Actuator Mount Region Detail Patents (Class 360/244.5)
  • Patent number: 11694715
    Abstract: A head suspension assembly includes a support plate, a wiring member on the support plate, a head mounted on the wiring member and electrically connected to the wiring member, and a piezoelectric element mounted on the wiring member. The piezoelectric element has first and second electrodes electrically connected to the wiring member. The wiring member includes a metal layer, a base insulating layer, a conductive layer, and a cover insulating layer stacked in order. The cover insulating layer includes a pad opening through which the first electrode is connected to the conductive layer with a conducive adhesive therebetween. The base insulating layer includes a first region below the first pad opening and a second region below a side surface of the piezoelectric element. A thickness of the base insulating layer in the second region is less than a thickness of the base insulating layer in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Suzuki, Takuma Kido
  • Patent number: 11232811
    Abstract: An approach to a head gimbal assembly, such as for a hard disk drive, includes an offset swage plate coupling a suspension to one side of an actuator arm and another offset swage plate coupling another suspension to an opposing second side of the actuator arm. Each offset swage plate includes a main body, a swage through-hole through a first lateral or longitudinal side of the main body, a swage boss around the perimeter of the swage through-hole and extending substantially normal to the main body, and a clearance through-hole through an opposing second lateral or longitudinal side of the main body, the clearance through-hole having no swage boss. Each offset swage plate is configured in the assembly in a position opposing the other, such that the corresponding swage bosses are positioned on different lateral/longitudinal sides of the arm tip so that there is no coaxial swage boss buildup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kia Moh Teo, Yanning Liu, Hiroyasu Tsuchida, Kathryn Tao
  • Patent number: 11017803
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk drive includes a first actuator assembly, and a second actuator assembly. In the first actuator assembly, arms each includes a slit provided at a side face of the arm, the slit expending from an extending end of the arm to a first actuator block. The slit is provided such that a central line of the slit in its width direction is offset in position from a central line of the arm in its thickness direction in a direction further away from a boundary plane between the first and second actuator assemblies. The arm have a first inclined face and a second inclined face formed at an open end portion of the slit, the first and second inclined face each inclining in a direction in which an open width of the slit widens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Yoshikawa, Makoto Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10811040
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk device includes a plurality of disk-shaped recording media, a first actuator assembly supported by a support shaft, a second actuator assembly supported by the support shaft and spaced from the first actuator assembly, a flexible printed wiring board includes a base portion, a first relay portion extending from the base portion and connected to the first actuator assembly, and a second relay portion extending from the base portion and connected to the second actuator assembly, a support member fixed to the base portion of the flexible printed wiring board, and a reinforcing member provided in the base portion in the vicinity of the first relay portion and the second relay portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kota Tokuda, Nobuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10657993
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk device comprises a plurality of rotatable magnetic disks, a first actuator assembly, and a second actuator assembly. A slit provided in each of arms of the first actuator assembly is provided to be offset in a direction spaced away from a border plane between actuator assemblies with respect to a center of the arm in its thickness direction. A connection end portion of a wiring member is partially located in the slit, such as to be offset in a direction spaced away from the border plane, and disposed on a wiring board, and joined to the wiring board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Manabu Uehara, Yasutaka Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10643655
    Abstract: In one implementation, the presently disclosed technology teaches an apparatus with a head attached to an end of a baseplate. The baseplate includes a tilted section that causes a torsion axis of the baseplate to pass near the head. In another implementation, the presently disclosed technology teaches an apparatus with a load beam attached to a baseplate. The apparatus also includes a head attached to an opposite end of the load beam from the baseplate. The baseplate includes a mass-shifted section that causes a torsion axis of the apparatus to pass through the head. In yet another implementation, the presently disclosed technology teaches a method for reducing baseplate resonance amplitude. The method includes shifting a baseplate mass on a suspension toward an adjacent disc surface to move a baseplate torsion axis to pass near a head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Michael Allen Greminger, Bradley Jay Ver Meer, Markus Erwin Mangold
  • Patent number: 10026426
