Pseudo contact type negative pressure air bearing slider

A negative pressure air bearing slider, comprising:

• a slider body for flying above a surface of a recording disc during relative rotation of the disc, the slider body having a principal surface facing the surface of the disc, said slider having a lead edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the lead edge is spaced upstream of the rear edge along a longitudinal axis of said slider body, the longitudinal axis coincident with a tangential rotational direction of the recording disc, and wherein the first side edge is spaced from the second side edge along a latitudinal axis of said slider body;
• first and second projections extending from a lead portion of said principal surface adjacent to said lead edge to provide first and second air bearing surfaces, said first and second air bearing surfaces spaced apart from each other along said latitudinal axis and located proximal to said first and second side edges of said slider body such that a gap is provided therebetween;
• a U-shaped projection extending from said principal surface of said slider body, said U-shaped projection including an arcuate front wall and first and second side walls extending from each end of said front wall, each of said side walls extending rearwardly toward said rear portion and outwardly toward an adjacent side edge of said slider body for defining a negative pressure cavity therein, a forwardmost portion of said arcuate front wall located at least partially between said first and second air bearing surfaces such that first and second passages are formed between the arcuate front wall and a rear edge of said first and second air bearing surfaces, said passages communicating with said gap to provide a flow path that extends from said lead portion and terminates along said side edges prior to reaching a rear portion of said slider body adjacent to said rear edge thereof, said first and second wall portions terminating at said rear portion of said slider body for defining third and fourth air bearing surfaces spaced apart along said latitudinal axis and located proximal to said first and second side edges of said slider body, the air bearing surfaces positioned about on said principle principal surface of said slider body such that four separate and distinct positive pressure areas are provided when said slider body is flying above said rotating disc;
• and
• a fourth projection extending from said rear portion of said slider body, said fourth projection generally aligned with said longitudinal axis of said slider body, the fourth projection including a transducer mounted on a rear edge thereof for establishing pseudo contact with the disc surface while said slider body is flying above said disc.