Claims
- 1. A magnetic head, comprising:
a magnetoresistive layer, having a central active region and first and second laterally opposed end regions terminating in first and second sides; first and second lead tabs overlaying said magnetoresistive layer at said first and second end regions and terminating at said first and second sides, said lead tabs comprising a material that is relatively resistant to milling, and; first and second hard bias layers contacting said first and second sides.
- 2. A magnetic head as set forth in claim 1 wherein said and first and second lead tabs comprise Rh.
- 3. A magnetic head as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second lead tabs comprise Ta.
- 4. A magnetic head as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second lead tabs comprise a layer of Rh and a layer of Ta.
- 5. A magnetic head as set forth in claim 4 wherein the layer of Ta is thinner than the layer of Rh and wherein the layer of Ta is formed on a side of the Ta layer opposite the magnetoresistive layer.
- 6. A magnetic head as set forth in claim 1 wherein said magnetoresistive sensor has a substantially flat surface that is bounded by said first and second laterally opposed sides and wherein said first and second lead tabs prevent said first and second hard bias layers from contacting said substantially flat surface.
- 7. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head, comprising:
providing a substrate; depositing a magnetoresistive material onto said substrate; forming first and second lead tabs over said magnetoresistive material, said first and second lead tabs defining a space therebetween; forming a mask, covering at least a portion of said first and second lead tabs and covering said space between said first and second lead tabs; performing a material removal procedure to remove a portion of said magnetoresitive material not covered by said mask or said first and second lead tabs.
- 8. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head as set forth in claim 7 wherein said forming first and second lead tabs further comprises:
depositing a layer of electrically conductive material; and depositing a layer of material that is relatively resistant to said material removal procedure.
- 9. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head as set forth in claim 7 wherein said forming first and second lead tabs further comprises:
depositing a layer of of Rh; and depositing a layer of Ta over said layer of Rh.
- 10. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head as set forth in claim 7 wherein said material removal process comprises ion milling.
- 11. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head, comprising:
providing a substrate; forming a magnetoresistive layer over said substrate; forming a first mask having first and second openings defining a distance therebetween; depositing lead tab material, a portion of said lead tab material being deposited through said openings; removing said first mask, leaving said portion of said lead tab material that has been deposited through said openings remaining to form first and second lead tabs separated by a space therebetween; forming a second mask, said second mask covering said space formed between said first and second lead tabs and covering at least a portion of said first and second lead tabs; and performing a material removal process.
- 12. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head as set forth in claim 11 wherein said step of depositing lead tab material further comprises:
depositing a layer of electrically conductive material; and depositing a layer of material that is relatively resistant to said material removal procedure.
- 13. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head as set forth in claim 11 wherein said forming first and second lead tabs further comprises:
depositing a layer of Rh; and depositing a layer of Ta over said layer of Rh.
- 14. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head as set forth in claim 11 wherein said material removal process comprises ion milling.
- 15. A magnetic data recording device, comprising:
a chasis; a magnetic media movable within said chasis; an actuator moveably mounted within said chasis; a magnetic head mouted to said actuator for movement 16 adjacent to said magnetic medium said magnetic head further comrising:
a magnetoresistive layer, having a central active region and first and second laterally opposed end regions terminating in first and second sides; first and second lead tabs overlaying said magnetoresistive layer at said first and second end regions and terminating at said first and second sides, said lead tabs comprising a material that is relatively resistant to 16 milling; first and second hard bias layers contacting said first and second sides; and first and second electrically conductive lead layers overlaying at least a portion of said first and second electrically conductive pads.
Parent Case Info
[0001] The present invention is related to commonly assigned application Ser. No. 10/243,271 entitled THIN FILM HEAD READER WITH LEAD OVERLAY AND METHOD OF FABRICATION THEREOF, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.