Patent ID: 8068302

Claim:
A method of formatting magnetic media, comprising: providing a magnetic head, comprising: a substrate having a substantially continuous surface generally parallel with a tape bearing surface; a first magnetic layer deposited over the substantially continuous surface of the substrate; an electrically conductive coil layer deposited over the first magnetic layer; and a second magnetic layer deposited over the electrically conductive coil layer, the second magnetic layer comprising at least one magnetic gap pattern; wherein the first and second magnetic layers of the magnetic head are separated from the electrically conductive coil layer by at least one insulating layer; and wherein the first and second magnetic layers of the magnetic head are connected through vias in the at least one insulating layer to form a closed magnetic flux path; and writing magnetic transitions in a magnetic media passing over the at least one magnetic gap pattern of the magnetic head, the magnetic transitions creating a timing-based servo pattern on the magnetic media, thereby formatting the magnetic media.