Magnetic read head having a CPP MR sensor electrically isolated from a top shield

An apparatus, comprising:

• an array of transducer structures arranged along a tape bearing surface of a common module, each transducer structure having:
• a lower shield;
• an upper shield above the lower shield;
• a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor between the upper and lower shields;
• an upper electrical lead between the sensor and the upper shield, the upper electrical lead being in electrical communication with the sensor;
• an insulating layer between the upper electrical lead and the upper shield,
• wherein a width of the upper electrical lead in a cross track direction is about equal to a width of the sensor;
• an electrical via, the electrical via being positioned behind the upper shield relative to a media facing side of the upper shield, the electrical via being in electrical communication with the upper electrical lead;
• and
• a lower electrical lead in electrical communication with the sensor, the lower electrical lead being positioned between the sensor and the lower shield, wherein a width of the lower electrical lead in the cross track direction is greater than the width of the sensor, wherein the lower electrical lead is electrically isolated from the lower shield.

A method of forming a plurality of magnetic head modules each having an array of read transducer structures, the method comprising:

• forming a lower shield for each of the read transducer structures;
• forming a lower electrical lead above each lower shield, wherein each lower electrical lead is electrically isolated from the associated lower shield;
• forming a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor above each of the lower electrical leads, each lower electrical lead being in electrical communication with the associated sensor, wherein a width of each lower electrical lead in a cross track direction is greater than a width of the associated sensor in the cross track direction;
• forming an upper electrical lead above each sensor, each upper electrical lead being in electrical communication with the associated sensor;
• forming an insulating layer above each upper electrical lead;
• forming an upper shield above each insulating layer,
• wherein a width of each upper electrical lead in the cross track direction is about equal to a width of the associated sensor;
• and
• forming a unique electrical via behind each upper shield relative to a media facing side of the upper shield, each electrical via being electrically coupled to the upper electrical lead of the associated read transducer structure.