Patent ID: 7020951

Claim:
method of making a merged magnetic head that has a read head and a write head wherein each head forms a portion of an air bearing surface (ABS) and the read head has a read region that has first and second sides that extend substantially perpendicular to the ABS, first and second end regions that are adjacent the first and second sides respectively and the read region and first and second end regions being adjacent the ABS, comprising: making the read head as follows: forming a multi-layered read sensor in the read region with first and second side edges that define said first and second sides of the read region, and with one of the multi-layered read sensor's layers being a non-magnetic layer; forming first and second lead layers in the first and second end regions with each lead layer having a first side edge wherein the first side edge of the first lead layer is adjacent the first side edge of the read sensor and the first side edge of the second lead layer is adjacent the second side edge of the read sensor; forming first and second insulation gap layers with the multi-layered read sensor and the first and second lead layers located therebetween so that each insulation gap layer is located in each of the read and first and second end regions; forming the read sensor and the first and second insulation gap layers between the first and second shield layers; and forming an antiferromagnetic oxide film between the first insulation gap layer film and the first lead layer in the first end region, between the first insulation gap layer and the read sensor in the read region and between the first insulation gap layer and the second lead layer in the second end region with the first and second lead layers exchange coupling to the antiferromagnetic oxide film and magnetostatically coupling to the first and second side edges respectively of the read sensor; and the forming of the multi-layered read sensor including a step of forming the non-magnetic layer directly on the antiferromagnetic oxide film; making the write head as follows: employing the second shield layer as a first pole piece layer; forming a second pole piece layer; forming a write gap layer that separates the first and second pole pieces at the ABS; connecting the first and second pole piece layers at a back gap; forming an insulation stack with at least one coil layer embedded therein between the first and second pole piece layers and between the ABS and said back gap.