Abstract: A head gimbal assembly (HGA) including a slider, a micro-actuator and a suspension to load the slider and the micro-actuator. The micro-actuator includes a support base and a piezoelectric unit used for both position displacement adjustment and flying height adjustment. The support base includes a base, a moving plate, and a leading beam to connect with the base and the moving plate. The invention also discloses a method of manufacturing such micro-actuator and HGA, and a structure of a disk drive having the micro-actuator and HGA.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes an insulation gap, first and second yoke layers with first and second ends, respectively, the first ends constituting magnetic poles separated from each other by the insulation gap, the second ends being magnetically coupled with each other, and a coil conductor constituted by a plurality of single layer turns, for generating magnetic field and applying the generated magnetic field into the first and second yoke layers. Each turn of the coil conductor includes a first section, a second section with one end coupled with one end of the first section, and a third section with one end coupled with the other end of the second section. The third section travels to pass outside of the first yoke layer in parallel with the surface of the first yoke layer, and to extend over the first yoke layer.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes an insulation gap, a pair of yoke layers with one ends and the other ends, respectively, the one ends constituting magnetic poles separated with each other by the insulation gap, the other ends being magnetically coupled with each other, a coil conductor wound around at least one of the pair of yoke layers, first and second trace conductors with one ends electrically connected to both ends of the coil conductor, respectively, and first and second connection bumps electrically connected to the other ends of the first and second trace conductors, respectively. The first trace conductor includes a lower conductor layer and an upper conductor layer connected in parallel with each other, the second trace conductor including a lower conductor layer and an upper conductor layer connected in parallel with each other.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly includes a magnetic head slider with at least one thin-film magnetic head element, a support member for supporting the magnetic head slider at a top end portion thereof, a drive circuit electrically connected to the at least one thin-film magnetic head element, and at least two diode elements connected toward one direction in parallel with terminals which are connected across the at least one thin-film magnetic head element. Each of the diode elements has a turn-on voltage higher than the maximum output voltage of the at least one thin-film magnetic head element.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the manufacture of a hard disk drive arm and the bonding of magnetic head to suspension on the drive arm.

Abstract: A lead conductor member for a thin-film magnetic head, includes a plurality of head connection pads to be connected to a plurality of terminal electrodes of a thin-film magnetic head element, a plurality of external connection pads used for external connections, a plurality of trace conductors, one end of each of the plurality of trace conductors being connected to the plurality of head connection pads and the other ends of the plurality of trace conductors being connected to the plurality of external connection pads, respectively, and at least one pair of test connection pads capable of being temporally and electrically short-circuited with at least one pair of trace conductors of the plurality of trace conductors, respectively.

Abstract: A precise positioning actuator to be fixed with a head slider with at least one head element and with a support, for precisely positioning the at least one head element, including a pair of movable arms capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator The head slider is caught in a space between the movable arms.

Abstract: A micro-actuator that reduces suspension tongue stiffness and a method of manufacturing the micro-actuator are disclosed. In one embodiment, the micro-actuator has a base piece with two arms extending from the base piece. The electric contact pads for the arms are situated on the exterior of the arms at the end opposite the base piece. In one embodiment, the electric contact pads are electrically coupled to the same connection plate that the magnetic read/write head is coupled to, reducing the number of connection traces.

Abstract: A system and method using a connection plate to electrically couple a magnetic read/write head to a printed circuit assembly. The connection plate has a set of contact pads to control reads and a set of contact pads to control. The printed circuit assembly also allows control of the micro-actuator arms. The connection plate can be attached to a framing assembly of the micro-actuator by laser welding or by using an ultraviolet cured epoxy.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting an actuator to a suspension element is disclosed. The actuator is electrically coupled using a silver paste. The silver paste is further covered by a coating application to provide structural support. A step, attached to either the actuator base or the suspension tongue, provides further structural support and maintains a gap between the actuator and the suspension element.

Abstract: A micro-actuator that reduces suspension tongue stiffness and a method of manufacturing the micro-actuator are disclosed. In one embodiment, the micro-actuator has a base piece with two arms extending from the base piece. The electric contact pads for the arms are situated on the exterior of the arms at the end opposite the base piece. In one embodiment, the electric contact pads are electrically coupled to the same connection plate that the magnetic read/write head is coupled to, reducing the number of connection traces.

