Patent ID: 7155810

Claim:
A method for fabricating a magnetic head comprising: fabricating a plurality of thin film layers to create a read sensor, said read sensor including a first insulation (G 1 ) layer, a pinned layer, a pinning layer, a spacer layer, a free magnetic layer having a midplane thereof, and a cap layer; milling said plurality of thin films such that a central sensor region is protected from milling and unprotected outer regions are milled down to said G 1 layer, such that said free magnetic layer is formed with a central portion and outwardly disposed side edge portions; fabricating a hard bias structure upon said G 1 layer at said outer regions such that said hard bias structure is disposed proximate said side edge portions of said free magnetic layer, said hard bias structure including a seed layer and a hard bias layer, wherein said hard bias structure is fabricated by; depositing said seed layer upon said G 1 layer; removing an upper portion of said seed layer to create an upper surface of said seed layer; depositing hard bias material upon said upper surface of said seed layer to create said hard bias layer that is disposed upon said seed layer; and wherein said hard bias layer has a midplane that is disposed at a horizontal level within the magnetic head that is approximately coplanar with said midplane of said free magnetic layer.