Abstract: Structures and methods for creating a vertical offset between suspension springs or fingers within a suspension head assembly for use in a disk drive are disclosed, the vertical offset helping to reduce track mis-registration errors. The base plate and load beam may be made from three-layer composite materials that have been etched to create either recesses therein into which the suspension springs ends are placed and then welded, or the base plate and load beam may be etched to create mesas on which the ends of one of the suspension springs are welded. The three layers may comprise stainless steel, polyimide, and stainless steel. In another embodiment, one of the suspension springs is a three-layer material that has been etched to create a raised central portion that is vertically offset from the other suspension spring. In another embodiment, spacers are employed as shims underneath one of the suspension springs.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension has a load beam having a base, a flexure for carrying a slider, and a mount plate. The suspension mount plate has a first portion attachable to an actuator and movable by the actuator as the primary shifting force on the load beam, suitable for larger positioning movements. A second portion of the mount plate is attached to the load beam base and is movable relative to the mount plate first portion. A microactuator moves the second mount plate portion relative to the first mount plate portion as a secondary shifting force on the load beam, suitable for very small positioning movements.

Abstract: A disk drive electrical interconnect assembly and additive method therefor. The interconnect assembly has a supporting or fifth layer of metal, a fourth layer of a polyimide precursor or a polyimide with a first face directed away from the fifth layer, a third layer directly attached to the first face and defining a first subset of one or more conductive trace pair members, a second layer on the third and fourth layers of a polyimide precursor or a polyimide with a second face directed away from the third layer, and a first layer directly attached to the second layer and defining a second subset of one or more conductive trace pair members in spaced, paired and laterally offset relation respectively with one or more of the first subset pair members.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension interconnect of a flexible conductive laminate with an electrically insulative layer and a pair of trace conductors supported thereon is shunted by having an insulative layer first portion supporting the trace conductors oppose a deflectable layer second portion free of the trace conductors and disposed beyond the first portion and carrying a shunt structure for connecting in parallel the trace conductors. The shunt structure conductive material is arranged on the second portion to contact in shunting relation the trace conductor pair in the deflected condition of the second portion and further has adhesive arranged thereon to secure the first portion in place.

Abstract: An HGA dynamics tester and method are provided in which a shear mode piezo actuator having a dimensional change responsive to an input voltage while supported on a mass is coupled through an HGA support to impart movement to the HGA responsive to the actuator dimensional change.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension and method has a metal load beam and an electrical interconnect assembly. The interconnect assembly has an insulative layer, a read pair of forward and return path conductive traces, a write pair of forward and return path conductive traces that are supported by the insulative layer, preferably in offset relation across the insulative layer, and a metal layer for grounding and mounted on the insulative plastic layer in fixed spaced relation to the conductive traces to be between the interconnect assembly and the load beam. The metal layer shields the conductive traces from variations in impedance occasioned by varying distances between said electrical interconnect and said load beam.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the shock characteristic of a suspension having a proximate portion, a distal portion and a spring portion therebetween has a rotatable structure having a mount for the suspension base portion such that the suspension distal portion is cantilevered over the rotatable structure, and a sensor carried on the rotatable structure for sensing the displacement of the suspension distal portion relative to the suspension proximate portion under shock load from centrifugal force imparted to the suspension by the rotatable structure. The shock characteristic value is determinable from the displacement value.