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a sensor, the sensor having a free layer, a ferromagnetic spin sink layer spaced from the free layer, the spin sink layer being operative to reduce a spin-induced damping in the free layer during operation of the sensor, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer positioned between the free layer and the spin sink layer, the spacer layer having a long spin-diffusion length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Gao, James Mac Freitag
  • Patent number: 9502057
    Abstract: A base plate for a suspension has a swage hub whose inner diameter is offset from the outer diameter, and more specifically, the inner diameter of the swage hub is offset so as to be farther away from the head slider than is the outer diameter. The offset reduces variability in post-swaging deflection of the suspension at the distal end of the base plate to which the load beam is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Schreiber, Peter Hahn
  • Patent number: 9368138
    Abstract: In a first terminal portion, a first conductor, a terminal element as a first protection, and a first gold-plating layer are provided. The first terminal element is thicker than a base nickel layer of a slider terminal portion. The first gold-plating layer is provided with a first roughening processed portion. An electrically conductive paste contacts the roughening processed portion. In a second terminal portion, a second conductor, a terminal element as a second protection, and a second gold-plating layer are provided. The second terminal element is thicker than the base nickel layer. The second gold-plating layer is provided with a second roughening processed portion. An electrically conductive paste contacts the second roughening processed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Inoue, Sei Kawao, Rintarou Niwa
  • Patent number: 9165578
    Abstract: A swage mount is provided for attaching a head suspension assembly to a head actuator arm for a hard disk drive. The swage mount has a flange body with a thickness for providing clearance from the underlying disk. The swage mount may have a tip for in-plane movement. The tip may be ‘T’ shaped. The tip has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the flange body for withstanding out-of-plane loads and for enhancing performance of the hard disk drive, for example, during reading/writing of data using the head. Mass properties of the swage mount, the twisting/bending yield load, modal frequency responses, and other performance metrics are analyzed to design the dimensions of the swage mount having favorable in-plane compliance and superior out-of-plane robustness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: INTRI-PLEX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: David Django Dexter, Paul Wesley Smith, Adam Donald Sutton, Ryan John Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9093089
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a suspension assembly includes a support plate, a trace member attached to the support plate, and an actuation element configured to expand and contract, and fixed to the trace member. The trace member includes a proximal-end plate portion, a metallic plate including a division plate portion, an insulating layer including a bridge portion, a conductive layer to form a plurality of traces and a counter-plate provided on the bridge portion between the proximal-end plate portion and the division plate portion and opposing the actuation element via the insulating layer, and the actuation element is located on the bridge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kenichiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 9076469
    Abstract: A head assembly includes: a first link that is disposed to interconnect between a first joint connected to a slider support plate and a second joint connected to a first fixing unit; a second link that is disposed to interconnect between a third joint connected to the slider support plate and a fourth joint connected to a second fixing unit; a first drive unit that drives the first link; and a second drive unit that drives the second link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Kuwajima, Taku Someya
  • Patent number: 9070391
    Abstract: A baseplate for attaching at least two elements includes a flange having at least one first portion with a first uniform thickness and having at least one second portion with a second uniform thickness. The second uniform thickness is less than the first uniform thickness. The baseplate further includes a boss tower that protrudes from and is contiguous with the flange. The boss tower protrudes from the at least one second portion of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Gary J. Berscheit
  • Patent number: 9013833
    Abstract: A head stack assembly comprising an actuator arm having an aperture therein, a head suspension assembly comprising a load beam having a mounting region with a aperture therein, and a base plate adapted to attach the head suspension assembly to the actuator arm, with the base plate comprising a boss tower having an outside surface and a swaging hole. One of the actuator arm aperture, the boss tower outside surface or the swaging hole is non-circular to provide increased compression between the boss tower and the actuator arm aperture in the roll direction than in the pitch direction. Methods of making a boss tower are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Prapan Aparimarn, Surawut Onasakorn, Joomponladej Bamrungwongtaree
  • Patent number: 8995092
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a base plate, after deburring and heat-treating a half-finished base plate, cuts off a scrap section at the ends of the scrap section from a half-finished actuator attaching area so that cutting surfaces left in a finished actuator attaching area are positioned onto the inner perimeter of the finished actuator attaching area and are oriented to at least partly face an actuator attaching position inside the finished actuator attaching area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Yonekura, Shinji Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8929032
