Patent ID: 7007374

Claim:
A method of making a magnetic head, comprising: depositing a plurality of sensor layers over a substrate; depositing a protective barrier layer over the plurality of sensor layers; forming a resist mask in a central region which is disposed between end regions; etching, with use of the resist mask, such that the protective barrier layer in the end regions are removed to thereby form a central protective barrier in the central region; depositing first lead layers in the end regions and over the resist mask in the central region; milling, with use of the resist mask, such that first lead layer materials and sensor layer materials in the end regions are substantially removed, but the sensor layers in the central region remain to thereby form a read sensor having lead overlays over edges thereof; depositing hard bias layers in the end region and over the resist mask in the central region; depositing second lead layers in the end regions and over the resist mask in the central region; and removing the resist mask from the central region.