Abstract: A precise positioning actuator for precisely positioning at least one head element is provided with a base and a pair of movable arms capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator. The pair of movable arms extend from the base for catching a head slider with at least one head element in a space between the pair of movable arms. Each of the pair of movable arms includes an arm member made of an elastic sintered ceramic and having substantially the same cross sectional shape from a root thereof to a top end thereof, a piezoelectric element formed on a side surface of the arm member and a protrusion additionally formed on an inside surface of the arm member near its top end section. The protrusion has tapered surfaces. Side surfaces of the head slider are adhered to the inside surfaces of the arm members at the protrusions and within regions between the protrusions and top ends of the arm members.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacture of a microactuator comprising a frame further including a base to connect with suspension and two moving arms to be connected parallel to said base, two piezoelectric elements to be respectively connected to said moving arm, and a slider height adjuster connecting with said moving arms to adjust the loading height of the slider.

Abstract: A framing assembly with lower stiffness design and a method of manufacturing that framing assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, a framing assembly pattern is cut from a piece of a thin planar material, such as metal. The pattern is then bent to form a framing assembly with a base piece, two arms, and supports for a connection plate. In an alternate embodiment, the base piece includes a rear support and a support base. In a further embodiment, excess material surrounding the pattern is cut away so as to allow the most efficient use of the material.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly comprising a slider having a read\write sensor; a suspension to load the slider; a micro-actuator; wherein the micro-actuator comprises a piezoelectric unit with two piezoelectric elements and a support base having a base to be coupled with the suspension physically, a moving plate to be coupled with the two piezoelectric elements, and a leading beam to connect with the base and the moving plate. Also disclosed is a micro-actuator comprising inter alia a piezoelectric unit with two piezoelectric elements. A method of forming a micro-actuator is also disclosed, which method comprising forming a piezoelectric unit having two piezoelectric elements; forming a support base having a base, a moving plate, and a leading beam to connect with the base and the moving plate; and bonding the piezoelectric unit to one side of the support base. Also disclosed is a method of forming a slider, a suspension and a micro-actuator.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexible printed circuit suspension assembly is disclosed. Specifically, the method comprises attaching a suspension to a first end of a flexible printed circuit, bending the suspension to a predetermined position to form a gram load, and attaching the suspension to a second end of the flexible printed circuit. The first end of the flexible printed circuit may be the top end of the flexible printed circuit to be attached to the top end of the suspension, while the second end may be the tail end of the flexible printed circuit to be attached to the flexible printed circuit holder of the suspension.

Abstract: A suspension includes a resilient flexure for adhering and supporting a head slider that has at least one head element, a load beam that supports said flexure, and a FPC member independently formed and fixed to the flexure and the load beam, having a plurality of connection pads electrically connected to the at least one head element and a plurality of trace conductors. One ends of the trace conductors are electrically connected to the plurality of connection pads, respectively. The FPC member has at least one slot formed at its face to which the head slider is adhered and located near the plurality of connection pads.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive apparatus includes a housing member with first and second faces opposed to each other, at least part of each of the first and second faces being opened, a first cover member for covering the first face of the housing member, a second cover member for covering the second face of the housing member, a first HGA including a first magnetic head slider and a first suspension for supporting the first magnetic head slider, a second HGA including a second magnetic head slider and a second suspension for supporting the second magnetic head slider, a first support arm for supporting the first HGA, a second support arm for supporting the second HGA, a magnetic disk with both surfaces to which the first and second magnetic head sliders are opposed, respectively, and a motor for rotating the magnetic disk. The magnetic disk and the motor are attached to the housing member, the first support arm is attached to the first cover member, and the second support arm is attached to the second cover member.

Abstract: A thin film piezoelectric (PZT) micro-actuator is disclosed. Two thin film pieces of PZT are couple to a slider support frame. The slider support frame has a slider support connected by a leading beam to a base. The two thin film pieces of PZT connect the slider support to the base. Applied voltage causes the thin film pieces of PZT to contract or expand, moving the slider support in relation to the base. The thin film pieces of PZT can be single or multiple layers. The thin film PZT micro-actuator can be coupled to the suspension by anisotropic conductive film, with the thin film pieces of PZT between the slider support frame and the suspension. Alternately, the thin film PZT micro-actuator can be coupled to the suspension with the thin film pieces of PZT exterior to the slider support frame and the suspension.

Abstract: A multilayer suspension includes a resilient bending section formed by partially removing at least part of layers of a five-layer structure which includes a first metal thin plate layer, a first resin layer laminated on the first metal thin-plate layer, a second metal thin-plate layer laminated on the first resin layer, a second resin layer laminated on the second metal thin-plate layer, and a conductive layer laminated on the second resin layer, a resilient gimbal section for mounting a head slider, formed by partially removing at least part of layers of the five-layer structure, and a rigid section for coupling the bending section and the gimbal section, formed by partially removing at least part of layers of the five-layer structure. An HGA includes thus formed multilayer suspension and a head slider mounted on the multilayer suspension and provided with at least one head element.