Electrical lapping guide embedded in a shield of a magnetic head

1. A method of manufacturing a magnetic head, comprising:

forming a layer of magnetic, electrically conductive material;

forming first and second electrically insulating gaps in said magnetic, electrically conductive material layer said first and second gaps terminating substantially at a predetermined lap stop location, said first and second gaps defining a central portion and first and second laterally opposed outer portions of said magnetic, electrically conductive layer;

forming a magnetoresistive sensor;

forming a first electrically conductive lead connected with said first outer portion of said magnetic, electrically conductive layer;

forming a second electrically conductive lead connected with said second outer portion of said magnetic, electrically conductive layer; and

performing a lapping operation until at least one of said first and second gaps is reached.

2. A method as recited in clam 1 further comprising measuring an electrical resistance between said first and second leads until an increase in said resistance indicates that said lap stop location has been reached.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein a portion of said magnetic, electrically conductive layer extending beyond said lap stop location is contiguous.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said magnetic, electrically conductive layer is formed before the formation of said sensor so as to be formed below said sensor.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said magnetic, electrically conductive layer is formed after the formation of said sensor so as to be formed above said sensor.

6. A method for constructing a magnetic head, comprising

forming a magnetoresistive sensor;

forming a layer of magnetic, electrically conductive material having proximal and distal ends, and first and second lateral side portions;

providing a gap in said layer of magnetic, electrically conductive material, said gap terminating short of said proximal end and extending through said distal end;

performing a lapping operation, said lapping operation initiating from said proximal end and proceeding toward said distal end;

measuring an electrical resistance across said magnetic, electrically conductive layer from said first lateral side portion to said second lateral side portion;

ceasing lapping when said electrical resistance reaches a predetermined value.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein said layer of magnetoresistive sensor is formed before the formation of said magnetic, electrically conductive material.

8. A method as in claim 6 , wherein said layer of magnetoresistive sensor is formed after the formation of said magnetic, electrically conductive material.

9. A method as in claim 6 , further comprising depositing a dielectric layer between said sensor and said magnetic, electrically conductive material material.