Method of making recording heads with side shields

A process for forming a magnetic head comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate workpiece which defines in its top surface a concave feature having desired transverse and longitudinal dimensions,
• depositing a magnetic layer over the workpiece, the layer having a concave region with a surface configuration that generally resembles the concavity of the concave feature of said substrate, and
• forming upon said workpiece a pole having a first region separated from said magnetic layer and a second region that contacts said magnetic layer,
• said magnetic layer being configured with respect to said pole to serve as a magnetic shield for said pole during operation of said head with a magnetic storage medium.

A process for forming a magnetic head comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a substrate workpiece which defines in its top surface a concave feature having desires transverse and longitudinal dimensions, and
• (b) depositing a magnetic layer over the workpiece, the layer having a concave region with a surface configuration that generally resembles the concavity of the depressed feature and comprising a lower shield section,
• (c) filling said concave region of the lower shield section with filler material,
• (d) forming a pole upon the workpiece,
• (e) forming an insulating layer with a convex topography over the workpiece, and
• (f) forming an upper shield section over the product of step (e) in continuity with the lower shield section and the pole so that said upper shield section has a configuration that generally resembles the convex topography of step (e).

A process for forming a head having at least one pole and a yoke with a back closure region, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a substrate workpiece which defines in its top surface a concave feature having desired transverse and longitudinal dimensions,
• (b) depositing a magnetic layer over the workpiece forming a lower shield section, the lower shield section having a concave region with a surface configuration that generally resembles the concavity of the concave feature of said substrate,
• (c) filling said concave region of the lower shield section with filler material,
• (d) forming a pole upon the workpiece,
• (e) forming an insulating layer with a convex topography over the workpiece, and
• (f) forming an upper shield section over the product of step (e) in continuity with the lower shield section and the pole in said back closure region, said upper shield section having a configuration that generally resembles the convex topography of step (e).