Abstract: A multiple-segment transmission line in a hard disk drive enables a wider optimization range of the slope, duration and amplitude of the transmission line overshoot (TLO) wave shape. There is a first segment with two traces for connection to the write driver circuitry, an end segment with two traces for connection to the write head and at least two intermediate segments. The number of traces in a segment is different from the number of traces in the segments to which the segment is immediately connected. There is an even number of traces in each segment and the traces in each segment are interleaved. The number of segments and the number of traces in each segment can be selected to achieve the desired impedance levels for the different segments to achieve the desired wave shape for the TLO. All of the traces on the transmission line are preferably coplanar.

Abstract: A multiple-segment transmission line in a hard disk drive enables a wider optimization range of the slope, duration and amplitude of the transmission line overshoot (TLO) wave shape. There is a first segment with two traces for connection to the write driver circuitry, an end segment with two traces for connection to the write head and at least two intermediate segments. The number of traces in a segment is different from the number of traces in the segments to which the segment is immediately connected. There is an even number of traces in each segment and the traces in each segment are interleaved. The number of segments and the number of traces in each segment can be selected to achieve the desired impedance levels for the different segments to achieve the desired wave shape for the TLO. All of the traces on the transmission line are preferably coplanar.

Abstract: A magnetic head drive device including a suspension for supporting a magnetic head, and a main actuator that produces rotary movement of the magnetic head by applying current to a coil. The main actuator includes end arms each comprising a single micro-actuator, and an intermediate arm comprising two micro-actuators. The micro-actuators of the end arms are driven in the same direction, and the micro-actuators of the intermediate arm are driven in the opposite direction to the drive direction of the micro-actuators of said the arms.

Abstract: A voice-coil motor (VCM) with voice coils configured to reduce vibrations of a head when data is accessed on a disk in a disk drive. The VCM includes at least one VCM magnet and a voice-coil assembly. The voice-coil assembly includes a first voice coil and at least a second voice coil. The first voice coil is disposed in proximity to a magnetic pole of the at least one voice-coil-motor magnet. The second voice coil is disposed in close proximity to the first voice coil such that the first voice coil substantially overlays the second voice coil. The first voice coil and the second voice coil are configured to reduce vibrations of the head when data is accessed on a disk in the disk drive. A rotary actuator including the voice coils and a disk drive including the VCM are also provided.

Abstract: A head-gimbal assembly (HGA). The HGA includes a deformable plate affixed to a load beam, a piezoelectric element affixed to the deformable plate, and a base plate affixed to the deformable plate. The deformable plate includes: a hole; a first section in front of the hole and affixed to the load beam; a second section behind the hole and affixed to the base plate; and, first and second spring members that join the first section and the second section, can deform in a front-back direction, and are positioned to sandwich the hole in a left-right direction. The piezoelectric element is affixed between the first section and the second section. The base plate includes projection members on a front edge of the plate and projecting out toward the first section. The front edges of the projection member are positioned further to a front edge than a back edge of the hole.

Abstract: A voice-coil motor (VCM) with voice coils configured to reduce vibrations of a head when data is accessed on a disk in a disk drive. The VCM includes at least one VCM magnet and a voice-coil assembly. The voice-coil assembly includes a first voice coil and at least a second voice coil. The first voice coil is disposed in proximity to a magnetic pole of the at least one voice-coil-motor magnet. The second voice coil is disposed in close proximity to the first voice coil such that the first voice coil substantially overlays the second voice coil. The first voice coil and the second voice coil are configured to reduce vibrations of the head when data is accessed on a disk in the disk drive. A rotary actuator including the voice coils and a disk drive including the VCM are also provided.

