)  132  of a slider.  FIG. 1  illustrates reading element  108  having separate top and bottom shields  112  and  114  from writing element  206 . However, it should be noted that in other read/write transducers, return pole  118  could operate as a top shield for reading element  108 . 
         [0017]    A magnetic circuit is formed in writing element  106  by return pole  118 , back gap closure  122 , main pole  116 , and a soft magnetic layer  134  of medium  104  which underlay a hard magnetic or storage layer  136  having perpendicular orientation of magnetization. Storage layer  136  includes uniformly magnetized regions  138 , each of which represent a bit of data in accordance with an up or down orientation. In operation, an electrical current is caused to flow in conductive coil  124 , which induces a magnetic flux that is conducted through the magnetic circuit. The magnetic circuit causes the magnetic flux to travel vertically through the main pole tip  126  and storage layer  136  of the recording medium, as indicated by arrow  140 . Next, the magnetic flux is directed horizontally through soft magnetic layer  134  of the recording medium, as indicated by arrow  142 , then vertically back through storage layer  136  through return pole tip  128  of return pole  118 , as indicated by arrow  144 . Finally, the magnetic flux is conducted back to main pole  116  through back gap closure  122 . 
         [0018]    Main pole tip  126  is shaped to concentrate the magnetic flux traveling there through to such an extent that the orientation of magnetization in patterns  138  of storage layer  136  are forced into alignment with the writing magnetic field and, thus, cause bits of data to be recorded therein. In general, the magnetic field in storage layer  136  at main pole tip  126  must be twice the coercivity or saturation field of that layer. Medium  104  moves in the direction indicated by arrow  146 . A trailing edge  148  of main pole  116  operates as a “writing edge” that defines the transitions between bits of data recorded in storage layer  136 , since the field generated at that edge is the last to define the magnetization orientation in the pattern  138 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic air bearing surface (ABS) view of a sensor  210 , similar to the read sensor  110  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , under one embodiment. Sensor  210  includes a substrate (or structure)  215 . Sensor  210  includes active region  201  and passive region  209 . Active region  201  contains a multiple-layered sensor stack or junction. The sensor stack includes sidewalls  205  and  207 . Passive region  209  is the region that surrounds the multiple layered sensor stack on sidewalls  205  and  207 . 
         [0020]    In one embodiment of the active region  201 , sensor stack includes a seed or substrate layer  215 , a pinning layer  219 , a pinned layer  221 , a spacer (Ru) layer  223 , a reference layer  225 , a barrier layer  227 , a free layer  229  and a cap layer (not specifically illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). The pinned layer  221  is positioned on and exchange coupled with the underlying pinning layer  219 . Pinned layer  221  includes a magnetic moment or magnetization direction that is substantially prevented from rotating in the presence of applied magnetic fields. Pinned layer  221  can comprise a ferromagnetic material, while pinning layer  219  can comprise an antiferromagnetic material. Other materials having similar properties are also possible. 
         [0021]    In the  FIG. 2  embodiment, the pinned layer  221 , spacer layer  223  and reference layer  225  together can be considered a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF)  203 . SAF  203  includes two soft ferromagnetic layers (the pinned layer  221  and the reference layer  223 ) separated by the spacer layer  223 , which can be a metal such as ruthenium (Ru) or rhodium (Rh). The reference layer  225  is the layer closest to the free layer  229 . The exchange coupling between pinned layer  221  and the reference layer  225  is an oscillatory function of the thickness of spacer layer  223 . The barrier layer  227  is positioned between the reference layer  225  and free layer  229 . The free layer  229  can comprise a ferromagnetic material and is considered the “sensing” layer. The free layer  229  has a magnetization direction that is substantially free to rotate in the presence of externally applied magnetic fields. 
         [0022]    Each passive region  209  of sensor  210  includes an insulating layer or isolation layer  211 , biasing layer  213 , such as a permanent magnet or any other material that provides a bias, and seed and cap layers (not shown). Insulating layer  211  surrounds the sensor stack or active region  201  of sensor  210 . However, insulating layer  211  needs to at least surround the barrier layer. Sensor  210  includes a sensor current  217  that flows perpendicular to the stack length and through the barrier layer (one skilled in the art will appreciate that current can also be applied in a direction opposite from the direction illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). The barrier layer needs to be insulated by a thick enough insulating layer to prevent current  217  from leaking into biasing layer  213 , for example. An example insulating material includes aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ). However, other types of materials with similar properties are possible. 
