Patent ID: 8081400

Claim:
A slider having an air-bearing surface, comprising: an ID-side leading pad proximate to an ID-side leading corner of the slider; an OD-side leading pad proximate to an OD-side leading corner of the slider; an ID-side trailing pad proximate to an ID-side trailing corner of the slider; an OD-side trailing pad proximate to an OD-side trailing corner of the slider; an ID-side leading pocket extending from the air-bearing surface toward the ID-side leading pad, the ID-side leading pocket comprising a first step surface surrounded by a first trailing-side wall, a first ID-side wall, a first OD-side wall, and an open leading side, the first step surface having a first depth; an OD-side leading pocket extending from the air-bearing surface toward the OD-side leading pad, the OD-side leading pocket comprising a second step surface surrounded by a second trailing-side wall, a second ID-side wall, a second OD-side wall, and an open leading side, the second step surface having a second depth; an ID-side trailing pocket extending from the air-bearing surface toward the ID-side trailing pad, the ID-side trailing pocket comprising a third step surface surrounded by a third trailing-side wall, a third ID-side wall, a third OD-side wall, and an open leading side, the third step surface having a third depth; an OD-side trailing pocket extending from the air-bearing surface toward the OD-side trailing pad, the OD-side trailing pocket comprising a fourth step surface surrounded by a fourth trailing-side wall, a fourth ID-side wall, and a fourth OD-side wall, and an open leading side, the fourth step surface having a fourth depth; and at least one cavity between the ID-side leading pad, the OD-side leading pad, the ID-side trailing pad, and the OD-side trailing pad, the at least one cavity including a bottom surface of the slider having a cavity depth greater than the first depth, the second depth, the third depth, and the fourth depth.