Abstract: A head carriage assembly includes a head carriage having a magnetic head at a first end part and a bearing between the first end part and a second end part, the head carriage being pivotable about a shaft cooperating with the bearing in such a manner that the head moves in a radial direction of a rotating disk to be read. The head carriage assembly further includes a first driving device provided at the second end of the head carriage and generating a force for pivoting the head carriage and, second driving device generating a further force for pivoting the head carriage.

Abstract: A head carriage assembly includes a head carriage having a magnetic head at a first end part and a bearing between the first end part and a second end part, the head carriage being pivotable about a shaft cooperating with the bearing in such a manner that the head moves in a radial direction of a rotating disk to be read. The head carriage assembly further includes first driving means provided at the second end of the head carriage and generating a force for pivoting the head carriage and second driving means generating a further force for pivoting the head carriage.

Abstract: The small and light piezoelectric actuator of the present invention is capable of highly precisely positioning a magnetic head assemblies, etc. The piezoelectric actuator comprises: a movable member to which a head suspension is fixed; a fixed member fixed to a carriage arm; piezoelectric elements provided between the movable member and the fixed member and capable of adjusting a position of the head suspension by their deformation; and an electrode member electrically connected to one of electrodes of each of the piezoelectric elements. The movable member is adhered on the piezoelectric elements and electrically insulated from the other electrodes of the piezoelectric elements. The electric conductive layer of the electrode member and the other electrode of each of the piezoelectric elements are electrically connected to cables, which are provided to the head suspension so as to actuate the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A head drive device for positioning a read and/or write head for reading and/or writing information to and from a disk coated with a recording medium, the head drive device including a carriage, a main actuator for moving the carriage, a plurality of heads for reading and/or writing information to and from the disk, and a vibration control portion comprising a plurality of micro-actuators positioned between the carriage and the heads, such that when the main actuator and a first micro-actuator are driven to enable precise positioning of a desired head with respect to a surface of the disk a second micro-actuator is driven so as to offset vibrations generated at the carriage by the operation of the desired micro-actuator.

Abstract: An actuator having a simple configuration requiring no high dimensional accuracy, high in positioning accuracy and low in cost, and a head-positioning mechanism using the actuator are disclosed. An actuator according to a first application comprises a shear-type piezoelectric element of predetermined thickness and an opposed electrode formed on two electrodes in spaced relationship on a base member. The opposed electrode is displaced in accordance with the direction of polarization of the shear-type piezoelectric element upon applying a voltage between the two electrodes. The opposed electrode thus constitutes an operating section of the actuator. An actuator according to a second application comprises a movable member arranged on a drive member including a shear-type piezoelectric element on a base member. The drive member includes a plurality of layers of piezoelectric elements polarized in alternately opposite directions perpendicular to the thickness of the devices.

Abstract: An actuator having a simple configuration requiring no high dimensional accuracy, high in positioning accuracy and low in cost, and a head-positioning mechanism using the actuator are disclosed. An actuator according to a first application comprises a shear-type piezoelectric element of predetermined thickness and an opposed electrode formed on two electrodes in spaced relationship on a base member. The opposed electrode is displaced in accordance with the direction of polarization of the shear-type piezoelectric element upon applying a voltage between the two electrodes. The opposed electrode thus constitutes an operating section of the actuator. An actuator according to a second application comprises a movable member arranged on a drive member including a shear-type piezoelectric element on a base member. The drive member includes a plurality of layers of piezoelectric elements polarized in alternately opposite directions perpendicular to the thickness of the devices.

Abstract: A head suspension supporting a head at the tip end is allowed to swing at the tip end of a carriage in a recording disk drive. A microactuator is interposed between the head suspension and the carriage. A resistor is connected to the microactuator in serial. The microactuator is allowed to function as a capacitance. A combination of the microactuator and the resistor enables establishment of a so-called low pass filter. A high frequency noise involuntarily introduced in the driving voltage for the microactuator can be eliminated or removed from the driving voltage. Elimination of the high frequency noise enables a reliable prevention of the mechanical or physical resonance or vibration in the head suspension. A tracking action of the head related to a target recording track can reliably be stabilized.

