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US 8,947,831 B1Granted
GSA suspension with microactuators extending to gimbal through flexible connectors
AssigneeMagnecomp Corporation
InventorsKuen Chee Ee, Long Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A dual stage actuated (DSA) suspension includes two PZT microactuators that are attached at their first ends to a non-gimbaled portion of the suspension such as the portion of the flexure that is rigidly attached to the load beam, and are attached at their second ends to the gimbaled portion of the suspension such as the gimbal tongue through flexible connectors that can be formed integrally with the suspension's flexure. The flexible connectors are flexible enough so as not to interfere with the suspension's gimballing action. The flexible connectors transmit force from the PZTs to the gimbal as the PZTs expand and contract in order to rotate the gimbal and thus effect fine movements of the head slider.
Claims18
A gimbal based dual actuated suspension, the suspension having:
- a load beam;
- a gimbaled portion including a gimbal tongue and a head slider mounted thereto, the gimbaled portion being attached in gimbaled fashion to the load beam so that the head slider pitches and rolls freely in response to surface irregularities in a surface of a data disk as the data disk travels underneath the head slider;
- a linear microactuator having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the linear microactuator being attached at its first end to a non-gimbaled portion of the suspension defining a microactuator bonding pad;
- a connecting arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the connecting arm being attached to the second end of the microactuator, and the second end of the connecting arm being attached to the gimbaled portion of the suspension, the connecting arm comprising first and second generally straight segments, the first segment being relatively proximal and the second segment being relatively distal;
- wherein:
- when the linear microactuator contracts, it pulls the connecting arm which in turn pulls the gimbaled portion thereby rotating the gimbaled portion to effect fine movements of the head slider, the connecting arm being sufficiently flexible to allow the gimbaled portion to rotate;
- the following definitions apply:
- P1=a line segment defined by an inside edge of the first straight segment of the connector arm;
- P2=a line segment defined by an inside edge of the second straight segment of the connector arm;
- L1=line segment P1-P2 extended out to infinity on either side;
- L2=line segment P2-P3 extended out to infinity on either side;
- R1=the shortest distance from line L1 to center of rotation 40 of the head slider;
- R2=the shortest distance from line L2 to said center of rotation 40;
- and
- R3=the distance from point P3 to said center of rotation 40;
- and wherein R2≦R1.
13 more elements
A gimbal based dual actuated suspension, the suspension having:
- a load beam;
- a gimbaled portion including a gimbal tongue and a head slider mounted thereto, the gimbaled portion being attached in gimbaled fashion to the load beam so that the head slider pitches and rolls freely in response to surface irregularities in a surface of a data disk as the data disk travels underneath the head slider;
- a linear microactuator having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the linear microactuator being attached at its first end to a non-gimbaled portion of the suspension defining a microactuator bonding pad;
- a connecting arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the connecting arm being attached to the second end of the microactuator, and the second end of the connecting arm being attached to the gimbaled portion of the suspension, the connecting arm comprising first and second generally straight segments, the first segment being relatively proximal and the second segment being relatively distal;
- wherein:
- when the linear microactuator contracts, it pulls the connecting arm which in turn pulls the gimbaled portion thereby rotating the gimbaled portion to effect fine movements of the head slider, the connecting arm being sufficiently flexible to allow the gimbaled portion to rotate;
- the following definitions apply:
- P1=a line segment defined by an inside edge of the first straight segment of the connector arm;
- P2=a line segment defined by an inside edge of the second straight segment of the connector arm;
- L1=line segment P1-P2 extended out to infinity on either side;
- L2=line segment P2-P3 extended out to infinity on either side;
- R1=the shortest distance from line L1 to center of rotation 40 of the head slider;
- R2=the shortest distance from line L2 to said center of rotation 40;
- and
- R3=the distance from point P3 to said center of rotation 40;
- and wherein R1, R2, and R3 are all less than 0.3 mm.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.