Abstract: Disclosed is a hard disk drive that includes at least one disk enclosed by a cover and a disk. A damper is separated from the disk by an air gap about 1.0 mm. The damper and air gap reduce the velocity of the air flow and any vibration associated with the flow of air.

Abstract: A hard disk drive that at least one disk that is rotated by a spindle motor. The rotating disk creates a flow of air within the disk drive. A damper is located adjacent to the disk. The damper reduces the velocity of the air flow and any vibration associated with the flow of air.

Abstract: Head gimbal assembly (HGA) may include a piezo layer mechanically coupled with the slider or include a piezo element mechanically coupled by the flexure to the slider top near the read-write head. A bridge flex circuit is included, providing a piezo-control bundle to at least one piezo layer lead. A flex circuit assembly may further provide a piezo control bundle, shared with piezo control bundles for multiple read-write heads. HGA may include a micro-actuator to position read-write head near track on accessed, rotating disk surface. Flex circuit assembly may provide a source control bundle, shared with the micro-actuator control bundles for multiple read-write heads. When accessing, all micro-actuators perform same positioning action, insuring proper positioning of read-write head. This applies to both co-located and non co-located micro-actuators. Wire bundles may include one or two active signal wires. Voice coil actuators and hard disk drives, and their manufacture, are included.

Abstract: A slider cradle for lateral positioning slider near rotating disk surface in hard disk drive, consisting essentially of piezoelectric micro-actuator coupling to slider cradle blank, further including piezoelectric micro-actuator coupling to first slider mount arm near slider mount and near slider mount base. A head gimbal assembly including slider cradle coupling to slider, flexure finger, and flexure finger electrically coupling to piezoelectric contacts. An actuator arm coupling to at least one head gimbal assembly. An actuator assembly, comprising voice coil coupling to at least one actuator arm. A hard disk drive containing actuator assembly. The invention includes a method of making slider cradle blank and slider cradle. The products of this process. Making head gimbal assembly, actuator assembly and hard disk drive using the invention's components. The head gimbal assembly, the actuator assembly, and the hard disk drive are products of these processes.

Abstract: Head stack assembly coupling at least two micro-actuators sharing lateral control signal. Any two adjacent micro-actuators respond to lateral control signal by opposite lateral directions. With pairs of micro-actuators, lateral motion of the micro-actuators will be cancelled, essentially leaving head stack assembly without induced torque. With odd numbers of micro-actuators, head stack assembly will effectively experience only lateral motion of one micro-actuator, minimizing induced torque. The micro-actuators may use electrostatic effect and/or piezoelectric effect to create lateral motion. The micro-actuators may further include a vertical actuation capability, which may preferably be independent of the lateral control signal. The servo controller operates based upon micro-actuator being used. Embedded circuit includes servo controller. The hard disk drive containing head stack assembly and further containing servo controller. Manufacturing hard disk drive and head stack assembly.

Abstract: The invention includes a D33 mode piezoelectric actuator region, including electrodes of differing length to produce a bending motion. The invention also includes a piezoelectric actuator containing a first piezoelectric actuator region coupled to a second piezoelectric actuator region, which may be separated by the ceramic material. Applying a first potential difference between electrodes generates a first bending of the piezoelectric actuator region. Applying the negative first potential difference generates the complement first bending for the piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator region may be used to radially move a coupled transducer by the first bending. The piezoelectric actuator may be used to radially move a coupled transducer by the first bending and/or its complement. The invention includes the methods of making the piezoelectric actuator region and the piezoelectric actuator, and their products.

Abstract: Method estimating flying height of read-write head in slider near rotating disk surface. Sensing leakage current between slider and spindle motor to create potential difference measurement. Converting potential difference measurement to create estimate of flying height. Method controlling flying height using method for estimating by adjusting vertical actuation signal to micro-actuator assembly. Embodiments implement these methods. Embedded circuit and hard disk drive, each including the apparatus. The invention includes methods of manufacturing and their products.