    Abstract: In one implementation, the presently disclosed technology teaches an apparatus with a head attached to an end of a baseplate. The baseplate includes a tilted section that causes a torsion axis of the baseplate to pass near the head. In another implementation, the presently disclosed technology teaches an apparatus with a load beam attached to a baseplate. The apparatus also includes a head attached to an opposite end of the load beam from the baseplate. The baseplate includes a mass-shifted section that causes a torsion axis of the apparatus to pass through the head. In yet another implementation, the presently disclosed technology teaches a method for reducing baseplate resonance amplitude. The method includes shifting a baseplate mass on a suspension toward an adjacent disc surface to move a baseplate torsion axis to pass near a head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Allen Greminger, Bradley Jay Ver Meer, Markus Erwin Mangold
  • Patent number: 8869382
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a suspension for a disk drive includes providing and assembling an actuator coupling plate, a bend region, a load beam, and a head receiving gimbal. The load beam has a first end and a second end and defines a longitudinal axis that bisects the first end and the second end. The load beam is coupled to the gimbal proximate the first end and includes a base region proximate the second end, the base region having a first lateral section to one side of the longitudinal axis and a second lateral section to another side of the longitudinal axis. The first and the second lateral sections define a gap therebetween, and the base region has a bridge extending across the gap. A constraint layer overlays the gap and the bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Westren Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Min Lee, Tzong-Shii Pan
  • Patent number: 8873202
    Abstract: A head gimbal assembly includes a base plate, a load beam, a first end of which is supported by the base plate, a magnetic head supported at a second end of the load beam, a flexure including a plurality of wirings electrically connected to the magnetic head, the flexure extending from a surface of the base plate to an edge of the base plate, an adhesive applied in a space formed between the surface of the base plate and a surface of the flexure facing the surface of the base plate to bond the flexure to the base plate and to the edge of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hirofumi Nesori, Yasutaka Sasaki, Takafumi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8760813
    Abstract: A terminal area includes a metal plate, an electrically insulating layer, and a conductor layer. An opening section is formed in the metal plate and the insulating layer. A gold plating layer is formed on a surface of the conductor layer inside the opening section. A porous metal layer of a first transition element is formed on a surface of the gold plating layer. Through-holes of the porous metal layer reach the surface of the gold plating layer. An electrically conductive adhesive is provided between an electrode of an actuator element and the porous metal layer. An anchor portion of the electrically conductive adhesive gets into the through-holes and is cured. Conductive particles of the electrically conductive adhesive contact the gold plating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Arai
  • Publication number: 20140168814
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a load beam, a base plate fixed to a proximal-end portion of the load beam, a flexure attached to the load beam and the base plate, a gimbal portion formed of a distal-end portion of the flexure positioned on a distal-end portion of the load beam, a magnetic head attached to the gimbal portion, and electrically connected to the traces of the flexure, a concave portion formed in the gimbal portion, and concaved toward the thin metallic plate side, and a piezoelectric element arranged in the concave portion, fixed on a bottom of the concave portion, and configured to expand/contract in a longitudinal direction of the flexure by application of a voltage thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Masaya Kudo
  • Patent number: 8705209
    Abstract: A suspension clamp is disclosed for clamping a disk drive suspension to an actuator arm. The suspension clamp comprises a housing including a spring operable to bias a latching member, wherein the latching member is rotatable about a pivot. After compressing the spring and rotating the latching member in a first direction, the latching member is operable to clamp the suspension to the actuator arm by decompressing the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Seymour, Mitchell D. Dougherty, Walter G. Banshak, Jr., Geoffrey A. Hales
  • Publication number: 20140098440
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure comprising flexure which comprises a gimbal. The gimbal comprises at least one spring arm and a tongue connected to the at least one spring arm. The dual stage actuation structure further comprises a motor mounted on the gimbal, the motor comprising a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, the bottom side of the motor facing the flexure. The dual stage actuation structure further comprises a damper located between the motor and the flexure, the damper contacting the tongue and the bottom side of the motor. The damper comprises one or both of elastic and viscoelastic material. Various other features of a dual stage actuation structure are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Nole D. German
