US Patent 7002779 Thermal pole-tip recession/slide shape variation reduction

A bond pad is elevated from a slider body by a conductive post. The bond pad is disposed atop the post, which typically possesses a cross-sectional area smaller than the surface are of the bond pad. Thus, rather than having the entire surface of the bond pad in contact with the slider body, only the cross-sectional area of the conductive post is in contact therewith. Alternatively, a bond pad may be split into two electrically coupled pads: one pad used for housing a permanent bond, and a second pad used for housing a temporary bond. The pad used to house the temporary wire bond may be disposed atop a sacrificial layer. After a lapping process, the sacrificial layer may be etched away, thereby permitting the temporary pad to be removed.