Abstract: A motion sensing transducer includes an electrically conductive substrate having a major surface that defines a substrate plane, and a first compliant structure including a piezoelectric material and having greater compliance to inertial forces oriented out of the substrate plane than to inertial forces oriented in the substrate plane. The first compliant structure includes a piezoelectric material. The motion sensing transducer includes a second compliant structure having greater compliance to inertial forces oriented in the substrate plane than to inertial forces oriented out of the substrate plane. The second compliant structure includes a first surface that is electrically isolated from the substrate. The first surface faces a surface of the substrate. The motion sensing transducer includes a first electrically conductive lead that is electrically connected to the first surface, and a second electrically conductive lead that is electrically connected to the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a piezoelectric multilayer are described. The method includes providing conductive layers. Alternating conductive layers are electrically connected. A first plurality of alternating conductive layers is electrically isolated from a second plurality of alternating conductive layers. Piezoelectric layers are interleaved with the conductive layers. Apertures are provided in the piezoelectric layers. A first conductive plug electrically connects the first plurality of alternating conductive layers, includes a first plurality of segments, and is in apertures in the piezoelectric layers. Each of the first plurality of segments extends through one of the piezoelectric layers. A second conductive plug electrically connects the second plurality of alternating conductive layers, includes a second plurality of segments, and is in a second portion of the plurality of apertures. Each of the second plurality of segments extends through one of the plurality of piezoelectric layers.

Abstract: A novel head gimbal assembly (HGA) includes a piezoelectric microactuator having a first side and an opposing second side. The first side includes a plurality of anchor regions that extend radially from a center point and are bonded to the gimbal tongue. The first side also includes a first plurality of non-bonded regions lying between the anchor regions. The second side includes a plurality of link regions that extend radially from the center point and are bonded to a top surface of the read head. The second side also includes a second plurality of non-bonded regions lying between the link regions. Each of the plurality of link regions is angularly spaced between two of the plurality of anchor regions.

Abstract: A method and system for fabricating a piezoelectric multilayer are described. The method and system include providing conductive layers. Alternating conductive layers are electrically connected. A first plurality of alternating conductive layers is electrically isolated from a second plurality of alternating conductive layers. Piezoelectric layers are interleaved with the conductive layers. Apertures are provided in the piezoelectric layers. A first conductive plug electrically connects the first plurality of alternating conductive layers, includes a first plurality of segments, and is in apertures in the piezoelectric layers. Each of the first plurality of segments extends through one of the piezoelectric layers. A second conductive plug electrically connects the second plurality of alternating conductive layers, includes a second plurality of segments, and is in a second portion of the plurality of apertures.

Abstract: A nanomagnetic flip-flop, or register. The nanomagnetic register receives a signal from an input signal nanomagnet on a first clock cycle, and provides the input to an output signal nanomagnet on a second clock cycle. The input signal nanomagnet and the output signal nanomagnet are arranged on a substrate. Each of the signal nanomagnets has an easy axis and a hard axis that are substantially in a signal plane. A register nanomagnet is arranged on the substrate between the input signal nanomagnet and the output signal nanomagnet. The register nanomagnet has an easy axis and a hard axis that are substantially in a register plane. The register plane is not coplanar with the signal plane.

Abstract: A method and system for propagating signals along a line of nanomagnets. Nanomagnets having an easy axis and a hard axis are provided a biaxial anisotropy term, which increases metastability along the hard axis. The nanomagnets are forced into hard-axis alignment. A magnetization direction of a first nanomagnet is caused to cant upward. Dipole coupling interactions between the first nanomagnet and an adjacent nanomagnet cause a magnetization direction of the adjacent nanomagnet to cant downward in an anti-parallel alignment. This cascade continues reliably along the line of nanomagnets. The biaxial anisotropy term provides additional stability along the hard axis to ensure the nanomagnets do not prematurely align along the easy axis. Various logic gates using nanomagnets, stabilizer nanomagnets, destabilizer nanomagnets, and magnetic diodes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel head gimbal assembly (HGA) includes a piezoelectric microactuator having a first side and an opposing second side. The first side includes a plurality of anchor regions that extend radially from a center point and are bonded to the gimbal tongue. The first side also includes a first plurality of non-bonded regions lying between the anchor regions. The second side includes a plurality of link regions that extend radially from the center point and are bonded to a top surface of the read head. The second side also includes a second plurality of non-bonded regions lying between the link regions. Each of the plurality of link regions is angularly spaced between two of the plurality of anchor regions.