Patent ID: 8474128

Claim:
A method of forming a plurality of islands of magnetic material atop a substrate having a first approximately planar surface comprising: depositing magnetic material over the first approximately planar surface, selectively removing portions of the magnetic material so as to leave a resulting surface comprising a plurality of islands of the magnetic material and spaces between the islands, depositing a mask atop at least the plurality of islands, depositing a filler material atop the resulting surface, the filler material being deposited to a thickness approximately equal to a height of the magnetic material in the plurality of islands relative to the spaces between the islands, depositing an additional mask atop the filler material, wherein the additional mask comprises at least one of diamond-like carbon, TaNx, TiNx, and tantalum, and removing at least the filler material atop the plurality of islands such that an approximately planar surface remains, the approximately planar surface comprising at least some of the mask atop the islands and at least some of the additional mask atop the filler material in the spaces between the islands.