Patent ID: 7464457

Claim:
A method for forming a write head having an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising: forming a mask layer above a pole tip layer; forming a layer of resist above the mask layer; patterning the resist, the patterned resist defining about a maximum width of a pole tip in a direction parallel to the ABS of the head; removing portions of the mask layer not covered by the patterned resist; shaping a pole tip from the pole tip layer; depositing a layer of dielectric material above the pole tip, wherein the layer of dielectric material extends about adjacent to the mask layer; depositing a stop layer over the dielectric material, the stop layer abutting the mask layer; and polishing to remove the resist layer, the dielectric layer formed above the resist layer and a portion of the stop layer for forming a substantially co-planar upper surface of the mask layer and the stop layer.