Abstract: Vibration of a transducer slider can be used during slider fly height calibration to detect contact of the transducer slider with a disc surface. Amplification of the vibration may cause the transducer slider to tap the disc surface rather than drag across the disc surface when detecting contact with the disc surface. Amplification may be achieved by applying an in-phase AC signal to the transducer slider at the same frequency as the vibration of the slider. Reduced contact between the slider and the disc surface reduces wear on and the possibility of damage to the transducer slider and/or the disc surface. Once the fly height of the transducer slider is calibrated, the AC signal may be shifted out-of-phase with the slider vibration to dampen the slider vibration.

Abstract: Vibration of a transducer slider can be used during slider fly height calibration to detect contact of the transducer slider with a disc surface. Amplification of the vibration may cause the transducer slider to tap the disc surface rather than drag across the disc surface when detecting contact with the disc surface. Amplification may be achieved by applying an in-phase AC signal to the transducer slider at the same frequency as the vibration of the slider. Reduced contact between the slider and the disc surface reduces wear on and the possibility of damage to the transducer slider and/or the disc surface. Once the fly height of the transducer slider is calibrated, the AC signal may be shifted out-of-phase with the slider vibration to dampen the slider vibration.

Abstract: A slider scale package assembly in a head gimbal assembly (HGA) for electrically coupling a slider/magnetic recording (MR) head to a head interconnect circuit in a disc drive includes a flex circuit attached to the back of the slider/MR head which turns the slider/MR head into the slider scale package with at least one repositioned interconnect pad disposed at the back of the slider/MR head. The flex circuit further includes a conductive material, one end of which is electrically bonded to a bond pad of the slider/MR head, and the other end is electrically bonded to a conductive material of the head interconnect circuit via the interconnect pad. A plurality of flex circuits can be made in a sheet format and dividable into a plurality of individual flex circuits to be attached to a plurality of slider/MR heads.

Abstract: Passive damping of a disc drive structural member is achieved using a tuned resonance passive damping circuit. This circuit can, for example, be connected to a head gimbal assembly that has a piezoelectric micro-actuator. The circuit can be tuned to the sway frequency of the micro-actuator. The circuit is configured to dissipate mechanical energy as heat, effectively damping the structure to which it is attached.

Abstract: Passive damping of a disc drive structural member is achieved using a tuned resonance passive damping circuit. This circuit can, for example, be connected to a head gimbal assembly that has a piezoelectric micro-actuator. The circuit can be tuned to the sway frequency of the micro-actuator. The circuit is configured to dissipate mechanical energy as heat, effectively damping the structure to which it is attached.

Abstract: A microactuation system is disclosed for selectively altering a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disk having a plurality of concentric tracks. The disc drive system includes a load beam having a base for attachment to an actuator arm and a head suspension for supporting the slider over the rotatable disc. A microactuation system includes a piezoelectric element attached between the base and the head suspension of the load beam and beams or hinges connecting the head suspension to the base. The piezoelectric element is deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto. The beams are sufficiently compliant to permit movement of the head suspension with respect to the base upon deformation of the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A disc drive has a recording disc rotatable about an axis and a slider supporting a transducing head for transducing data with the disc. A dual-stage actuation assembly supports the slider to position the transducing head adjacent a selected radial track of the disc, and includes a movable actuator arm and a load beam connected to the actuator arm. A flexure is connected to the load beam for supporting the slider, and includes first conductive traces terminating at first bond pads and at least one second conductive trace electrically connected to the transducing head. A microactuator includes a rotor operatively connected to the slider for radially moving the transducing head and a stator connected to the flexure at the first bond pads.