Patent ID: 7423843

Claim:
A magnetic head structure comprising: (a) a magnetic head operable to at least one of (1) read from and (2) write onto a magnetic recording medium upon rotation of said magnetic recording medium relative to said magnetic head; (b) a support member supporting said magnetic head and having an air bearing surface positioned, when operating said magnetic head, adjacent said magnetic recording medium, (c) said support member including: (1) an air inlet region; (2) an air outlet region; (3) a first pad member; and (4) a second pad member; (d) said air bearing surface including: (5) first and second surfaces formed on outer surfaces of said first and second pad members respectively; (6) a third surface, (7) said first, second and third surfaces located in ascending order in a height direction from a level closest to the magnetic recording medium to a level furthest from the magnetic recording medium; (e) said first and second pad members, and said third surface forming: (8) a first positive pressure-generating region formed by positioning said first pad member at least partially overlying said second surface of said second pad member and positioning same substantially under a load point from a suspension; (9) a first negative pressure-generating region formed by the third surface positioned between the air inlet region and the first positive pressure-generating region; (10) a second negative pressure-generating region formed by the third surface positioned between the first positive pressure-generating region and the air outlet region; (f) said first positive pressure-generating region, said first negative pressure-generating region, and said second negative pressure-generating region forming a first positive pressure, a first negative pressure and a second negative pressure respectively upon positioning of said support member adjacent said magnetic recording medium and rotating said magnetic recording medium, wherein said first pad member includes a first part and a second part, and said second pad member includes a first part and a second part, and wherein the first positive pressure-generating region includes first and second central pads, said first central pad formed by overlying said first part of said first pad member on said first part of said second pad member, and said second central pad formed by overlying said second part of said first pad member on said second part of said second pad member, said first and second central pads arranged at opposite side central portions of said support member along the longitudinal direction thereof, to sandwich the third surface therebetween, and wherein said support member further includes first and second outlet side pads each having the second surface as outer surfaces thereof, said first and second outlet side pads formed on opposite sides of the support member along the widthwise direction thereof adjacent the air outlet region to sandwich the third surface therebetween.