Methods for manufacturing electronic lapping guides for writer heads that closely track pole formation of the writer heads

A method for manufacturing a writer head using an electronic lapping guide (ELG), the method comprising:

• depositing and patterning a conductive layer on a portion of a substrate to form a first connection pad at the ELG, wherein the ELG is adjacent to the writer head;
• depositing and patterning a stop layer on a portion of the substrate at the writer head;
• depositing a first dielectric layer on the stop layer and on the first ELG connection pad;
• performing a first material removal sub-process to remove a portion of the first dielectric layer to expose the first ELG connection pad;
• performing a planarization sub-process to substantially planarize the first dielectric layer;
• depositing an ELG sensor layer on a portion of the first dielectric layer at the ELG and on the first ELG connection pad;
• depositing a second dielectric layer on the first dielectric layer at the writer head and on the ELG sensor layer at the ELG;
• performing a second material removal sub-process to form a pole trench in the first and second dielectric layers extending to the stop layer at the writer head and to form an ELG trench in the second dielectric layer extending to the ELG sensor layer at the ELG, wherein the ELG trench is patterned to form an island structure substantially enclosing a preselected portion of the second dielectric layer;
• depositing a pole material within the pole trench and the ELG trench to form a write pole of the writer head;
• lapping the pole material;
• measuring a resistance of the ELG during the lapping;
• comparing the measured resistance with a target resistance;
• and
• terminating the lapping based on the comparison of the measured resistance with the target resistance.