         [0023]    To properly bias and yet still allow the free layer to rotate in response to magnetic fields, bias layer  213  is formed on opposing sides of at least the free layer of sensor  210 . Bias layer  213  is configured to induce a uniform pinning or biasing field across the free layer. The bias layer  213  is illustrated as being formed on opposing sides of the active region  201  of each sensor stack and placed outside of insulating material  211 . However, bias layer  213  can be formed on opposing sides of at least the free layer of sensor  210 . The bias layer  213  is configured to bias the free layer at edges (i.e. sides  205 ,  207 ) of the free layer to eliminate domain edges and at the same time leave a small field at the center of the free layer. 
         [0024]    In the conventional fabrication of sensor  210 , the layers of active region  201  are formed on the substrate  215 . Then, the sensor stack is photo patterned to a desired critical dimension and then placed in an ion milling machine to define and shape sidewalls  205  and  207  using a photo resist mask. During ion milling, the sensor stack is bombarded with ions and can form damaged zones or dead layers  245 . After ion milling, the sensor stack is pulled out of the machine and exposed to atmospheric conditions before transference to the next step for insulation layer formation. Upon exposure to atmosphere, even larger damaged zones or dead layers  245  are formed via the edge reaction with the ambient moisture and oxygen etc, which have an uncontrolled and varying thickness. 
         [0025]    The damaged zones or dead layers formed can affect read performance. For example and particularly in small reader sensors, the resistance of the device may vary depending on the thickness of the dead layer and, therefore, the edge effect of the reader can be critical to read performance. More specifically, the sensor stack can lose control of resistance. 
         [0026]    The sensor stack is then inserted into an isolation deposition machine to deposit and surround the sidewalls  205  and  207  of the sensor stack with an insulation or isolation material  211 . Subsequent to the isolation step, the sensor stack is again taken out of the isolation deposition machine and inserted into a permanent magnet deposition machine to deposit a permanent magnet to surround the isolation material. Between deposition of the isolation material and deposition of the permanent magnet, if the sensor stack is taken out of vacuum, the surface of the isolation material can absorb oxygen and moisture. By depositing the permanent magnet on the surface of the isolation material, the permanent magnet can embed with and react with the oxygen and water to deteriorate its performance properties. 
         [0027]    This effect is especially noted for high coercivity magnet (HCM) material, such as FePt, which has a thin platinum seed layer between the FePt and the isolation layer. Before annealing, the FePt layer can be easily oxidized, which cause its desirable magnetic properties to worsen. Although an additional step of cleaning the isolation layer after deposition is possible to remove absorbents on its surface from exposure to atmosphere, the additional cleaning step can increase the process time between the isolation deposition and the deposition of a permanent magnet. Moreover, the non-uniformity caused by such cleaning steps adds insulation layer thickness and thus device performance variation. In addition, before the absorbents can be cleaned, the absorbents can penetrate through a thin isolation layer and deteriorate sensor stack materials. 
         [0028]    Finally, a top shield is deposited to cover the active region  201  as well as the passive region  209 . In each of the steps after the sensor stack definition or shaping, exposure to atmosphere can cause further oxidation. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is diagrammatic air bearing surface (ABS) view of a write pole  316 , similar to the write pole  116  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , under one embodiment. Write pole  316  includes a trailing end  346  and a leading end  348  and is made of a magnetic material. The magnetic material of pole  316  is surrounded by alumina  347  on leading end  348  or bottom of pole  316  and by alumina  349  on the sidewalls  350  and  352  of pole  316 . Sidewalls  350  and  352  are located between trailing end  346  and leading end  348 . At the top or trailing end of pole  316  includes a writer gap  351  with a front shield  353  on top of the writer gap. 
         [0030]    In the conventional fabrication of write pole  316 , magnetic material is deposited on to a substrate (or structure)  347  with alumina coating. A photo resist/hard mask is deposited on top of the magnetic material such that the pole width can be defined and shaped. The substrate, magnetic material and photo resist are placed in an ion beam milling machine to perform pole definition. After ion milling, the material stack is pulled out of the machine and exposed to atmospheric environment. When exposing the material stack to atmosphere, the sidewalls  350  and  352 , which are bombarded with ions during pole formation/shaping, are susceptible to moisture and oxygen attack, resulting in formation of reaction zones or dead layers  345  having an uncontrolled and varying thickness. 
