Abstract: A disk drive apparatus. The apparatus has a first drive device and a support member coupled to the first drive device. The support member has a tongue portion and a gimbal portion. The tongue portion is coupled the gimbal portion. A fixed drive device is formed within a first portion of the tongue portion. A movable drive device is operably coupled to the fixed drive device and formed within a second portion of the tongue portion. A read/write head is coupled to the movable drive device. A voltage source is coupled between the fixed drive device and the movable drive device to cause movement of the read/write head by forming an interaction between the fixed drive device and the movable drive device.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus. The apparatus has a platter operably coupled to a servo drive device. The servo drive device is adapted to rotate the platter about a fixed axis. The apparatus also has a support member operably coupled to the platter to move the support member about one or more active regions on a surface of the platter. The apparatus has a read/write head including an active portion and a support portion. The support portion is coupled to the support member. The active portion is operably coupled to the platter to read and/or write information to the surface of the platter. A piezo electric actuating material is coupled between the support portion of the read/write head and the support member. A first electrode is coupled to a first side of the piezo electric actuating material. A second electrode is coupled to a second side of the piezo electric actuating material.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing gram load of a head suspension assembly. The invention includes a mechanical back bending process. After forming, the suspension is subjected to residual stress. During mechanical back bending of the load beam, the applied stress is in the opposite direction of the forming operation. Subsequently, the resultant residual stress around the pre load area is reversed and acted against the pre-existing residual stress remaining from the forming operation. The net effect is a reduction and/or the elimination of residual stress altogether. Depending on the pre-load geometry and desired spring force, the degree of back bending is varied. Typically, a one-time back bending is not sufficient to stabilize the spring region at a microstructure level. It has been demonstrated that such repetitive back bending operation can effectively bring mobile dislocations into equilibrium, and thus reduce or eliminate the hysteresis loop.

Abstract: A non-contact method for adjusting static attitude in suspension for use in a rigid disk drive is disclosed. The method includes the use of one or more lasers as a heat source directed at a well-defined region on either or both sides of the gimbal outrigger. Irradiation by the laser causes thermal gradient across the thickness of the outrigger and simultaneously changes its residual stress distribution, which alters the static attitude change in suspension or head gimbal assemblies. In this present invention, initial pitch and roll static attitude is measured by the measurement apparatus, this result is then used to calculates the laser parameter required for irradiation on either or both side of the outrigger to achieve the desired static attitude condition. An adjustment is accomplished with irradiation on either or both sides of the outrigger with one or more lasers while suspension or head gimbal assemblies are in free-state.