  • Patent number: 8689429
    Abstract: A method of reworking a head suspension removes a slider from the head suspension by pressing a blade from a first side toward a second side in a longitudinal direction of the slider to solder ball bonding, stopping the second side of the slider in the longitudinal direction with a holding mechanism, and forcing the blade to bite and cut the solder ball bonding to remove the slider from the flexure. The solder ball bonding is cut without applying extra force to components of the head suspension except the slider. The method improves product yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sei Kawao, Takeshi Shimoda, Shinpei Kakiuchi
  • Publication number: 20140085754
    Abstract: A slider and microactuator elements are disposed on a gimbal portion of a flexure. A tongue of the gimbal portion has a first tongue portion, a second tongue portion, and a hinge portion. A leading-side portion of the slider is movably disposed on the first tongue portion. A trailing-side portion of the slider is secured to the second tongue portion. The hinge portion is formed between the first tongue portion and the second tongue portion. The gimbal portion is provided with a damper member includes a viscoelastic material layer and a constrained plate. The damper member comprises a first damper and a second damper. The hinge portion is exposed between the first damper and the second damper. A dimple on a load beam contacts the hinge portion at a point of contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao HANYA, Kenichi TAKIKAWA, Toshiki ANDO
  • Publication number: 20140085755
    Abstract: A slider and a microactuator element are disposed on a gimbal portion of a flexure. The gimbal portion comprises a metal base, an electrically insulating resin layer, a conductor disposed on the resin layer, an electrically insulating adhesive block, and an electrically conductive paste. The adhesive block secures an end portion of the microactuator element to the metal base. The conductive paste is provided between the conductor and an electrode of the microactuator element. A first adhesive interface extending along the thickness of the resin layer, a second adhesive interface extending along a surface of the resin layer, and a corner portion are formed between the metal base and the conductive paste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao HANYA, Kenichi TAKIKAWA, Toshiki ANDO
  • Patent number: 8654482
    Abstract: A dual stage actuator (DSA) suspension has a single microactuator such as a PZT element on one side of central longitudinal axis of the suspension, and a pseudo symmetry structure formed or affixed on the other side of the central longitudinal axis opposite the PZT. The pseudo symmetry structure has mass and stiffness that mirrors the PZT, thus keeping the suspension mechanically balanced and symmetric about the longitudinal axis for improved suspension performance especially in a shock environment. The pseudo symmetry structure can include a spring to keep the PZT under compression to prevent PZT failure, and/or a strain gauge for use by the head positioning servo-control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Hahn, Wei Keat Chai, Kuen Chee Ee, Brett Holaway
  • Patent number: 8640328
    Abstract: A system for fastening a head stack to a hard drive base assembly (HDBA) comprises a threaded head stack pivot (THSP) having a socket defined therein. The socket comprises a proximal portion defined by inner walls arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the socket and a distal portion having a width less than a width of the proximal portion and forming a ledge adjacent to the proximal portion. The system also comprises a bit for driving the THSP into an HDBA. The bit comprises a head comprising contact surfaces arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bit and tapered surfaces extending from respective contact surfaces to a distal end of the bit. The bit is configured to engage the ledge at seams formed between adjacent tapered surfaces and to engage the inner walls with respective contact surfaces when driving the THSP into the HDBA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chin Wai Yow, Jit Han Tan
  • Publication number: 20140022675
    Abstract: A microactuator element is disposed on a gimbal portion of a flexure. A first end of the element is secured to a first supporting portion by a first insulating adhesive. A second end is secured to a second supporting portion by a second insulating adhesive. A first conductor is disposed on the first supporting portion. A second conductor on the ground side is disposed on the second supporting portion. A first electrode is disposed on a first end of the element. A first electrically conductive paste is provided between the first electrode and the first conductor. A second electrode is disposed on a second end of the element. A second electrically conductive paste is provided between the second electrode and the second conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Masao HANYA, Kenichi TAKIKAWA, Toshiki ANDO, Masaru INOUE
  • Publication number: 20140022674
    Abstract: A slider and microactuator elements are disposed on a gimbal portion of a flexure. A first end portion of each of the elements is secured to a first supporting portion. A second end portion is secured to a second supporting portion. A ground-side conductor is provided on the second supporting portion. A limiter member consists mainly of a resin shared with an insulating layer of a conductive circuit portion. The limiter member comprises a grounding junction, a first bridge portion, and a second bridge portion. The grounding junction is secured to the second supporting portion. The first bridge portion extends in a first direction from the grounding junction. The second bridge portion extends in a second direction from the grounding junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Kenichi TAKIKAWA, Masao HANYA, Toshiki ANDO
