Method of manufacturing a magnetic element

Abstract

In order to increase the information density on storage media the track width of a written magnetic pattern is made increasingly smaller. This requires write heads having appropriate flux guides. The method disclosed in this patent document provides such flux guides. The method includes the following steps: depositing a non-magnetic layer (3) of sufficient thickness; anisotropically etching the non-magnetic layer to form a steep wall of suitable dimensions at the required position of a flux guide; depositing a magnetic material to form a magnetic layer (9) on the wall in such a manner that the magnetic layer has a thickness corresponding to the required track width; removing undesired deposits of magnetic material but maintaining the magnetic layer on the wall; depositing an insulating material (19a) to cover the magnetic layer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.