Positive coupling of piezoelectric devices in disk drive suspensions

A disk drive suspension comprising a load beam having a base portion and a beam portion adapted to carry a slider in operating proximity to a disk, and a dimensionally variable electrodynamic microactuator having thickness and a perimeter, said load beam having a part extending into said microactuator perimeter, said microactuator acting through said part to selectively displace said beam portion relative to said base portion, said microactuator comprising a piezoelectric crystal, said crystal extending in a plane, said load beam extending in a plane generally parallel to said crystal plane, said load beam part locking said crystal and said load beam in shear.

A disk drive suspension comprising a load beam having a base portion and a beam portion adapted to carry a slider in operating proximity to a disk, and a dimensionally variable electrodynamic microactuator having thickness and a perimeter, said load beam having a part extending into said microactuator perimeter, said microactuator acting through said part to selectively displace said beam portion relative to said base portion, said microactuator comprising a piezoelectric crystal, said crystal extending in a plane, said load beam extending in a plane generally parallel to said crystal plane, said load beam part locking said crystal and said load beam in shear, said load beam and microactuator being bonded together.

A disk drive suspension comprising a load beam having a base portion and a beam portion adapted to carry a slider in operating proximity to a disk, and a dimensionally variable electrodynamic microactuator having a thickness and a perimeter, first and second load beam parts within said microactuator thickness and perimeter, said microactuator acting through said first and second parts to selectively displace said beam portion relative to said base portion.

A disk drive suspension comprising a load beam having a base portion and a beam portion adapted to carry a slider in operating proximity to a disk, and a dimensionally variable electrodynamic microactuator having a thickness and a perimeter, first and second load beam parts within said microactuator thickness and perimeter, said microactuator acting through said first and second parts to selectively displace said beam portion relative to said base portion, said microactuator comprising a piezoelectric crystal, said crystal extending in a plane, said load beam extending in a plane generally parallel to said crystal plane, said load beam part locking said crystal and said load beam in shear.

A method of bonding a load beam and a microactuator having a thickness and a perimeter, said load beam and said microactuator having opposing surfaces including a projecting load beam part, including increasing the surface of said microactuator within its said thickness and perimeter and opposite said load beam projecting part to increase its surface area, and bonding said load beam projecting part to said increased surface of said microactuator within said microactuator