  • Patent number: 8630066
    Abstract: In a hard disk drive, for the purpose of solving a problem that a mass of the tip of a VCM actuator increases, a primary resonance frequency lowers and a control band lowers in a case where a balance driving mechanism which damps a vibration during the driving of a microactuator is mounted, a damping unit using a displacement enlargement mechanism by resonance is disposed to obtain a sufficient damping effect with a small mass, thereby setting a resonance frequency of the damping unit to be higher than a frequency of a resonance peak of a damping object. The hard disk drive includes a micromotion actuator for micromotion displacement which drives a head-gimbal assembly, and a micromotion actuator for damping which drives the damping unit so that the micromotion displacement direction of a magnetic head and the displacement direction of a mount portion have opposite phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiko Eguchi
  • Publication number: 20130321950
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a head comb for use in a hard disk drive. In one embodiment, the head comb comprises a core body having a bore formed therethrough. The bore is bound by walls having a top extension extending into the opening and a bottom extension extending into the opening. The top extension has a first height, and the bottom extension has a second height that is different than the first height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Ta-Chang Fu, Zhong-Qing Gong, Robert C. Reinhart
  • Publication number: 20130314821
    Abstract: A terminal area includes a metal plate, an electrically insulating layer, and a conductor layer. An opening section is formed in the metal plate and the insulating layers A gold plating layer is formed on a surface of the conductor layer inside the opening section. A porous metal layer of a first transition element is formed on a surface of the gold plating layer. Through-holes of the porous metal layer reach the surface of the gold plating layer. An electrically conductive adhesive is provided between an electrode of an actuator element and the porous metal layer. An anchor portion of the electrically conductive adhesive gets into the through holes and is cured. Conductive particles of the electrically conductive adhesive contact the gold plating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mikio Arai
  • Publication number: 20130314820
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole, an auxiliary magnetic pole, and a spin torque oscillator formed between them. The spin torque oscillator includes a main oscillation layer and spin sink layer as an oscillation layer. The spin sink layer contains one of iron and cobalt, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, ruthenium, tantalum, chromium, terbium, gadolinium, europium, dysprosium, and samarium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Mariko SHIMIZU, Katsuhiko KOUI, Shuichi MURAKAMI, Masahiro TAKASHITA
  • Patent number: 8570688
    Abstract: In a disk drive suspension circuit, an electrical contact from a flexible circuit to a face of a PZT microactuator is provided by a mechanical bias to press a contact pad of the flexible circuit against the PZT surface. The mechanical bias is provided by a piece of stainless steel that is welded to a nearby point or points on the suspension, and which biases the electrical contact pad carrying the PZT driving voltage against the PZT. The piece of stainless steel may be in the form of a flat piece welded on one or more sides of the contact pad, and may include a dimple for pressing against the contact pad. Additional insulation material may be provided between the dimple and the contact pad to prevent the dimple from penetrating through the flexible circuit's cover layer and shorting the driving voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Hahn, Kuen Chee Ee
  • Patent number: 8559138
    Abstract: A dual stage actuator (DSA) suspension has a single microactuator such as a PZT element on one side of central longitudinal axis of the suspension, and a pseudo symmetry structure formed or affixed on the other side of the central longitudinal axis opposite the PZT. The pseudo symmetry structure has mass and stiffness that mirrors the PZT, thus keeping the suspension mechanically balanced and symmetric about the longitudinal axis for improved suspension performance especially in a shock environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Hahn, Wei Keat Chai, Kuen Chee Ee
  • Publication number: 20130242434
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern a head suspension system having a load beam. The lead beam comprises a metal base having a proximal portion and a distal portion. Two opposing rails extend along the proximal and distal portions. The load beam has a void in the metal base separating the proximal portion from the distal portion, the void extending between the rails. A pair of microactuators is coupled to each of the proximal portion and the distal portion such that each microactuator extends across the void. The microactuators bend the rails to move the distal portion along a X-Y plane relative to the proximal portion. Additionally, the rails stiffen the load beam to resist movement between the first portion and the second portion along a Z-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Mark A. Miller, Haven A. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20130077193
