Patent ID: 7174623

Claim:
A method of making a magnetic head, comprising: providing a partially constructed magnetic head which has a top surface formed by a front pole tip, a back gap pedestal, and insulator materials disposed between the front pole tip and the back gap pedestal; forming a layer of selectively etchable materials over the top surface of the partially constructed magnetic head, the layer having a front edge that is recessed away from an air bearing surface (ABS); forming additional insulator materials over the selectively etchable material layer and over a front portion of the front pole tip; performing a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) to form a substantially coplanar top surface with the selectively etchable material layer and the additional insulator materials; etching to remove the selectively etchable material layer; depositing yoke layer materials over the entire structure; and performing a chemically-mechanically polishing (CMP) to form a substantially coplanar top surface with the yoke layer materials and the additional insulator materials, to thereby form a yoke.