Abstract: A capacitive transducer of multi-layer construction includes two rotor plates supported by flexible springs, the plates being spaced apart and rigidly connected by a stem. One rotor plate my be used as either a pickup electrode or a grounded target electrode for determining position, displacement, or load force. The second rotor plate may be used for electrostatic actuation without interfering with or destroying circuitry associated with the first rotor plate. A number of improvements are disclosed including a hollow rotor plate structure for reduced moving mass, buckling resistant features for the springs, improved spring anchor joint design for reduced creep and hysteresis, and material selection and matching for reduced thermal sensitivity.

Abstract: A rotary actuator system includes an actuator block, a head mounting block, and a linkage arm connecting the actuator block and the head mounting block. The system further includes an actuator motor operatively connected to the actuator block for rotating a link. The linkage arm includes a drive link which is rotated by the actuator motor and a guide link spaced apart from the drive link. The drive link has a first end and a second end; the drive link is pivotally connected to the actuator block at the first end and connected to the head mounting block at the second end. The guide link has a first end and a second end; the guide link is connected to the actuator block at the first end and connected to the head mounting block at the second end.

Abstract: A head for use in accessing data from an electrically conductive media surface is provided. The head has a slider body defining a bearing plane configured to face the media surface. A fly height control electrode is positioned on the raised portion. Further, the fly height control electrode and the media surface are adapted to form opposing plates of a capacitor with a dielectric layer of air supporting the head. Also, the fly height control electrode is electrically isolated from the slider body. A head electrical connection disposed on the slider body is electrically connected to the fly height control electrode. The head electrical connection is adapted to provide a fly height control voltage to the fly height control electrode.

Abstract: The present invention includes gimbal having an attachment portion and a head support structure spaced apart from the attachment portion. A first strut connects the attachment portion and the head support structure. The first strut has an increased center portion and two end portions on opposite sides of the center portion. The increased center portion has a greater thickness than the two end portions. The gimbal also includes a second strut spaced apart from the first strut and is connected to the attachment portion and the head support structure. The second strut has an increased center portion and two end portions on opposite sides of the increased center portion. The increased center portion of the second strut has a greater thickness than the two end portions.

Abstract: A capacitive transducer of multi-layer construction includes two rotor plates supported by flexible springs, the plates being spaced apart and rigidly connected by a stem. One rotor plate my be used as either a pickup electrode or a grounded target electrode for determining position, displacement, or load force. The second rotor plate may be used for electrostatic actuation without interfering with or destroying circuitry associated with the first rotor plate. A number of improvements are disclosed including a hollow rotor plate structure for reduced moving mass, buckling resistant features for the springs, improved spring anchor joint design for reduced creep and hysteresis, and material selection and matching for reduced thermal sensitivity.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator for adjusting a spacing. A first body has an electrically conducting surface, and a second body has a body surface separated by the spacing from the electrically conducting surface. A conductor layer and an actuator electrode are recessed in the second body, and an electrode face faces the electrically conducting surface across the spacing. The actuator electrode comprises a semi-insulating material with a combination of electrical resistivity and thickness which prevents shorting of the conductor layer to the electrical conducting surface through a dielectric breakdown in the spacing.

Abstract: A rotary actuator system includes an actuator block, a head mounting block, and a linkage arm connecting the actuator block and the head mounting block. The system further includes an actuator motor operatively connected to the actuator block for rotating a link. The linkage arm includes a drive link which is rotated by the actuator motor and a guide link spaced apart from the drive link. The drive link has a first end and a second end; the drive link is pivotally connected to the actuator block at the first end and connected to the head mounting block at the second end. The guide link has a first end and a second end; the guide link is connected to the actuator block at the first end and connected to the head mounting block at the second end.

Abstract: A microactuator design and fabrication method for an improved magnetic microactuator incorporating mechanical stroke limiters and integrated connections between the flex on suspension and slider. The stroke limiters, also referred to as bumper system, and integrated connections enable low power, mechanically robust operation of the microactuator during high seek operations. In addition, improved head gimbal assembly yield results due to the integrated head connections formed on the microactuator.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator for adjusting a spacing. A first body has an electrically conducting surface, and a second body has a body surface separated by the spacing from the electrically conducting surface. A conductor layer and an actuator electrode are recessed in the second body, and an electrode face faces the electrically conducting surface across the spacing. The actuator electrode comprises a semi-insulating material with a combination of electrical resistivity and thickness which prevents shorting of the conductor layer to the electrical conducting surface through a dielectric breakdown in the spacing.

Abstract: A microactuator finely positions a transducing head carried by a slider adjacent a select radial track of disc. A frame of the microactuator includes a motor for altering the position of the slider and a closed bonding tub extending upward from the bottom of the microactuator having a bonding surface to engage the top surface of the slider. The closed bonding tub is formed from the microactuator frame such that there is a tub bottom having a bonding surface, sidewalls and an open sidewall.

Abstract: A disc drive having a voice coil actuator with an attached suspension and head, the head including a micro-actuator. The micro-actuator having at least one natural frequency and at least one natural frequency time period. The voice coil actuator is adapted to attenuate a resonance of the micro-actuator at the at least one natural frequency using a stepped acceleration.