    Abstract: A magnetic head suspension includes a supporting part, a load bending part, a load beam part and a flexure part, and is configured so that a condition of L1?0.3*L and 0.6*L?L2 is satisfied assuming that a length of the leaf spring in a suspension lengthwise direction that extends from a distal edge of the supporting part to a proximal end portion of the load beam part is represented by “L”, a distance in the suspension lengthwise direction from the distal edge of the supporting part to the proximal side-bending line is represented by “L1” and a distance in the suspension lengthwise direction from the distal edge of the supporting part to the distal side-bending line is represented by “L2”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Suncall Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo FUJIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20130057986
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system comprising: an alignment pin to be positioned adjacent to the boss hole (BH) of an actuator arm (AA); an actuator coupled to the alignment pin to move the alignment pin; an imaging device; and a computing device that performs operations including: commanding the imaging device to produce an image of the position of the alignment pin relative to the BH of the AA; commanding the HGA to be positioned in the AA such that the boss of the HGA is adjacent to the BH of the AA; and, based on the image, commanding the actuator to move the alignment pin such that the alignment pin is concentric relative to the BH and to move the alignment pin through an opening of the boss of the HGA such that the boss of the HGA is concentric and aligned with the BH of the AA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: JAMBUNATHAN VANGAL-RAMAMURTHY, OMAR C. OSORIO
  • Patent number: 8351161
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension, wherein a supporting portion such as an arm or base plate includes a pair of supporting pieces extending from its opposite sides in the widthwise direction to a tip-end side of the suspension, and a concave portion which is defined by the pair of supporting pieces and is opened toward the tip-end side of the suspension, there is provided an elastically-deformable elastic plate which is connected to the pair of supporting pieces at a first end and a second end in the widthwise direction of the magnetic head suspension, the member forming the load beam portion is connected to the elastic plate, and the elastic plate forms the load bending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Suncall Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Takasugi, Yasuo Fujimoto, Kenji Mashimo
  • Patent number: 8339743
    Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a substrate for suspension which is produced at low costs and can sufficiently attain the prevention of damage by electrostatic discharge and restraint of noises. To attain the object, the present invention provides a substrate for suspension, comprising: a metallic substrate, an insulating layer formed on the metallic formed in substrate and having an opening from which the metallic substrate is exposed, a grounding-wiring layer formed on the insulating layer and arranged near the opening, and a ground terminal formed in the opening and contacting the metallic substrate and the grounding-wiring layer, characterized in that the ground terminal is made of a metal having a melting point of 450° C. or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Miura, Tooru Serizawa, Shinichiro Busujima
  • Patent number: 8339744
    Abstract: In a disk drive suspension including a baseplate and a load beam, a boss portion and protrusions are formed on the baseplate. The protrusions are formed in positions on a first surface of the baseplate off a reference mounting surface in contact with a suspension bearing surface of an actuator arm. Further, the protrusions are formed on a second surface located opposite from the first surface and project relative to the thickness of the baseplate. These protrusions serve to prevent a plurality of baseplates from closely contacting one another during their manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignees: NHK Spring Co., Ltd., Ogaki Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Yabu, Masakazu Sugino
  • Patent number: 8305750
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a circuit module with a circuit board, and a plug connector with a supporting base, several terminals, and an outer shell. The terminals are disposed at the supporting base, and connected to the circuit board. The outer shell surrounds the supporting base, and has two parallel horizontal plates. Two extending plates are extended from a front surface of one of the horizontal plates. A slot is formed among that horizontal plate and the two extending plates. Via these arrangements, the out shell of the plug connector has the slot, so that the deformation of the outer shell is more easily caused. Thus, even if the assembly tolerance between the plug connector and the socket connector is deviated, the force for plugging or unplugging the plug connector would not be too abnormal. That is because the outer shell can be easily deformed to compensate for the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Arcadyan Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Yung Hsiang Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20120275064
    Abstract: In a disk drive suspension including a baseplate and a load beam, a boss portion and protrusions are formed on the baseplate. The protrusions are formed in positions on a first surface of the baseplate off a reference mounting surface in contact with a suspension bearing surface of an actuator arm. Further, the protrusions are formed on a second surface located opposite from the first surface and project relative to the thickness of the baseplate. These protrusions serve to prevent a plurality of baseplates from closely contacting one another during their manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicants: OGAKI SEIKO CO. LTD., NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Yabu, Masakazu Sugino
