Abstract: Flexure/transducer structure employable in an electromagnetic information storage and retrieval system wherein mechanical load-bearing responsibilities and electrical-current-carrying responsibilities are merged into and shared by common structure. The invention subject matter is useable in systems characterized by contact operation, as well as by quasi-contact and noncontact operations, in relation to the recording surface in an information recording medium.

Abstract: Flexure/transducer structure employable in an electromagnetic information storage and retrieval system wherein mechanical load-bearing responsibilities and electrical-current-carrying responsibilities are merged into and shared by common structure. The invention subject matter is useable in systems characterized by contact operation, as well as by quasi-contact and noncontact operations, in relation to the recording surface in an information recording medium.

Abstract: A disk drive system for contact recording has a flexure beam holding a transducer at one end, the flexure beam being oriented substantially along the direction that the transducer slides on a rigid magnetic disk. The transducer has a protrusion which contacts the disk and separates the rest of the transducer from the moving air film that adjoins the spinning disk, the protrusion containing a magnetic pole structure that communicates with the disk during sliding. A preferred embodiment employs a gimbal structure which allows limited movement of the transducer relative to the flexure beam and three disk-contacting pads extending down from the transducer to make contact with the magnetic disk, at least one of the pads containing a magnetic pole structure and two of the pads trailing the third pad.

Abstract: A low-mass head/flexure/conductor assembly for reading and writing information with respect to a rigid magnetic recording disk. The assembly includes a read/write transducer unit, an elongate flexure, and gimbal structure interconnecting and articulating the transducer unit and the flexure for selected, limited relative roll and pitch, without relative yaw. Conductive ribbons that form part of the gimbal structure also form part of the conductive circuit provided in the assembly. The assembly has an effective mass of no more than about 1.5-milligrams. Plural, hardened, wear-resistant feet are formed on the transducer unit for enabling sliding contact with the recording surface in a disk. The flexure may be formed of various materials, including both ceramic and nonceramic materials, and may carry applied damping material in order to control certain resonance and servo-performance characteristics.

Abstract: A low-mass head/flexure/conductor assembly for reading and writing information with respect to a rigid magnetic recording disk. The assembly includes a read/write transducer unit, an elongate flexure, and gimbal structure interconnecting and articulating the transducer unit and the flexure for selected, limited relative roll and pitch, without relative yaw. Conductive ribbons that form part of the gimbal structure also form part of the conductive circuit provided in the assembly. The assembly has an effective mass of no more than about 1.5-milligrams. Plural, hardened, wear-resistant feet are formed on the transducer unit for enabling sliding contact with the recording surface in a disk.

Abstract: A unitary micro-flexure structure and a method of making the same, wherein the structure takes the form of an elongate dielectric flexure body having a mounting end and a free end, and which is adapted for cantilevered disposition, wherein the body takes a form which is constructed entirely from thin-film deposition and patterning processes involving the deposition of a metal oxide, and further wherein the body has a topography which is at least partially determined by etch-removable surface-boundary-defining structure.

Abstract: A unitary micro-flexure structure and a method of making the same, wherein the structure takes the form of an elongate dielectric flexure body having a mounting end and a free end, and which is adapted for cantilevered disposition, wherein the body takes a form which is constructed entirely from thin-film deposition and patterning processes involving the deposition of a metal oxide, and further wherein the body has a topography which is at least partially determined by etch-removable surface-boundary-defining structure.

Abstract: A unitary micro-flexure structure and a method of making the same, wherein the structure takes the form of an elongate dielectric flexure body having a mounting end and a free end, and which is adapted for cantilevered disposition, wherein the body takes a form which is constructed entirely from thin-film deposition and patterning processes involving the deposition of a metal oxide, and further wherein the body has a topography which is at least partially determined by etch-removable boundary-defining structure.