Suspension gimbal with reduced pitch stiffness, compliant preloading bridge and unloading limiters

A head suspension for mounting a head/microactuator assembly, comprising a head assembly and a microactuator assembly, in a disc drive that dynamically loads and unloads the head/microactuator assembly into and out of operational engagement with a disc, the head suspension comprising:

• a gimbal portion for providing compliance in a pitch axis of the head/microactuator assembly, the gimbal portion further comprising:
• first means for mounting the head/microactuator assembly to allow the head assembly to move freely in relationship to the microactuator assembly;
• second means for increasing the compliance of the gimbal in the pitch axis;
• a spring portion for generating a load force;
• a rigid beam portion for transferring the load force to the gimbal portion;
• first lift displacement limiting means integral with the gimbal portion;
• and
• second lift displacement limiting means integral with the rigid beam portion;
• the first and second lift displacement limiting means for limiting displacement of the gimbal portion relative to the rigid beam portion during dynamic unloading of the head/microactuator assembly out of operative engagement with the disc.

A head suspension, for mounting a head/microactuator assembly, comprising a head assembly and a microactuator assembly, in a disc drive, the head suspension comprising:

• a beam including a rigid beam portion and a ramp contact feature adapted for loading and unloading the beam;
• a ramp that dynamically loads and unloads the head/microactuator assembly;
• and
• a gimbal portion coupling the head/microactuator assembly to the beam, the gimbal portion comprising:
• mounting portions for attaching the gimbal portion to the head/microactuator assembly via the microactuator assembly to allow free movement of the head assembly relative to the microactuator assembly;
• and
• laterally disposed, longitudinally extending gimbal beams for providing compliance in a pitch axis of the head/microactuator assembly;
• the gimbal beams further comprising, at distal ends thereof, reverse bend portions for increasing the compliance of the gimbal beams in the pitch axis.

A head suspension, for mounting a head/microactuator assembly, comprising a head assembly and a microactuator assembly, in a disc drive that dynamically loads and unloads the head/microactuator assembly into and out of operational engagement with a disc, the head suspension comprising:

• a gimbal portion, comprising:
• mounting portions for attaching the gimbal portion to the head/microactuator assembly via the microactuator assembly to allow free movement of the head assembly relative to the microactuator assembly;
• and
• laterally disposed, longitudinally extending gimbal beams for providing compliance in a pitch axis of the head/microactuator assembly;
• the gimbal beams further comprising, at distal ends thereof, reverse bend portions for increasing the compliance of the gimbal beams in the pitch axis;
• a centrally disposed gimbal leading edge lifting feature;
• and;
• wherein the head suspension further comprises:
• a spring portion for generating a load force;
• a rigid beam portion for transferring the load force to the gimbal portion;
• the rigid beam portion further comprising lift displacement limiting features;
• and
• a leading edge limit feature which extends beneath the gimbal leading edge lifting feature;
• the reverse bend portions contacting the rigid beam lift displacement limiting features and the gimbal leading edge lifting feature contacting the leading edge limit feature during dynamic unloading of the head/microactuator assembly from operative engagement with the disc to limit displacement of the gimbal portion relative to the rigid beam portion.

A head suspension, for mounting a head/microactuator assembly in a disc drive that dynamically loads and unloads the head/microactuator assembly into and out of operational engagement with a disc, the head suspension comprising:

• a gimbal portion, comprising:
• laterally disposed, longitudinally extending gimbal beams for providing compliance in a pitch axis of the head/microactuator assembly;
• the gimbal beams further comprising, at distal ends thereof, reverse bend portions for increasing the compliance of the gimbal beams in the pitch axis;
• and
• a centrally disposed gimbal leading edge lifting feature;
• a spring portion for generating a load force;
• a rigid beam portion for transferring the load force to the gimbal portion;
• the rigid beam portion further comprising:
• lift displacement limiting features;
• and
• a load point spring element mounting a load point protrusion;
• the load point spring element providing a biasing force for encouraging the load point protrusion into engagement with the gimbal portion;
• the reverse bend portions contacting the rigid beam lift displacement limiting features and the gimbal leading edge lifting feature contacting the leading edge limit feature during dynamic unloading of the head/microactuator assembly from operative engagement with the disc to limit displacement of the gimbal portion relative to the rigid beam portion;
• and
• wherein the biasing force of the load point spring element acts to cause contact between the reverse bend portions and the rigid beam lift displacement limiting features and contact between the gimbal leading edge lifting feature and the leading edge limit feature during dynamic loading of the head/microactuator assembly into operative engagement with the disc.

A head suspension, for mounting a head/microactuator assembly, comprising a head assembly and a microactuator assembly, in a disc drive, the head suspension comprising:

• a ramp that dynamically loads and unloads the head/microactuator assembly;
• and
• a gimbal portion, comprising:
• mounting portions for attaching the gimbal portion to the head/microactuator assembly via the microactuator assembly to allow free movement of the head assembly relative to the microactuator assembly;
• laterally disposed, longitudinally extending gimbal beams for providing compliance in a pitch axis of the head/microactuator assembly;
• the gimbal beams further comprising, at distal ends thereof, reverse bend portions for increasing the compliance of the gimbal beams in the pitch axis;
• and
• wherein the microactuator assembly comprises a microactuator motor, and the head suspension further comprising a flex circuit carrying electrical control signals to the microactuator motor.

A head suspension, for mounting a head/microactuator assembly, comprising a head assembly and a microactuator assembly in a disc drive, the head suspension comprising:

• a ramp that dynamically loads and unloads the head/microactuator assembly;
• and
• a gimbal portion, comprising:
• mounting portions for attaching the gimbal portion to the head/microactuator assembly via the microactuator assembly to allow free movement of the head assembly relative to the microactuator assembly;
• laterally disposed, longitudinally extending gimbal beams for providing compliance in a pitch axis of the head/microactuator assembly;
• the gimbal beams further comprising, at distal ends thereof, reverse bend portions for increasing the compliance of the gimbal beams in the pitch axis;
• a flex circuit connected to the microactuator assembly, the microactuator assembly including standoffs and the flex circuit including connecting arms that are soldered to the standoffs.