  • Publication number: 20120236438
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension, wherein a supporting portion such as an arm or base plate includes a pair of supporting pieces extending from its opposite sides in the widthwise direction to a tip-end side of the suspension, and a concave portion which is defined by the pair of supporting pieces and is opened toward the tip-end side of the suspension, there is provided an elastically-deformable elastic plate which is connected to the pair of supporting pieces at a first end and a second end in the widthwise direction of the magnetic head suspension, the member forming the load beam portion is connected to the elastic plate, and the elastic plate forms the load bending portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Suncall Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru TAKASUGI, Yasuo Fujimoto, Kenji Mashimo
  • Patent number: 8254062
    Abstract: A suspension assembly with reduced total vertical thickness is provided for a data transducing system that includes a dual-stage actuation system for positioning a data transducer. A first structural element of the suspension assembly includes a plate portion and a boss tower that is connectable to a main actuator of the dual-stage actuation system. A second structural element of the suspension assembly includes a recess that receives the plate portion of the first structural element, an opening through which the boss tower extends for connection to the main actuator of the dual-stage actuation system, and a flexible region to which a microactuator element of the dual-stage actuation system is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Michael Allen Greminger
  • Patent number: 8248736
    Abstract: A microactuator mounting section is disposed between a base section and a load beam. A microactuator element formed of a piezoelectric element is contained in an element accommodation portion in a plate portion. The plate portion has a stationary part secured to the base section and a movable part secured to the load beam. The stationary part and the movable part are connected to each other by a pair of arm portions. Each arm portion comprises a first extending portion and a second extending portion. The first extending portion extends longitudinally relative to the load beam from a front end of the stationary part toward the movable part. The second extending portion extends transversely inward relative to the plate portion from the first extending portion so as to be continuous with the movable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Hanya, Toshiki Ando, Ryoichi Tazawa
  • Patent number: 8233238
    Abstract: In a disk drive suspension including a baseplate and a load beam, a boss portion and protrusions are formed on the baseplate. The protrusions are formed in positions on a first surface of the baseplate off a reference mounting surface in contact with a suspension bearing surface of an actuator arm. Further, the protrusions are formed on a second surface located opposite from the first surface and project relative to the thickness of the baseplate. These protrusions serve to prevent a plurality of baseplates from closely contacting one another during their manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignees: NHK Spring Co., Ltd., Ogaki Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Yabu, Masakazu Sugino
  • Patent number: 8228642
    Abstract: A dual stage actuator (DSA) suspension has a single microactuator such as a PZT element on one side of central longitudinal axis of the suspension, and a pseudo symmetry structure formed or affixed on the other side of the central longitudinal axis opposite the PZT. The pseudo symmetry structure has mass and stiffness that mirrors the PZT, thus keeping the suspension mechanically balanced and symmetric about the longitudinal axis for improved suspension performance especially in a shock environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Hahn, Wei Keat Chai, Kuen Chee Ee
  • Patent number: 8194352
    Abstract: A head suspension 15 includes a base plate 27, a load bend 35, a load beam 37, a flexure 39, and a slider 25 that are assembled together through several processes including a pressing process. In such a head suspension 15 that is a finished product in a conventional sense, a front end 30 of the base plate 27 is twisted so that the front end 30 inclines toward one of inner and outer circumferences of a disk-like recording medium 33. The twisting process is carried out before attaching the head suspension 15 to an arm 13 of a carriage to be installed in a hard disk drive. The head suspension 15 with the twisted front end 30 prevents off-track errors even when it is used for a multi-arm assembly involving a plurality of head suspensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Yonekura
  • Patent number: 8189299
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension including a flexure part including a magnetic head mounting region for supporting a magnetic head slider; a load bending part for generating a load to press the magnetic head slider towards a recording medium; a load beam part for transmitting the load generated by the load bending part to the magnetic head mounting region; and a base part connected to a proximal end side of the load bending part. The base part has a thin thickness region extending from a distal end towards a proximal end side by a predetermined distance and having a thin thickness compared to an other region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Suncall Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Fujimoto