Abstract: A process for producing air bearing sliders for thin film magnetic heads, one at a time from a strip of material having the thin film heads aligned in a column. The thin film heads are aligned within the column such that the slider processing is performed in a direction substantially parallel to the orientation of the column. In one embodiment, a mechanical backing, fixture or substrate provides structural rigidity to the strip of material having the sliders while undergoing mechanical processing, such as lapping.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) read head in which an insulator layer defines the effective track width over which the read head is sensitive. The insulator layer is deposited or patterned to extend a predetermined distance over the MR element, and the predetermined distance is chosen equal to the desired track width. Conductor leads are deposited in contact with the regions of the MR element not covered by the insulator layer with the conductor leads extending up to, and possibly overlapping, the edges of the insulator layer so that the read signal is sensed over the length of the MR element covered by the insulator layer.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) read head in which an insulator layer defines the effective track width over which the read head is sensitive. The insulator layer is deposited or patterned to extend a predetermined distance over the MR element, and the predetermined distance is chosen equal to the desired track width. Conductor leads are deposited in contact with the regions of the MR element not covered by the insulator layer with the conductor leads extending up to, and possibly overlapping, the edges of the insulator layer so that the read signal is sensed over the length of the MR element covered by the insulator layer.