         [0031]    The photo resist is removed and the pole  316  is backfilled with alumina  349 . After the pole  316  is backfilled, a chemical mechanical polishing process (CMP) is performed. After this process, a thick layer of alumina acting as the write gap  351  is deposited on pole  316  and magnetic material is deposited on the write gap to form the front shield  353 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of an integrated tool  460  for forming one of a reader sensor, such as sensor  210  in  FIG. 2 , and a write pole, such as write pole  316  in  FIG. 3 , in such a way as to eliminate the formation of reaction zones or dead layers  245  and  345  on sidewalls of the read sensor or the write pole. Integrated tool  460  includes at least two modules. In  FIG. 4 , tool  460  includes four modules  462 ,  464 ,  466  and  468 . It should be realized that while integrated tool  460  can include all four modules and more than four modules, integrated tool  460  need only have two modules. Each of the modules, such as modules  462 ,  464 ,  466  and  468 , are all under a vacuum within integrated tool  460 . 
         [0033]    A magnetic structure that will be formed into a magnetic device or transducing device is placed in integrated tool  460  for formation. A magnetic structure includes layered magnetic material deposited on a structure or substrate. Such a structure is illustrated as  316  in  FIG. 3  and includes the pinning, pinned, spacer, reference, barrier and free layers of sensor  210  deposited on substrate  347  After magnetic stack layer formation, the structure enters into tool  460  and into device definition module  462 . In device definition module  462 , the structure undergoes at least one shaping operation. For example, the structure can undergo ion beam etching (IBE), reactive ion etching (RIE), reactive ion beam etch (RIBE) and/or inductively-coupled plasma (ICP) etch in certain chemistry to take away magnetic material of the structure to define an appropriate width that corresponds to a width of a track in a storage medium. It should be realized that both reader sensor stacks as well as write poles undergo the processing step accomplished in device definition module  462 . 
         [0034]    IBE or RIE is an etching process in which the structure is milled or etched. In an embodiment where module  462  uses IBE, the structure is placed in front of a broad-beam ion source. Ions (for example argon ions) are generated inside the ion source and are accelerated, extracted from extraction grids on the front of the source, and directed towards the structure to be milled. The ions bombard the surface of the structure. As the ion beam etches the structure surface in the presence of a mask, the structure is tilted to a certain angle relative to the beam and rotated to optimize the uniformity of the etch and to create different device profiles. 
         [0035]    RIBE is an etching process like IBE, except the ion source is somewhat different. In RIBE, reactive species, such as chlorine, fluorine, carbon fluoride and oxygen, are introduced into the conventional argon ion source. This process is partially chemical in that the ions react with the surface and form volatile byproducts and partially physical in that the material removal is truly via physical bombardment. RIE is a chemical etching process. Chemically reactive plasma is used to remove material from the structure. The reactive species are generated using an inductively couple plasma (ICP). These species are then accelerated towards the structure surface via structure stage biasing. The reaction byproducts will be either vaporized away from surface or removed via ion bombardment assistance. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, the structure can then be moved to device treatment module  464 . Device treatment module  464  is an optional step for any type of structure, regardless if the structure is for a read sensor or write pole. Example treatments include a controlled passivation process, such as a controlled oxidation/reduction, a cleaning treatment, such as a sputter etch (i.e., “soft etch”) and other treatments, such as plasma exposure, heat and/or other type of gaseous exposure. A soft etch is one in which the surface is etched using an ionized gas plasma at lower energy. Treatments that can be performed in the treatment module  464  can repair surface or subsurface etch damage that were formed in the device definition module  462  from ion bombardment. Treatment module  464  can present a more uniform starting surface for protective layer growth and/or it can smooth the otherwise rough surfaces of the sidewalls of the structure. 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the structure can then be moved to protective layer or isolation layer deposition module  466 . Again, module  466  is an optional step in the formation of the structure. In this module, regardless of the type of structure, a protective layer is deposited on the structure such that it is in contact with the sidewalls of the structure. In the case of a reader sensor, the protective layer is the isolation or insulating layer. Example isolation materials include oxides, nitrides, oxynitrides, fluorides, carbides or other insulators capable of controlled deposition below sensor stack damage thresholds. In the case of a write pole, the protective material can be non-magnetic materials, such as Ta, Ru, Cu or other similar materials that do not reduce the write pole surface layer magnetization and can prevent oxidation, or a metal/oxide combination layers. The deposition of isolation materials specific for reader sensors and the deposition of protective materials specific for write poles can be performed in module  466  in a variety of different techniques, including physical vapor deposition (PVD), ion beam deposition (IBD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), ionized physical vapor deposition (IPVD) and/or PVD sputtering. 
