Abstract: Approaches to a suspension for a hard disk drive include having an adhered one or more piezo actuating device driven by a negative bias driving voltage. The negative bias driving voltage is lower than ground, therefore such voltage inhibits the migration of ions of an electrically conductive adhesive to an electrically conductive flexure layer, and inhibits the degradation of the resistance of an insulating material positioned between the conductive adhesive and the conductive flexure layer.

Abstract: Approaches to a suspension for a hard disk drive include having an adhered one or more piezo actuating device driven by a negative bias driving voltage. The negative bias driving voltage is lower than ground, therefore such voltage inhibits the migration of ions of an electrically conductive adhesive to an electrically conductive flexure layer, and inhibits the degradation of the resistance of an insulating material positioned between the conductive adhesive and the conductive flexure layer.

Abstract: Approaches for protecting a component when a hard-disk drive (HDD) experiences a mechanical shock. An HDD includes a suspension comprising a load beam, a gimbal, and a flexure tongue. A component, such as a microactuator, is mounted on the suspension. The flexure tongue extends to at least the edge of the microactuator that is furthest from the gimbal. The flexure tongue prevents the microactuator from contacting the load beam when the HDD receives a mechanical shock. Alternately, the flexure tongue may comprise a tip portion that extends beyond the edge of the microactuator that is furthest from the gimbal, and the tip portion of the flexure tongue may deform to act as shock absorber when the HDD receives a mechanical shock. Alternately or additionally, a padding material may be used to prevent the microactuator or the flexure tongue from contacting the load beam when the HDD receives a mechanical shock.

Abstract: A head-gimbal assembly. The head-gimbal assembly includes a gimbal including a tongue, a stage forming a portion of the tongue, a head-slider bonded to the stage, first and second piezoelectric elements disposed on a rear side of the stage within an area of the tongue, and a trace formed on the gimbal. The first and second piezoelectric elements include respectively both a front connection pad and a rear connection pad, and are configured to extend and to contract in a fore-and-aft direction. The trace includes a plurality of leads for connecting a plurality of connection pads interconnected with a plurality of connection pads of the head-slider and configured for interconnection to connection pads of a preamplifier integrated circuit. The plurality of leads runs through and in between the front connection pad of the first piezoelectric element and the front connection pad of the second piezoelectric element.

Abstract: Approaches for protecting a component when a hard-disk drive (HDD) experiences a mechanical shock. An HDD includes a suspension comprising a load beam, a gimbal, and a flexure tongue. A component, such as a microactuator, is mounted on the suspension. The flexure tongue extends to at least the edge of the microactuator that is furthest from the gimbal. The flexure tongue prevents the microactuator from contacting the load beam when the HDD receives a mechanical shock. Alternately, the flexure tongue may comprise a tip portion that extends beyond the edge of the microactuator that is furthest from the gimbal, and the tip portion of the flexure tongue may deform to act as shock absorber when the HDD receives a mechanical shock. Alternately or additionally, a padding material may be used to prevent the microactuator or the flexure tongue from contacting the load beam when the HDD receives a mechanical shock.

Abstract: In a dynamic electric test, a head slider is to be fixed positively to a suspension and to be removable easily from the suspension in accordance with the result of the test. In one embodiment of the present invention a head gimbal assembly includes a head slider, a gimbal and a load beam. The head slider is disposed on a gimbal tongue and is held with an urging force of a resilient clamp at a position between the resilient clamp formed on the leading side of the head slider and connecting terminals formed on the opposite side thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a magnetic head slider to be easily mounted on or dismounted from a suspension and can hold a magnetic head slider so as not to be removed due to a shock resultant from handling during a characteristic test and a manufacturing process. A load beam is formed with protruding portions on both sides. A flexure includes a frame portion, a plate portion, a spring portion, an E-shaped pressing portion, and a probe portion. The plate portion extends from a guide portion of the frame portion. The probe portion may be formed by partially cutting out the frame portion. A limiter is formed on both sides of the plate portion. The limiter protrudes from the rear of the load beam and has a hook-shaped tip. The hook-shaped portion of the limiter engages with the protruding portion 6 of the load beam to limit excess vertical movement of the flexure. A gap may be formed between the limiter and the protruding portion.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a head to read/write information, and an actuator for moving the head. Flanges are provided on opposite sides of a load beam of the head support mechanism, and at least one recessed portion is provided on the load beam. A thickness of the load beam at the at least one recessed portion is smaller than a thickness at other portions of the load beam at least one of oscillation damping material and an IC circuit is arranged in the at least one recessed portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention limit a pitch attitude angle of a magnetic head slider during loading without allowing gimbal stiffness of a flexure in an ordinary flying state to be increased. In one embodiment, a limiter formed by part of a flexure is disposed so as to provide a clearance from a lift tab formed by part of a load beam. A limiter clearance, if the clearance between the limiter and the lift tab is so called for convenience sake, must be maintained as a physical clearance when a magnetic head slider is in an ordinary flying state. The lift tab and the limiter are disposed on a side of an air inflow end of the magnetic head slider. The limiter clearance during unloading is thereby made small so as to allow proper and positive unloading operation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention suppress head jump at the time of application of an impact to provide for an excellent impact resistance performance in a magnetic disk device. In one embodiment, an actuator of a magnetic disk device comprises a suspension mounting the slider on a tip end side thereof to give a predetermined load to the slider, and an arm that holds the suspension, the arm being supported to be able to turn. The arm comprises two arm portions juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the disk, and a spacing between the two arm portions on a side of supported portions thereof in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the disk is larger than that on a side of the slider in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the disk.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a magnetic head slider to be easily mounted on or dismounted from a suspension and can hold a magnetic head slider so as not to be removed due to a shock resultant from handling during a characteristic test and a manufacturing process. A load beam is formed with protruding portions on both sides. A flexure includes a frame portion, a plate portion, a spring portion, an E-shaped pressing portion, and a probe portion. The plate portion extends from a guide portion of the frame portion. The probe portion may be formed by partially cutting out the frame portion. A limiter is formed on both sides of the plate portion. The limiter protrudes from the rear of the load beam and has a hook-shaped tip. The hook-shaped portion of the limiter engages with the protruding portion 6 of the load beam to limit excess vertical movement of the flexure. A gap may be formed between the limiter and the protruding portion.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a head to read/write information, and an actuator for moving the head. Flanges are provided on opposite sides of a load beam of the head support mechanism, and at least one recessed portion is provided on the load beam. A thickness of the load beam at the at least one recessed portion is smaller than a thickness at other portions of the load beam at least one of oscillation damping material and an IC circuit is arranged in the at least one recessed portion.

