Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for controlling the coverage of an adhesive bond area between a suspension and a flex circuit interconnect by etching an area of the suspension to create a bonding area. The etching process prevents bonding of the flex circuit interconnect to the suspension in a tail and a side region allowing movement between the flex circuit and suspension, wherein the movement dampens a first torsion resonance mode. Better control of the bonding area between the interconnect and the suspension using the “adhesive down” helps reduce the variation in the roll stiffness of the suspension thereby reducing the fly height variation.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly has a gimbal with a limiter formed from a sheet prior to attachment to the load beam structure. The limiter has a pair of flange extensions, each flange extension having an arm extension. The flange extensions and the arm extension are bent around a tip of the load beam to interleave the limiter around the load beam. The arm extensions have a narrower width than a width of the flange extensions, providing room for adjustment to the pitch and roll attitude of the system after assembly.

Abstract: A disc drive suspension is provided, which includes a longitudinal axis, a rigid load beam section and a preload transfer section. The rigid load beam section extends along the longitudinal axis and has first and second opposing lateral side edges with respective first and second stiffening rails. The first and second stiffening rails are bent out-of-plane with respect to a main body portion of the rigid load beam section and terminate at a distal end of the rigid load beam section. The preload transfer section extends distally from the distal end of the rigid load beam section and has a third stiffening rail. The third stiffening rail is bent out-of-plane with respect to a main body portion of the preload transfer section and extends longitudinally from the distal end of the rigid load beam section.

Abstract: A suspension for supporting a head slider over a media surface. The suspension includes a load beam, a base plate interface region, and a base plate. The load beam has a proximal end, a distal end and longitudinal centerline. A localized stiffening portion is raised above the load beam, and is connected to the load beam by rounded side edges. The base plate interface region is coupled to a proximal end of the load beam, and provides a pre-load bend. Finally, base plate is coupled to the base plate interface region such that the base plate is coupled to a side of the base plate interface region that is opposite the media surface.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a head and a suspension assembly capable of supporting the head. The suspension assembly includes a base plate having a first base plate surface facing toward the storage medium, and a load beam having a length, a first load beam surface facing toward the storage medium, and a second load beam surface facing toward the first base plate surface. The second load beam surface is secured to the first base plate surface, and an interconnect of the storage device is secured to the first load beam surface along substantially the entire load beam length.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing improved roll static angle adjustment for head gimbal assemblies (HGA's) used in disc drives. In the method, proximal and distal clamping members are attached to a load beam of the HGA and are separated by a distance of 4-30% of the length of the load beam. One of the distal and proximal clamping members is rotated about a longitudinal axis of the load beam such that the relative angular position of the distal and proximal clamping members reaches an adjust angle. Also disclosed is a rigid beam section of an HGA that includes apertures which are positioned along maximum stress contours where early plastic deformation of the rigid beam section is desired during adjustment of the roll static angle.

Abstract: A suspension for a storage device includes a metal layer and one or more composite stiffeners bonded to the metal layer to stiffen part but not all of the suspension. The composite stiffeners are made of a composite material and are bonded to the metal layer by an adhesive. Under most embodiments, the composite material has a higher stiffness to weight ratio than a metal.

Abstract: An actuation assembly for use in a disc drive having a recording disc rotatable about an axis and a slider supporting a transducing head for transducing data with a disc. The actuation assembly supports the slider to position the transducing head adjacent a selected radial track of the disc. The actuation assembly includes a movable actuator arm and a load beam supported by the actuator arm. A gimbal for supporting the slider and having a slider opposing face is connected to a distal end of the load beam. The gimbal has at least one standoff extending from the slider opposing face toward the disc with the standoff providing a direct contact between the gimbal and the slider.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing improved roll static angle adjustment for head gimbal assemblies (HGA's) used in disc drives. In the method, proximal and distal clamping members are attached to a load beam of the HGA and are separated by a distance of 4-30% of the length of the load beam. One of the distal and proximal clamping members is rotated about a longitudinal axis of the load beam such that the relative angular position of the distal and proximal clamping members reaches an adjust angle. Also disclosed is a rigid beam section of an HGA that includes apertures which are positioned along maximum stress contours where early plastic deformation of the rigid beam section is desired during adjustment of the roll static angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing improved roll static angle adjustment for head gimbal assemblies (HGA's) used in disc drives. In the method, proximal and distal clamping members are attached to a load beam of the HGA and are separated by a distance of 4-30% of the length of the load beam. One of the distal and proximal clamping members is rotated about a longitudinal axis of the load beam such that the relative angular position of the distal and proximal clamping members reaches an adjust angle. Also disclosed is a rigid beam section of an HGA that includes apertures which are positioned along maximum stress contours where early plastic deformation of the rigid beam section is desired during adjustment of the roll static angle.

Abstract: A system and a method for increasing suspension resonance frequencies of a head suspension assembly of a disc drive includes, in one example embodiment, attaching a base plate to an actuator arm assembly of the disc drive such that the base plate including the actuator arm assembly are in actuating relationship with a rotating disc of the disc drive. A two-piece suspension member having a first and second pieces is attached to the base plate. A gimbal is attached to the two-piece suspension member such that a predetermined bendable area is formed between the first and second pieces and on the gimbal having a stiffer preload bend radius. A stiffer preload bend radius provides a higher stiffness-to-mass ratio without increasing the spring rate of the head suspension assembly to increase suspension resonance frequencies of the head suspension assembly to fall outside a bandwidth of a servo drive to reduce off-track motion of the head suspension assembly during track follow-and-seek operations of the disc drive.