         [0038]    PVD is a process of depositing a thin film by the condensation of a vaporized form of the material onto the surface of the structure. The following are some common types of PVD. In one example, evaporative deposition is the process where the material to be deposited is heated to a high vapor pressure by electrically resistive heating. In another example, electron beam physical vapor deposition is a process where the material to be deposited is heated to a high vapor pressure by electron bombardment. In yet another example, magnetron sputter deposition is a process where a glow plasma discharge (usually localized around the “target” by a magnet) bombards the material causing the sputtering of some away as a vapor. In still another example, IPVD refers to the same process as PVD. However, in IPVD, the deposition flux consists of more ions than neutrals. 
         [0039]    IBD is a process of ejecting material from a target and condensing it onto the structure using a focused ion beam. The impingement ions eject atoms out of a solid material from a target surface, which are then condensed ion onto the structure surface to form desired layer thickness. ALD is a process of growing material layers on a structure. ALD is based on the sequential exposure of gas phase chemistry onto the structure surface. The mono-layer absorption capability of structure surface under each chemistry exposure enables the formation of a true atomic-level of film depositions and superior step coverage of sharp features. The majority of ALD reactions use two chemicals, typically called precursors. These precursors react with a growth surface of a structure in a sequential manner. By exposing the precursors to the growth surface repeatedly, a thin film is deposited. CVD is the chemical process of introducing one or more volatile precursors into a reaction chamber, which react and/or decompose and form the desired film on the structure surface. Frequently, the volatile by-products of the precursors are removed by pumping the system through a reaction chamber. 
         [0040]    In one embodiment, after deposition of the protective layer, the structure can be moved to permanent magnet deposition module  468  in the case where the structure is a reader sensor. In the permanent magnet deposition module  468 , a biasing material or permanent magnet is deposited on the isolation or insulating layer. The deposition of the permanent magnet specific for reader sensors and a subsequent protective capping layer can be performed in module  468  in a variety of different techniques, including PVD, IBD, and/or point cusp magnetron sputtering (PCM). After deposition of the protective layer, the structure is moved out of tool  460 . Its definition and protection from the formation of dead layers and reaction zones is complete. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  illustrates diagrammatic view of integrated tool  460 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the four modules  462 ,  464 ,  466  and  468  are all coupled together by a transfer chamber or module  470 . As previously discussed, integrated tool  460  need only includes at least two modules. 
         [0042]    A structure  472  (illustrated in  FIG. 5  as progressing through each of modules  462 ,  464 ,  466  and  468 ) enters tool  460  through an input load lock  474 . For example, in the case of a reader sensor, a structure having the layered sensor stack with a photo resist on top is placed into the input port. In the case of a write pole, a structure having layers of magnetic material and a photo resist on top is placed in the input port. Structure  472  exits tool  460  at an output load lock  476 . Output load lock  476  includes an empty slot space  477  for placing the structure after it has undergone definition and formation in tool  460 . Between the input load lock  474  and output load lock  476 , the structure will be under vacuum. 
         [0043]    Transfer chamber  470  includes a robotic arm  478 . To make sure structure  472  is properly aligned, robotic arm  478  is configured to first move structure  472  from input load lock  474  to an alignment chuck  480 . Although alignment chuck  480  is illustrated as being located near output load lock  476 , alignment chuck  480  can be located other places within transfer chamber  470 . Alignment chuck  480  spins the structure with a motor to properly align a notch in the structure so it is in proper position for transfer. After alignment, robotic arm  478  is configured to move the structure  472  from alignment chuck  480  into device definition module  462 . 
         [0044]    As previously discussed, in device definition module  462 , the structure undergoes at least one shaping operation. After device definition, the robotic arm  478  retrieves structure  472  from device definition module  462  and optionally transfers it to device treatment module  464 . Before transferring structure  472  to module  464 , the structure may need to undergo some form of preheating. In such a case, robotic arm  478  transfers the structure to a heating chuck  484 . By placing the structure in heating chuck  484 , less time is needed for the device  472  to spend in processing modules  464  to warm to the device to the correct pre-set temperature. It should be realized that the structure  472  can be heated for any of the processes performed in any of modules  464 ,  466  and  468  if necessary. Therefore, if the structure  472  skips treatment and moves directly to module  466  for protective layer deposition, the structure  472  may also need to heat to the certain temperature in the heating chuck  484  for throughput and performance control. 
