Piezoelectric assembly for micropositioning a disc drive head
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsJohn S. Wright, Jeffrey K. Berkowitz, Lanshi Zheng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An assembly and method for micropositioning a disc drive head is described. An implementation of the assembly includes a gimbal, a piezoelectric element bonded to the gimbal and electrically connected to a voltage source, and a slider connected to the piezoelectric element. The assembly may also include at least a second piezoelectric element bonded to the gimbal and connected to the slider. The piezoelectric elements may be made of PZT material, and each may be in a monomorph or bimorph configuration.
Claims16
An assembly for micropositioning a disc drive head, comprising:
- a gimbal;
- a piezoelectric element in a beam configuration having a first surface and a second surface bonded to the gimbal, and electrically connected to a voltage source wherein the beam includes a first end and a second end;
- and
- a slider bonded to the piezoelectric element solely at the first and second ends.
A method for producing an assembly for micropositioning a disc drive head, comprising:
- manufacturing at least one piezoelectric actuator in a beam configuration to have dimensions to fit between a slider and a gimbal, the piezoelectric beam having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- connecting only a portion near a first end of the beam and a portion near a second end of the beam on the first surface of the piezoelectric actuator to the slider;
- and
- connecting only a portion near the approximate middle of the second surface of the piezoelectric actuator to the gimbal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.