Abstract: A micro-actuator assembly, which includes a first micro-actuator. The first micro-actuator includes: Two pivot spring pairs coupling to first stator and second stator. Two flexure spring pairs and pitch spring pair coupling to central movable section, which includes signal pair paths coupling to read-write head of a slider. The central movable section positions read-write head and conducts read-write head signaling. First micro-actuator electrical stimulus is through some of its springs. Micro-actuator assembly may include second micro-actuator with third stator and fourth stator interacting with central movable section. The second micro-actuator may also provide motion sensing, possibly indicating collision with the rotating disk surface being accessed. The invention includes head gimbal assemblies, actuator arms, actuator assemblies, voice coil assemblies and hard disk drives containing various embodiments of these micro-actuator assemblies.

Abstract: A slider, flexure finger, head suspension assembly, head gimbal assembly, main flex circuit, actuator assembly, spindle motor, embedded circuit, and hard disk drive using and/or supporting method of estimating flying height of read-write head near rotating disk surface. Method senses leakage current between slider and spindle motor to create potential difference measurement, and converts potential difference measurement to create estimate of flying height. Method controlling flying height using method for estimating by adjusting vertical actuation signal to micro-actuator assembly. The invention includes methods of manufacturing and their products.

Abstract: Method estimating flying height of read-write head in slider near rotating disk surface. Sensing leakage current between slider and spindle motor to create potential difference measurement. Converting potential difference measurement to create estimate of flying height. Method controlling flying height using method for estimating by adjusting vertical actuation signal to micro-actuator assembly. Embodiments implement these methods. Embedded circuit and hard disk drive, each including the apparatus. The invention includes methods of manufacturing and their products.

Abstract: The invention includes a D33 mode piezoelectric actuator region, including electrodes of differing length to produce a bending motion. The invention also includes a piezoelectric actuator containing a first piezoelectric actuator region coupled to a second piezoelectric actuator region, which may be separated by the ceramic material. Applying a first potential difference between electrodes generates a first bending of the piezoelectric actuator region. Applying the negative first potential difference generates the complement first bending for the piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator region may be used to radially move a coupled transducer by the first bending. The piezoelectric actuator may be used to radially move a coupled transducer by the first bending and/or its complement. The invention includes the methods of making the piezoelectric actuator region and the piezoelectric actuator, and their products.

Abstract: Read-write head flying height controlled through micro-actuator assembly. Flying height controlled using DC line and ground line. Lateral position controlled using them and AC line. Micro-actuator assembly operates through three terminals coupled with these lines. Head gimbal assembly contains micro-actuator assembly mechanically coupling to slider with read-write head. Actuator arm includes at least one head gimbal assembly. Actuator arm assembly includes at least one actuator arm. Voice coil actuator includes actuator assembly. Hard disk drive containing voice coil actuator. Electrical interface circuit includes ground port, DC port, and AC port, for micro-actuator assembly. Servo controller drives micro-actuator assembly to control flying height and lateral position, preferably including electrical interface circuit. Manufacturing head gimbal assembly, actuator arm, actuator assembly, voice coil actuator, and hard disk drive, and products of these manufacturing processes.

Abstract: The present invention includes a micro-actuator assembly. The micro-actuator assembly includes a planar micro-actuator and a vertical micro-actuator. The planar micro-actuator provides at least one planar micro-actuator arm for coupling to a slider. The vertical micro-actuator couples with the planar micro-actuator arm. The planar micro-actuator arm supports moving the slider in a planar direction. The vertical micro-actuator supports moving the slider, through the micro-actuator arm, in a vertical direction. The planar micro-actuator may include two planar micro-actuator arms. It is preferred that at least one of the micro-actuators include a piezoelectric device. The vertical micro-actuator preferably includes a bulk piezoelectric device for cost reasons. The vertical micro-actuator may include a thermoelectric device supporting vertical slider movement. The invention includes manufacturing head gimbal assemblies, actuator arms, voice coil actuator assemblies, and hard disk drives.