         [0045]    After optionally undergoing device treatment in module  464 , the structure is retrieved from module  464  by robotic arm  478  and moved to protective layer or isolation layer deposition module  466 . In this module, regardless of the type of structure, a protective layer is deposited on the structure such that the protective layer is in contact with its sidewalls. 
         [0046]    After deposition of the protective layer, the structure is retrieved by robotic arm  478  and optionally moved to permanent magnet deposition module  468 . The processing steps taking place in module  468  are those steps needed where the structure is a reader sensor. Otherwise, in the case of a write pole, the structure  472  is robotically transferred to the output load lock  476 . Its definition and protection from the formation of dead layers is complete. 
         [0047]    In the permanent magnet deposition module  468 , a permanent magnet is deposited on the isolation or insulating layer. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , permanent magnet deposition module  468  includes a plurality of different materials  486  needed in the process of depositing the permanent magnet. After the permanent magnet is deposited, robotic arm  478  retrieves the structure and transfers it to empty space  477  in output load lock  476 . The structure  472  definition and protection from the formation of dead layers and reaction zones is complete. 
         [0048]    Structure  472  may undergo processes in tool  460  in a variety of different sequential operations and a variety of different types of treatments depending on the use of the structure to be fabricated. In one embodiment, structure  472  may undergo device definition with module  462 , device treatment using module  464  including a cleaning treatment and a passivation treatment, protective layer or isolation layer deposition in module  466  and permanent magnet deposition in module  468 . In another embodiment, a device may undergo device definition with module  462 , device treatment using module  464  including just a cleaning treatment, protective layer or isolation layer deposition in module  466  and permanent magnet deposition in module  468 . In another embodiment, a device may undergo device definition with module  462 , device treatment using module  464  including a cleaning treatment and a passivation treatment and a permanent magnet deposition in module  468 . In this embodiment, there is no protective layer deposition. 
         [0049]    In another embodiment, a device may undergo device definition with module  462 , protective layer or isolation layer deposition in module  466  and permanent magnet deposition in module  468 . In this embodiment, there is no intermediate treatment step. In another embodiment, a device may undergo device definition with module  462 , device treatment using module  464  including a cleaning treatment and a passivation treatment and a protective layer or isolation layer deposition in module  466 . In this embodiment, there is no permanent magnet deposition. In another embodiment, a device may undergo device definition with module  462 , device treatment using module  464  including just a cleaning treatment and a protective layer or isolation layer deposition in module  466 . In this embodiment, there is no permanent magnet deposition. In another embodiment, a device may undergo device definition with module  462  and device treatment using module  464  including a cleaning treatment and a passivation treatment. In this embodiment, there is no protective layer deposition or permanent magnet deposition. In another embodiment, a device may undergo device definition with module  462  and a protective layer or isolation layer deposition in module  466 . In this embodiment, there is no intermediate treatment step or permanent magnet deposition. 
         [0050]    Of the above described embodiments, a reader sensor would preferably undergo device definition with module  462  using an IBE technique, device treatment module  464  including a cleaning treatment using a soft etch and a passivation treatment, such as oxidation, protective layer or isolation layer deposition with module  466  using an ALD technique and permanent magnet deposition with module  468  using an IBD technique. A write pole would preferably undergo device definition with module  462  using an IBE technique and protective layer or isolation layer deposition with module  466  using a CVD or ALD technique. 
         [0051]    With the integration of a protective layer or isolation layer deposition module  466  with a device definition module  462  and permanent magnet deposition module  468  in vacuum, there is no need to clean the protective layer or isolation layer surface or to worry about sensor stack oxidation from air. In all, a reader sensor would benefit from a permanent magnet having better magnetic properties, high throughput and full protection for sensor stack. With the integration of a protective layer or isolation layer deposition module  466  and a device definition module  462  in vacuum, prevention of the formation of reaction zones or dead layers on the sidewalls of either a reader sensor or a write pole occurs. 
         [0052]    Beside tool  460  providing the minimization of edge reaction zones of a transducing device by integrating both device definition and subsequent protective layer deposition in an integrated tool without breaking vacuum, tool  460  also provides for more time efficient fabrication of transducing devices. Tool  460  can process many structures at the same time. For example, while a structure is being processed in device definition module  462 , other structures can be processing in any of modules  464 ,  466  and  468 . In addition, structure can reside in alignment chuck  480  and heating chuck  484  indefinitely while waiting to enter any of modules  462 ,  464 ,  466  and  468  if there are structures inside such modules. 
         [0053]    Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.