Abstract: A method for incorporating a disk medium into a magnetic disk drive, in which the rotation center of the disk medium when a servo track information is written onto the disk medium (STW) coincides with the rotation center thereof when the disk medium is incorporated into the disk apparatus. A reference marker is provided as a positioning reference on a part of the disk medium. The disk medium is incorporated into a STW apparatus so that STW is performed on the disk medium. The disk medium is also incorporated into the magnetic disk drive in such a manner that a distance from an axis of rotation center of the disk medium to the reference marker is the same as when the STW was performed onto the disk medium.

Abstract: A head actuator includes an actuator arm rotatably mounted on a base, a first drive mechanism rotating the actuator arm, a suspension supporting on a distal end thereof a head slider having a transducer, and a head attachment plate fixed to a proximal end of the suspension. The head actuator also has a protrusion disposed on the head attachment plate, a cavity defined in a distal end of the actuator arm and in which the protrusion is rotatably inserted, and a second drive mechanism for angularly moving the head attachment plate with respect to the actuator arm.

Abstract: A compact card type disk drive includes a housing (21) for accommodating a disk for storing data, a disk drive for rotating the disk, a head assembly for writing and reading data to and from the disk and an electronic circuit including at least an interface circuit (39), the latter three being accommodated in the housing. A connector (42) connected to the electronic circuit is fixed to the outside portion of the housing (21). The electronic circuit preferably contains a read/write circuit (36) and a control circuit (38). The housing (21) preferably includes a lower base (22) and an upper cover (23), and a printed circuit board (14) is disposed along the inner wall of either one, or both, of the base (22) and the cover (23). The outer dimension of the plane of the disk drive is preferably about 85.6 mm.times.54 mm, and typically, the outer thickness is 5 mm. Preferably, one connector (42) is disposed on either one of the minor sides of the housing (21).

Abstract: A compact card type disk a drive includes a housing (21) for accommodating a disk for storing data, a disk drive for rotating the disk, head assembly for writing and reading data to and from the disk and an electronic circuit including at least an interface circuit (39), the latter three being accommodated in the housing. A connector (42) connected to the electronic circuit is fixed to the outside portion of the housing (21). The electronic circuit preferably contains a read/write circuit (36) and a control circuit (38). The housing (21) preferably includes a lower base (22) and an upper cover (23), and a printed circuit board (14) is disposed along the inner wall of either one, or both, of the base (22) and the cover (23). The outer dimension of the plane of the disk drive is preferably about 85.6 mm.times.54 mm, and typically, the outer thickness is 5 mm. Preferably, one connector (42) is disposed on either one of the minor sides of the housing (21).

Abstract: A compact card type disk drive includes a housing (21) for accommodating a disk for storing data, disk drive for rotating the disk, a head assembly for writing and reading data to and from the disk and an electronic circuit including at least an interface circuit (39), the latter three being accommodated in the housing. A connector (42) connected to the electronic circuit is fixed to the outside portion of the housing (21). The electronic circuit preferably contains a read/write circuit (36) and a control circuit (38). The housing (21) preferably includes a lower base (22) and an upper cover (23), and a printed circuit board (14) is disposed along the inner wall of either one, or both, of the base (22) and the cover (23). The outer dimension of the plane of the disk drive is preferably about 85.6 mm.times.54 mm, and typically, the outer thickness is 5 mm. Preferably, one connector (42) is disposed on either one of the minor sides of the housing (21).

Abstract: A head actuator in a magnetic disk drive, including an actuator arm rotatably mounted on a base of the magnetic disk drive, a first driving mechanism for rotating the actuator arm, and a load beam for supporting at a front end portion thereof a slider carrying a head. The head actuator further includes a second driving mechanism composed of a leaf spring for elastically connecting a front end portion of the actuator arm and a base end portion of the load beam, and an electromagnetic motor for swinging the load beam with respect to the actuator arm.

Abstract: A retracting assembly produces a constant torque, in a data zone of a magnetic disk, which is greater than static friction of a bearing for a rotary actuator. However, in a parking zone on an outer portion of the magnetic disk, the retracting assembly generates a torque which suddenly increases so that a large holding torque is obtained and a magnetic head is reliably locked.