Patent ID: 6962663

Claim:
A process for manufacturing a read head, comprising: providing a bottom spin valve that includes a specular free layer, said free layer further comprising a cobalt-iron layer that is less than 3 Angstroms thick and a nickel-iron layer that is between 30 and 40 Angstroms thick, a high conductance copper layer, a specular reflection layer, and a capping layer; wet etching to remove the capping layer, thereby uncovering the specular reflection layer; on the specular reflection layer, forming a photoresist lift-off pattern of conductor leads; by means of reactive etching in carbon tetrafluoride, removing all unprotected portions of the specular reflection layer, thereby uncovering the high conductance copper layer, said copper layer serving as an etch stop layer; by sputter-etching, removing all uncovered high conductance copper and a portion of said nickel iron free layer; replacing said removed portion of the nickel-iron free layer; on the replaced nickel-iron layer, depositing a biasing layer; on said bias layer, depositing a layer of conductive material; removing the photoresist, thereby forming said conductor leads; and then annealing.