US Patent 7583473 Air bearing with both low altitude and speed sensitivities

An air bearing surface of a slider is described. In one embodiment, the air bearing surface comprises a center channel. The air bearing surface further comprises a plurality of side channels, wherein at least one side channel of the plurality of side channels is open to the center channel, and a plurality of pocket areas. The center channel, the plurality of side channels, and the plurality of pocket areas are configured to allow air to flow along the center channel toward the trailing edge of the ABS, such that a change in ambient pressure and a change and relative velocity of a head assembly with respect to a data storage medium of a data storage device would not significantly affect the fly height of a head assembly utilizing the ABS.