Patent · US Expired

High ion beam etch selectivity for partial pole trim application

US6243939A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
7References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 4, 1999
Grant dateJun 12, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 4, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49046
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a magnetic transducer structure using a special pole etch using an IBE preferably with Kr or Xe, and a write gap material with a high IBE etch rate such as Ta, NiCu alloys, Pd, Pd--Cu alloys. A first layer of pole material and a write gap insulating layer are formed over the substrate. The write gap layer is composed of a material having a high ion beam etch rate compared to the first and second layers of pole material. The write gap insulating layer is preferably composed of Ni--Cu alloy, Pd, Pd--Cu alloys. Next, a second layer of pole material is formed on the first insulating layer. In a key step, we ion beam etch (IBE) the second pole; the write gap insulating layer and the first layer; the second pole serving as an etch mask during the ion beam etching to form a head. In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the ion beam etching performed using a gas of Kr or Xe. The invention teaches a high IBE etch selectivity from the write gap dielectric to the upper pole (NeFe) for partial pole trim (PPT) applications by three embodiments: (a) selecting high IBE rate gap dielectric materials (e.g., NiCu alloys, Pd, and Pd--Cu alloys, (b) using an IBE ga…

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