Read/write head with a limited range of motion relative to a load beam

Abstract

A head gimbal assembly includes a suspension of the type supporting a slider and a flex circuit. The suspension is formed of a load beam that supports the flex circuit, and a resilient flexure which is secured to the load beam and which supports the slider. The load beam is comprised of a flexure portion that defines a rear motion limiter and that engages the flex circuit and limits the slider movement when the head gimbal assembly is exposed to a shock load. The rear motion limiter extends intermediate the flex circuit and the flexure. The flex circuit includes a flexure section which is separated from the rear motion limiter by a gap, such that under a shock load condition, the gap collapses for limiting the travel of the slider along a first direction. The front motion limiter can be formed of one or a plurality of tabs or wings that extend integrally from the load beam. According to another embodiment, the head gimbal assembly includes a front motion limiter that engages a cantilevered free end of the flexure for limiting the travel of the slider along a second direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.