Piezoelectric Disk Drive Suspension Motors Having Plated Stiffeners
AssigneeHutchinson Technology Incorporated
InventorJacob D. Bjorstrom
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure. The flexure comprises a gimbal on which a motor is mounted. The motor comprises a first terminal, one or more layers of piezoelectric material, and a metal stiffener disposed directly on the first terminal. The stiffener comprises a layer of metal defining a majority of a top side of the motor. The first terminal can be gold sputtered on the piezoelectric material while the stiffener can be nickel plated on the gold. The stiffener can cause the motor, and the flexure on which it is mounted, to curl upon electrical activation of the motor.
Claims21
1-7. (canceled)
A motor, comprising:
- one or more piezoelectric material actuator layers defining first and second major broad sides;
- a first conductive layer on the first major broad side, the first conductive has a thickness and an elastic modulus and is configured to connect with a first terminal pad;
- a second conductive layer on the second major broad side, the second conductive layer has a thickness and an elastic modulus and is configured to connect with a second terminal pad;
- and
- a stiffener layer on and in contact with one of the first and second conductive layers, the stiffener layer formed on one of the first and second major broad sides, the stiffener having one or more sides recessed from a corresponding side of the one or more piezoelectric material actuator layers.
a suspension structure comprising:
- a flexure including:
- a first spring arm and a second spring arm,
- a tongue having a slider mounting region supported by and located between the first spring arm and the second spring arm, and
- a plurality of electrical traces including a first trace and a second trace;
- and
- a motor including:
- one or more piezoelectric material actuator layers define a first major broad side and a second major broad side,
- a first conductive layer on the first major broad side, the first conductive has a thickness and an elastic modulus and is configured to connect with a first terminal pad,
- a second conductive layer on the second major broad side, the second conductive layer has a thickness and an elastic modulus and is configured to connect with a second terminal pad, and
- a stiffener layer on and in contact with one of the first and second conductive layers, the stiffener layer formed on one of the first and second major broad sides, the stiffener having one or more sides recessed from a corresponding side of the one or more piezoelectric material actuator layers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.