Patent ID: 7530158

Claim:
A method for fabricating a CPP read head for a magnetic disk drive having an electrical isolation layer, comprising: A) providing a first magnetic shield layer; B) depositing a sensor stack on said first magnetic shield layer; C) depositing a first CMP stop layer on said sensor stack; D) depositing a release layer on said first CMP stop layer; E) depositing photoresist material containing Si on said release layer; F) patterning said photoresist material to form protected areas in the underlying materials; G) oxidizing said photoresist material by use of Reactive Ion Etching to form a high temperature photomask; H) depositing said electrical isolation layer to surround said sensor stack using a high temperature deposition process, where said high temperature photomask protects said protected areas during said high temperature deposition process; I) depositing a draped magnetic shield material layer on said electrical isolation layer; J) depositing a second CMP stop layer on said draped magnetic shield material layer; and K) planarizing said isolation layer and said draped magnetic shield material layer to the level of said sensor stack to form a planarized structure.