Disk Drive Suspension Assembly With PZT Actuators Having Active And Inactive Regions

A suspension assembly comprising:

• a load beam including a proximal end terminating in a hinge;
• a gimbal assembly mounted to the load beam;
• a base plate including a distal end connected to the hinge and including a first opening;
• and
• a first PZT actuator disposed in the first opening and including first and second opposing ends that are mounted to first and second opposing ends of the first opening, wherein the first PZT actuator comprises:
• an active region extending between the first and second opposing ends of the first PZT actuator,
• an inactive region extending between the first and second opposing ends of the first PZT actuator,
• PZT material disposed in the active region and the inactive region of the first PZT actuator, and
• a first electrode and a second electrode configured to cause active expansion and contraction of the PZT material in the active region of the first PZT actuator in response to voltage differentials applied to the first electrode and the second electrode of the first PZT actuator, and configured to not cause active expansion and contraction of the PZT material in the inactive region of the first PZT actuator in response to voltage differentials applied to the first electrode and the second electrode of the first PZT actuator.