Abstract: A region of flexure layer, including slider mounting face coupled to offset mounting face for at least one piezoelectric device. The offset mounting face for piezoelectric device provides asymmetry between first contact region and second contact region based upon notch and slot. This is cost effective, reliable support for piezoelectric devices used for micro-actuation in hard disk drives. The slider moves based upon asymmetry of the offset mounting face coupled to the piezoelectric device twisting the slider mounting face. The invention includes flexure containing the region of the flexure layer. The invention includes head gimbal assembly including flexure, actuator arm including head gimbal assembly, and actuator assembly including actuator arm, and hard disk drive including actuator assembly. The invention includes manufacturing the region, the flexure, the head gimbal assembly, the actuator arm, the actuator assembly and the hard disk drive, as well as these products of the manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A micro-actuator assembly, which includes a first micro-actuator. The first micro-actuator includes: Two pivot spring pairs coupling to first stator and second stator. Two flexure spring pairs and pitch spring pair coupling to central movable section, which includes signal pair paths coupling to read-write head of a slider. The central movable section positions read-write head and conducts read-write head signaling. First micro-actuator electrical stimulus is through some of its springs. Micro-actuator assembly may include second micro-actuator with third stator and fourth stator interacting with central movable section. The second micro-actuator may also provide motion sensing, possibly indicating collision with the rotating disk surface being accessed. The invention includes head gimbal assemblies, actuator arms, actuator assemblies, voice coil assemblies and hard disk drives containing various embodiments of these micro-actuator assemblies.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly may include a piezo layer mechanically coupled with the slider. Bending the piezo layer alters flying height. Alternatively, it may include a piezo element mechanically coupled by a flexure to the slider top near the read-write head, which when excited, bends the flexure to alter the flying height. A bridge flex circuit is included, providing a piezo-control bundle to at least one of the piezo layer leads. The flex circuit assembly may further provide a piezo control bundle, shared with the piezo control bundles for multiple read-write heads. The head gimbal assembly may include a micro-actuator to position the read-write head near a track on the accessed, rotating disk surface. The flex circuit assembly may provide a source control bundle, shared with micro-actuator control bundles for multiple read-write heads. When accessing, all micro-actuators perform the same positioning action, insuring proper positioning of the read-write head.

Abstract: A hard disk drive that includes an optical pick-up coupled to a head of a hard disk assembly (“HDA”). The head is located adjacent to a disk. The optical pick-up can sense the surface of the disk by detecting light reflected from the surface. The optical pick-up is coupled to a particle circuit that can distinguish between an embedded particle and a floating particle from the reflected light.

Abstract: Read-write head flying height controlled through micro-actuator assembly. Flying height controlled using DC line and ground line. Lateral position controlled using them and AC line. Micro-actuator assembly operates through three terminals coupled with these lines. Head gimbal assembly contains micro-actuator assembly mechanically coupling to slider with read-write head. Actuator arm includes at least one head gimbal assembly. Actuator arm assembly includes at least one actuator arm. Voice coil actuator includes actuator assembly. Hard disk drive containing voice coil actuator. Electrical interface circuit includes ground port, DC port, and AC port, for micro-actuator assembly. Servo controller drives micro-actuator assembly to control flying height and lateral position, preferably including electrical interface circuit. Manufacturing head gimbal assembly, actuator arm, actuator assembly, voice coil actuator, and hard disk drive, and products of these manufacturing processes.

Abstract: The present invention includes a micro-actuator assembly. The micro-actuator assembly includes a planar micro-actuator and a vertical micro-actuator. The planar micro-actuator provides at least one planar micro-actuator arm for coupling to a slider. The vertical micro-actuator couples with the planar micro-actuator arm. The planar micro-actuator arm supports moving the slider in a planar direction. The vertical micro-actuator supports moving the slider, through the micro-actuator arm, in a vertical direction. The planar micro-actuator may include two planar micro-actuator arms. It is preferred that at least one of the micro-actuators include a piezoelectric device. The vertical micro-actuator preferably includes a bulk piezoelectric device for cost reasons. The vertical micro-actuator may include a thermoelectric device supporting vertical slider movement. The invention includes manufacturing head gimbal assemblies, actuator arms, voice coil actuator assemblies, and hard disk drives.

Abstract: A region of flexure layer, including slider mounting face coupled to offset mounting face for at least one piezoelectric device. The offset mounting face for piezoelectric device provides asymmetry between first contact region and second contact region. This is cost effective, reliable support for piezoelectric devices used for micro-actuation in hard disk drives. The slider moves based upon asymmetry of the offset mounting face coupled to the piezoelectric device twisting the slider mounting face. The invention includes flexure containing the region of the flexure layer. The invention includes head gimbal assembly including flexure, actuator arm including head gimbal assembly, and actuator assembly including actuator arm, and hard disk drive including actuator assembly. The invention includes manufacturing the region, the flexure, the head gimbal assembly, the actuator arm, the actuator assembly and the hard disk drive, as well as these products of the manufacturing processes.