Patent ID: 8339751

Claim:
A method to stabilize any one of a plurality of magnetic shields, in a magnetic head having an air bearing surface (ABS), during exposure of said shields to an initializing magnetic field having a direction, comprising: ensuring that all closure domains can align themselves at a reduced angle relative to said initialization direction while still being roughly antiparallel to one another whereby there is only one domain at each non-parallel edge and all domain patterns and orientations within said shield are consistently repeated each time said shield is exposed to an initialization field; giving said shield a shape that is a modified trapezoid having at least five edges; and giving said modified trapezoid a first edge that is coplanar with the ABS over said first edge's entire length, second and third edges that are not parallel to one another and that are connected to said first edge, a fourth edge comprising a central part that is parallel to said first edge, and a pair of opposing outer parts, each outer part extending away from said first edge and also connecting said central part to said second or said third edge, whichever is closest.