Abstract: Approaches for integrated lead suspension that provides many benefits, such as enabling a dual stage actuator (DSA) to be used with a single layer flex with a reduced amount of crosstalk. An integrated lead suspension comprises a tail end having a plurality of conductive pads positioned thereat. The plurality of conductive pads includes a first and second dual stage actuator (DSA) pad. The first and second DSA pads are electrically coupled to a conductive member by way of conductive vias. The conductive member may be a stainless steel island. The first DSA pad conducts a signal to a first terminal at each of a plurality of dual stage actuators, while a second terminal at each of the plurality of dual stage actuators is connected to ground.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose hole sequences that are formed in the metal layer of a trace to adjust rigidity and crosstalk noise resulting from the hole sequences is thereby suppressed. A suspension according to one aspect of the invention includes a trace adapted to transmit a signal of a head slider. The trace partially extends along the side surface of the suspension. The trace includes a metal layer, a plurality of transmission lines formed above the metal layer and an insulating layer. A hole sequence overlapping the transmission lines is formed in part of the metal layer, which contributes to a reduction in transmission loss. Another hole sequence of the metal layer is formed at a position opposed to the hinge portion of the suspension. This reduces the rigidity of the wiring structure portion in the hinge portion, thereby preventing interference with the behavior of the suspension at the hinge portion.

Abstract: A magnetic head drive device including a suspension for supporting a magnetic head, and a main actuator that produces rotary movement of the magnetic head by applying current to a coil. The main actuator includes end arms each comprising a single micro-actuator, and an intermediate arm comprising two micro-actuators. The micro-actuators of the end arms are driven in the same direction, and the micro-actuators of the intermediate arm are driven in the opposite direction to the drive direction of the micro-actuators of said the arms.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to suppress performance degradation in an actuator of a disk drive device when attaching a damping member to a single surface of an arm. According to one embodiment, in a HDD a damping member is attached to a single surface of an arm. A shape of an inner arm is asymmetric with the center position between disks. Specifically, the thickness from a center position between the disks to the damping material attaching surface is thinner than the thickness from a center position between the disks to an opposite surface of the damping member attaching surface. This suppresses deformation of the vibration mode in the case that the damping member is attached to the single surface of the arm.

Abstract: A head-gimbal assembly (HGA). The HGA includes a deformable plate affixed to a load beam, a piezoelectric element affixed to the deformable plate, and a base plate affixed to the deformable plate. The deformable plate includes: a hole; a first section in front of the hole and affixed to the load beam; a second section behind the hole and affixed to the base plate; and, first and second spring members that join the first section and the second section, can deform in a front-back direction, and are positioned to sandwich the hole in a left-right direction. The piezoelectric element is affixed between the first section and the second section. The base plate includes projection members on a front edge of the plate and projecting out toward the first section. The front edges of the projection member are positioned further to a front edge than a back edge of the hole.

Abstract: A disk drive configured with micro-actuator interconnect conditioning. The disk drive includes a disk, a head, an actuator, a piezoelectric element, a hardened conductive adhesive, a voltage-supply circuit, and a controller. The head is configured to access the disk. The actuator includes a suspension supporting the head, and an arm supporting the suspension. The piezoelectric element is disposed on the suspension, is electrically connected to a first drive line and a second drive line, and is configured to change the position of the head. The hardened conductive adhesive is electrically connected to at least one connecting part of the piezoelectric element and the first drive line. The voltage-supply circuit is configured to supply a voltage to the piezoelectric element. The controller is configured to control a voltage-control circuit each time a designated process is executed, and to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric element with a prescribed maximum absolute value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a hard disk drive base adapted to prevent release of a strain due to the difference in thermal expansion between the vice coil motor and the base and thereby prevent a degradation in the positioning accuracy of the magnetic head. In one embodiment, a hard disk drive base is provided which includes a plurality of contact surfaces to which a lower yoke of a voice coil motor is fixed and thin portions each formed around a respective one of the plurality of contact surfaces and having a thickness smaller than that of other portions of the base.

