Patent ID: 6333835
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A magnetic head for reading and writing to a surface of a rotating magnetic disk, comprising:a base having a first side and an opposite second side, the first side having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and two lateral edges extending therebetween;an air bearing formed on the first side of the base that is both longitudinally and laterally asymmetric; the air bearing comprising:a plurality of air bearing pads extending therefrom having step-shaped leading edge pads and a trailing edge pad;a plurality of shallow pockets formed in the air bearing at a first depth relative to the air bearing pads;a deep pocket formed in the air bearing at a second depth relative to the air bearing pads, the second depth being substantially greater than the first depth; anda gap formed at the second depth between the leading edge air bearing pads that extends from the deep pocket to the leading edge of the base, the gap having a transverse dimension that is less than a transverse dimension of the leading edge pads.