Abstract: Disk drive suspension load beam and flexible circuit components are juxtaposed and properly located relative to each other before welding by a series of areally distributed locator structures that intersect across the common plane between the components in aligning relation.

Abstract: The invention provides greatly shortened electrical paths for the wires or traces connecting a disk drive suspension slider to the preamplifier circuit chip without problems of chip wastage by supporting the disk drive suspension assembly of a slider, a flexure, a load beam and a mounting plate, all in operative association on the preamplifier circuit chip, and supporting the chip on the actuator arm.

Abstract: The invention provides continuing shunt protection of wireless suspension assemblies with a shunt structure that is readily attached to and detached from the contact pads or other exposed areas of the conductive traces of the flexible conductive laminate portion of the wireless suspension for use as needed to protect the MR and GMR elements/heads. The shunt structure comprises a conductive web to connect the conductive traces in parallel, and adhesive allowing the separable attachment of the web to the traces.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension comprising a load beam utilizing a piezoelectric microactuator has arcuate spring portion elements vertically to laterally disposed relative to the load beam that further curl or flatten in response to contraction or expansion of the piezoelectric microactuator to facilitate greater distance beam displacement at lower levels of voltage.

Abstract: An improved disk drive suspension in which the load beam rail section is of reduced length, the base portion, defined by an extended mounting plate, increased in length, and the spring portion therebetween increased in length. The load beam rail section is laminated with a flexure substantially as wide as the rail section providing a very rigid structure. The centers of gravity of the load beam and flexure are closely approximate such that their reaction moment under shock is small, limiting the 2nd bending mode reaction of the load beam in favor of the 1st bending mode reaction, so that the slider carried by the load beam and flexure is kept flat to the disk against damaging the disk upon recontact.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension load beam has a damping structure attached in a load beam recess sized and shaped to limit exposure of organic damping material to the ambient atmosphere and placed to guide positioning of the damping structure.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension is provided comprising a load beam, a flexure partially overlying the load beam, the flexure having frame and tongue for supporting a slider, and a flexible conductor comprising a laminate of conductive leads and insulating plastic film, the flexure load beam-overlying portion and the load beam are fixed together and closely spaced to clamp the flexible conductor in place mechanically and freely of bonding to the load beam or flexure.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension has increased protection against signal loss and mechanical damage and increased isolation from ambient electrical disturbances where the metal layer of the flexible conductive laminate is remote to the load beam rather than next to the load beam to mechanically and electrically protect the conductive traces of the laminate on two sides against signal loss and mechanical damage and have increased isolation from ambient electrical disturbances.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension has a lower stiffness gimbal flexure formed in one piece with a load beam by setting off the flexure frame from the load beam rigid portion, reducing the frame thickness by partial etch, maintaining the flexure tongue thickness at that of the load beam rigid portion, and completing the flexure frame with flexible conductor connected to the distal end of the frame, metal layer in the flexible conductor being removed to maintain low stiffness while connecting the flexible conductor to the flexure tongue in motion limiting relation.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension comprising a load beam utilizing a piezoelectric microactuator has arcuate spring portion elements vertically to laterally disposed relative to the load beam that further curl or flatten in response to contraction or expansion of the piezoelectric microactuator to facilitate greater distance beam displacement at lower levels of voltage.

Abstract: A flexible conductor is mounted to a suspension comprising a flexure and a load beam using a flowable adhesive-passing channel at a locus of flexible conductor attachment to the suspension and a flowable adhesive forced into the channel in a manner forming a crown of the adhesive over and around the channel inlet, and hardening the adhesive in bonding relation with the flexible conductor and the suspension, the adhesive crown mechanically locking the suspension load beam, flexure and flexible conductor in their desired alignment.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension has a lower stiffness gimbal flexure formed in one piece with a load beam by setting off the flexure frame from the load beam rigid portion, reducing the frame thickness by partial etch, maintaining the flexure tongue thickness at that of the load beam rigid portion, and completing the flexure frame with flexible conductor connected to the distal end of the frame, metal layer in the flexible conductor being removed to maintain low stiffness while connecting the flexible conductor to the flexure tongue in motion limiting relation.

Abstract: An easily manufacturable disk drive suspension load beam lifter comprises a lift arm shifted laterally and vertically and cantilevered from the load beam by a web extending at an angle and for a distance from the load beam that is adjustable to provide a predetermined height and position for the lift arm above the disk.

Abstract: Disk drive suspension having a base portion, a spring portion and elongated beam portion mounting a flexure. The spring portion is reticulated throughout substantially its entire extent in a manner to decrease the vertical stiffness of the suspension while increasing its sway mode resonance. The beam portion is stiffened with a series of shallow etchings or through apertures located between ribs emanating from the center of the beam portion.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension assembly of a flexure and a flexure support, the flexure having a tongue adapted to carry in gimbaling relation a slider in operating proximity to a disk, the flexure support and the flexure tongue defining cooperating structures which limit motion of the tongue relative to the disk to a predetermined range.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension comprising a load beam utilizing a piezoelectric microactuator has bendable arcuate spring portion elements which further curl or flatten in response to contraction or expansion of the piezoelectric microactuator to facilitate greater distance beam displacement at lower levels of voltage.

Abstract: As manufactured disk drive head suspension load beams are modified for facile permanent adjustment in pitch characteristic by a localized reduction in material in the load beam forward portion web and/or rails within a transverse locus to facilitate deflection of the load beam to a different pitch characteristic.

Abstract: An ultra compact disk drive suspension for supporting a read-write head slider at a disk surface comprising a load beam having generally an E-shape with a base, and extending from the base a center portion, a left portion and a right portion all generally extending in a first horizontal plane, a flexure generally extending in a second horizontal plane vertically spaced from the first horizontal plane, the flexure being attached to the left and right load beam portions, the load beam having a dimple in contact with the flexure, a head slider supported by the flexure in disk surface opposed relation, and a mounting plate extending in a third horizontal plane, the mounting plate being attached to the load beam at the left and right portions only.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension has a noncantilevered flexure adapted to rotate about a dimple, the flexure comprising an open frame fastened by opposed tabs to a load beam, the flexure having a gimbal panel carrying the slider and connected fore and aft to the open frame for gimbaling response to slider movement providing the ease of manufacturing of an integrated flexure with the responsiveness of a dimple-type suspension.

Abstract: A liftable disk drive suspension load beam of spring steel comprises a base portion, a spring portion, an elongated beam portion having left and right edge rails, and a lift tip beyond the elongated beam portion. The beam portion has a longitudinally disposed flexure support tongue defining an attachment locus for attaching a flexure in cantilevered relation and having a situs for gimballing dimple contact with the flexure. The beam portion has left and right continued extents on either side of the tongue, these continued extents being, free of connection to said the support tongue fore and aft of the flexure attachment locus, the extents being joined beyond the attachment locus to support the lift tip from the elongated beam portion. The flexure tongue provides the flexure freedom of gimballing movement free of interference from the lift tip and the continued extents.