Abstract: Embodiments suppress a fluttering phenomenon of a wiring structure portion for signal transmission between a head and an FPC. In one embodiment, an actuator has a support portion which accommodates a wiring structure portion. The wiring structure portion is provided at a rear end portion thereof with a wide tab, the tab having pads for connection with the FPC. The support portion has a convex wall portion formed so as to overlap a front end portion of the tab. An air current occurs at an end portion of a magnetic disk in the vertical direction. When the head accesses a track present on the inner periphery side of the magnetic disk, the tab approaches the disk end portion. Since the convex wall portion protects the tab against the air current, it is possible to suppress fluttering of the wiring structure portion and improve the head positioning accuracy.

Abstract: An actuator arm with suppressed arm fluttering is provided. On a main surface of each actuator arm in an actuator arm unit there are formed a rigid area which extends centrally in the longitudinal direction and flow uniformizing areas which are each formed in a substantially flat shape extending longitudinally in adjacency to the rigid area and which are thinner than the rigid area. A balance aperture is not formed in the portion where the flow uniformizing areas and the rigid area are formed, to diminish arm fluttering. Instead of a balance aperture, the flow uniformizing areas also exhibit the effect of reducing the weight of the actuator arm.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to suppress performance degradation in an actuator of a disk drive device when attaching a damping member to a single surface of an arm. According to one embodiment, in a HDD a damping member is attached to a single surface of an arm. A shape of an inner arm is asymmetric with the center position between disks. Specifically, the thickness from a center position between the disks to the damping material attaching surface is thinner than the thickness from a center position between the disks to an opposite surface of the damping member attaching surface. This suppresses deformation of the vibration mode in the case that the damping member is attached to the single surface of the arm.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention disclose hole sequences that are formed in the metal layer of a trace to adjust rigidity and crosstalk noise resulting from the hole sequences is thereby suppressed. A suspension according to one aspect of the invention includes a trace adapted to transmit a signal of a head slider. The trace partially extends along the side surface of the suspension. The trace includes a metal layer, a plurality of transmission lines formed above the metal layer and an insulating layer. A hole sequence overlapping the transmission lines is formed in part of the metal layer, which contributes to a reduction in transmission loss. Another hole sequence of the metal layer is formed at a position opposed to the hinge portion of the suspension. This reduces the rigidity of the wiring structure portion in the hinge portion, thereby preventing interference with the behavior of the suspension at the hinge portion.

Abstract: One feature of the invention is to support a wiring structure on a side surface of an actuator arm used in a magnetic disk device so as not to allow fluttering to occur. In one embodiment, a wire support member 102a used in a magnetic disk device includes a protruding wall 108a provided with an opposing surface facing a wiring structure 90a and protruding in a width direction, and a protruding wall 110a provided with an opposing surface facing the wiring structure 90a and protruding in a width direction. The wire support member 102a is provided with a fixing area for accommodating the wiring structure between the opposing surface of the protruding wall 108a and the opposing surface of the protruding wall 110a. The wire support member 102a is further provided with an open area adjoining the fixing area at a longitudinal end portion of the protruding wall and includes protruding walls 328, 330, 332 each having an opposing surface facing the wiring structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a hard disk drive base adapted to prevent release of a strain due to the difference in thermal expansion between the voice coil motor and the base and thereby prevent a degradation in the positioning accuracy of the magnetic head. In one embodiment, a hard disk drive base is provided which comprises: a plurality of contact surfaces to which a lower yoke of a voice coil motor is fixed; and thin portions each formed around a respective one of said plurality of contact surfaces and having a thickness smaller than that of other portions of the base.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to suppressing a fluttering phenomenon of a wiring structure portion which is for signal transmission between a head and an FPC. In one embodiment, an actuator has a support portion which accommodates a wiring structure portion for signal transmission between a head and an FPC. The wiring structure portion is provided at a rear end portion thereof with a wide tab, the tab having pads for connection with the FPC. The support portion has a convex wall portion which is formed so as to overlap a front end portion of the tab. An air current occurs at an end portion of a magnetic disk in the vertical direction. When the head accesses a track present on the inner periphery side of the magnetic disk, the tab approaches the disk end portion. Since the convex wall portion protects the tab against the air current, it is possible to prevent oscillation of the tab.