Method of making TiC MR-head magnetic shield dummy shield spark gap

A method of making a read head protection circuit for discharging electric charges accumulated on a component of a read head, comprising the steps of:

• forming the read head with a substrate;
• forming at least one magnetic shield and at least one sensor element on the substrate;
• and
• forming at least one electrically conductive elongated spark gap device, having a proximal end directly electrically connected to the magnetic shield, and a distal end formed in close proximity to but spaced from the substrate.

A method of making a read head protection circuit for discharging electric charges accumulated on a component of a read head, comprising the steps of:

• forming a substrate;
• forming a pair of magnetic shields on the substrate;
• forming a sensor element between the magnetic shields;
• forming a first spark gap device electrically coupled to the sensor element and extending therefrom to a first tip having close proximity to the substrate, and
• forming one or more second spark gap devices electrically coupled to one or more of the magnetic shields and extending therefrom to a corresponding number of second tips having close proximity to the substrate.

A method of making a read head protection circuit for discharging electric charges accumulated on a component of a read head, comprising:

• forming a substrate;
• forming a pair of magnetic shields on the substrate;
• forming a sensor element between the magnetic shields;
• and
• forming a conductive structure to maintain the sensor element substantially at an electrical potential of at least one of the magnetic shields, wherein an electrical potential required to cause a sparkover between either of the magnetic shields and the sensor element is greater than an electrical potential required to cause a sparkover between either of the parasitic shields and the adjacent magnetic shield.