Abstract: In a dynamic electric test, a head slider is to be fixed positively to a suspension and to be removable easily from the suspension in accordance with the result of the test. In one embodiment of the present invention a head gimbal assembly includes a head slider, a gimbal and a load beam. The head slider is disposed on a gimbal tongue and is held with an urging force of a resilient clamp at a position between the resilient clamp formed on the leading side of the head slider and connecting terminals formed on the opposite side thereof.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a head to write/read information, and a head support member to support the head. The head support member has parts delimiting an opening at a portion thereof in which opposing parts which delimit the opening in a width direction of the head support member are elastically deformable. Protrusions are formed on edges of the opening, and piezoelectric elements are mounted on the protrusions to enable deforming of the head support member in a direction of positioning of the head.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetic disk drive in which a flying-height fluctuation produced by the operation of a fine actuator is decreased, the reliability is high, and recording density is high. For this purpose, the magnetic disk drive is configured as described below. The magnetic disk drive has a suspension including a base plate connected to a carriage, a load beam fitted with a slider, and a fine actuator which is provided on the base plate and finely moves the load beam. The configuration is such that the shortest track travel time using the fine actuator is larger than the inverse number of the local maximum of a flying-height fluctuation frequency of the suspension by the fine actuator. Also, the configuration is such that the shortest track travel time using the fine actuator is larger than the inverse number of the natural frequency of first torsion mode of the suspension by the fine actuator.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic head support capable of achieving reduction in weight, while maintaining good stiffness and vibration characteristics, a magnetic head assembly including the magnetic head support, and a magnetic disk drive including the magnetic head assembly. In one embodiment, the magnetic head support includes (a) an arm pivotally supported, (b) a load beam secured to the arm, and (c) a flexure secured to the load beam. The load beam (b) includes (b-1) a spring portion and (b-2) a leading end portion. The leading end portion (b-2) includes an elongated portion having a width smaller than an external dimension of the spring portion and having leading end flanges on both edges thereof and a base portion for connecting the elongated portion and the spring portion. The flexure (c) includes a backing member with which the base portion is backed. The magnetic head assembly includes the magnetic head support, and the magnetic disk drive includes the magnetic head assembly.

Abstract: To strengthen a flying lead portion of a long-tail flexible printed circuit (FPC) integrally formed with a flexure, stacked support portions of resin layers on both sides of a flying lead 7 of a long-tail FPC 6 are reinforced with metal frames 14. A fold-back portion 9 of the long-tail FPC 6 is folded back at 90 degrees so that flying lead 7 is disposed parallel with a turning shaft 21 of a carriage 20. The flying lead is then joined to a connection pad 26 on a main FPC board 24 using solder 18.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention limit a pitch attitude angle of a magnetic head slider during loading without allowing gimbal stiffness of a flexure in an ordinary flying state to be increased. In one embodiment, a limiter formed by part of a flexure is disposed so as to provide a clearance from a lift tab formed by part of a load beam. A limiter clearance, if the clearance between the limiter and the lift tab is so called for convenience sake, must be maintained as a physical clearance when a magnetic head slider is in an ordinary flying state. The lift tab and the limiter are disposed on a side of an air inflow end of the magnetic head slider. The limiter clearance during unloading is thereby made small so as to allow proper and positive unloading operation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention suppress head jump at the time of application of an impact to provide for an excellent impact resistance performance in a magnetic disk device. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk device comprises a disk that records information, a slider mounting thereon a magnetic head, and an actuator mounting thereon the slider on a tip end side thereof turnably so as to move radially of the disk. The actuator comprises a suspension mounting the slider on a tip end side thereof to give a predetermined load to the slider, and an arm that holds the suspension, the arm being supported to be able to turn. The arm comprises two arm portions juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the disk, and a spacing between the two arm portions on a side of supported portions thereof in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the disk is larger than that on a side of the slider in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the disk.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetic disk drive in which a flying-height fluctuation produced by the operation of a fine actuator is decreased, the reliability is high, and recording density is high. For this purpose, the magnetic disk drive is configured as described below. The magnetic disk drive has a suspension including a base plate connected to a carriage, a load beam fitted with a slider, and a fine actuator which is provided on the base plate and finely moves the load beam. The configuration is such that the shortest track travel time using the fine actuator is larger than the inverse number of the local maximum of a flying-height fluctuation frequency of the suspension by the fine actuator. Also, the configuration is such that the shortest track travel time using the fine actuator is larger than the inverse number of the natural frequency of first torsion mode of the suspension by the fine actuator.