Patent · US Expired

Lapping process for a single element magnetoresistive head

US5588199A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
5References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 14, 1994
Grant dateDec 31, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 14, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49048
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of lapping magnetoresistive (MR) heads individually which provides an MR element having a desired height with minimized skew is described. During fabrication of the MR head, one or more shunt resistors are formed between the edge of the MR element and the head air bearing surface. The shunt resistors are electrically connected at each end to extensions of the MR electrical leads and connected to the MR element and to each other at points between the ends forming a resistor network. During lapping of the MR head, the resistance of the resistor network is measured by an Ohmmeter connected between the MR element leads. As portions of the shunt resistors are ground away, the changes in the measured resistance of the resistor network are used to monitor and control any skew in the lapping process.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.