Abstract: The slider and method of the present invention relate to a slider for a disc drive. The slider includes a substrate having a cavity and a filler within the cavity. The slider further includes a transducer that is positioned near the filler. The design facilitates controlling the relative thermal expansion between the transducer and substrate of the slider that is near the transducer. Compensating for the thermal expansion of the transducer provides a more consistent fly height of the slider during operation of the disc drive. In addition, the design adjusts the air-bearing surface of the slider such that the transducer does not extend below the rest of the slider as the transducer expands.

Abstract: A moving-coil magnetic microactuator is formed by using a dual silicon wafer structure and thin film technologies such as deep trench reactive ion etching, reactive ion etching, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and metallo-organinc chemical vapor deposition. Several bottom structures are formed from a bottom wafer, each bottom structure having a coil and wires embedded in the surface of the bottom structure. Several top structures are formed from a top wafer, each top structure having a magnet and mechanical stand-offs. The top structures are bonded to the bottom structures so that the magnet is above the embedded coil, separated by an air gap created by the mechanical stand-offs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for uniformly coating a magnet having a plurality of surfaces and includes a reaction chamber having a port for introducing the magnet into the reaction chamber. A heater is also included for heating the reaction chamber. Also, a carrier gas port is in fluid communications with the reaction chamber for introducing a carrier gas into the reaction chamber. In addition, a reactant gas port is in fluid communications with the reaction chamber for introducing a reactant gas into the reaction chamber. When the magnet and the carrier gas are introduced into the reaction chamber, the magnet becomes suspended in the reaction chamber. Also, when the reactant gas is introduced into the reaction chamber, the reactant gas causes all of the plurality of surfaces of the magnet to be uniformly coated.

Abstract: A head for use in accessing data from an electrically conductive media surface is provided. The head has a slider body defining a bearing plane configured to face the media surface. A fly height control electrode is positioned on the raised portion. Further, the fly height control electrode and the media surface are adapted to form opposing plates of a capacitor with a dielectric layer of air supporting the head. Also, the fly height control electrode is electrically isolated from the slider body. A head electrical connection disposed on the slider body is electrically connected to the fly height control electrode. The head electrical connection is adapted to provide a fly height control voltage to the fly height control electrode.

Abstract: The slider and method of the present invention relate to a slider for a disc drive. The slider includes a substrate having a cavity and a filler within the cavity. The slider further includes a transducer that is positioned near the filler. The design facilitates controlling the relative thermal expansion between the transducer and substrate of the slider that is near the transducer. Compensating for the thermal expansion of the transducer provides a more consistent fly height of the slider during operation of the disc drive. In addition, the design adjusts the air-bearing surface of the slider such that the transducer does not extend below the rest of the slider as the transducer expands.

Abstract: A suspension supports a slider for use with a microactuator. The suspension includes a suspension arm attachment pad and a slider attachment pad, connected together by microbeams. A first plurality of microbeams run side-by-side and extend on one side of the suspension, and a second plurality of microbeams run side-by-side and extending on the other side of the suspension. The microbeams preferably include a web and at least one flange which is wider than the web, such as in an “I” shape. The suspension is fabricated out of a single crystal silicon wafer with photolithographic techniques, including doping a surface of the wafer and etching the interior of the wafer to form the “I” shaped microbeams. The microbeams of the present invention make the suspension more flexible in the lateral direction while supporting the preload force on the slider in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A dual-stage actuation assembly for a disc drive includes a movable actuator arm controlled by an actuator motor. A suspension assembly is supported by the actuator arm, and includes a flexure. A microactuator is also provided, including a stator attached to the flexure and a rotor supporting the slider, the rotor being movable with respect to the stator in a first horizontal plane generally parallel to a surface of the disc. A vertically arranged magnetic circuit is formed, which in an exemplary embodiment includes a bottom ferromagnetic keeper, a plurality of magnets, a patterned conductive coil and atop ferromagnetic keeper, those elements being vertically arranged in different horizontal planes. The magnets are operable to move laterally and thereby cause movement of the microactuator rotor in the first horizontal plane generally parallel to the surface of the disc in response to circulation of a current through the patterned conductive coil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transducer that comprises a body and a tip extending from the body. The tip includes an exposed portion that has a consistent cross-sectional area. The present invention also relates to a method of translating data to or from a medium. The method comprises the steps of maneuvering a transducer that has an exposed tip with a consistent cross-sectional area to a particular location relative to the medium, and engaging the medium using the tip on the transducer. The transducer and method of the present invention reduce the effects of transducer wear. The optimum performance of the transducer is maintained because the consistent cross-sectional area of the tip ensures that the surface area on the end of the tip is preserved over the life of the transducer.

Abstract: A disc drive having a voice coil actuator with an attached suspension and head, the head including a micro-actuator. The micro-actuator having at least one natural frequency and at least one natural frequency time period. The voice coil actuator is adapted to attenuate a resonance of the micro-actuator at the at least one natural frequency using a stepped acceleration.