Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for a disk drive includes a flexure tail terminal region having flexure bond pads in electrical communication with the head. Each of the flexure bond pads includes a widened region of a corresponding one of a plurality of electrical traces in a conductive layer, and a discontinuous bond pad backing island in a structural layer that overlaps the widened region. The flexure tail terminal region also includes a plurality of discontinuous edge stiffener islands in the structural layer that do not overlap the widened region of any flexure bond pad, and that are disposed no more than 50 microns from one of the two opposing longitudinal outer edges of the flexure tail terminal region. At least one of the plurality of discontinuous bond pad backing islands is disposed no more than 50 microns from one of the two opposing longitudinal outer edges.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microactuator. The method includes providing a sheet of a piezoelectric material having an electrically conductive layer on at least one side of the sheet. The method includes cutting the sheet to form a plurality of piezoelectric elements. Each of the piezoelectric elements includes a first element side with an electrically conductive layer. Each first element side includes a peripheral portion and an exposed portion interior to the peripheral portion. The method includes forming an encapsulation layer over the peripheral portion and not over the exposed portion of at least one of the sides. The encapsulation layer comprises a material of lesser electrical conductivity than the electrically conductive layer. An apparatus for manufacturing the microactuators may also be provided that includes a first fixture and first and second alignment combs.

Abstract: An apparatus for peripherally encapsulating a plurality of piezoelectric elements includes a first fixture with a fixture base and a plurality of protrusions extending from the fixture base. Each protrusion includes a distal support surface that is approximately the same size as an exposed portion of a first side of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. The apparatus includes first and second alignment combs, each including a plurality of tines that are spaced to position each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements there between. The tines of the second alignment comb are oriented approximately orthogonally relative to the tines of the first alignment comb.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for a disk drive includes a flexure tail terminal region having flexure bond pads in electrical communication with the head. Each of the flexure bond pads includes a widened region of a corresponding one of a plurality of electrical traces in a conductive layer, and a discontinuous bond pad backing island in a structural layer that overlaps the widened region. The flexure tail terminal region also includes a plurality of discontinuous edge stiffener islands in the structural layer that do not overlap the widened region of any flexure bond pad, and that are disposed no more than 50 microns from one of the two opposing longitudinal outer edges of the flexure tail terminal region. At least one of the plurality of discontinuous bond pad backing islands is disposed no more than 50 microns from one of the two opposing longitudinal outer edges.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for a disk drive includes a flexure tail terminal region having flexure bond pads in electrical communication with the head. Each of the flexure bond pads includes a widened region of a corresponding one of a plurality of electrical traces in a conductive layer, and a discontinuous bond pad backing island in a structural layer that overlaps the widened region. The flexure tail terminal region also includes a plurality of discontinuous edge stiffener islands in the structural layer that do not overlap the widened region of any flexure bond pad, and that are disposed no more than 50 microns from one of the two opposing longitudinal outer edges of the flexure tail terminal region. At least one of the plurality of discontinuous bond pad backing islands is disposed no more than 50 microns from one of the two opposing longitudinal outer edges.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for a disk drive includes a flexure tail terminal region having flexure bond pads in electrical communication with the head. Each of the flexure bond pads includes a widened region of a corresponding one of a plurality of electrical traces in a conductive layer, and a discontinuous bond pad backing island in a structural layer that overlaps the widened region. The flexure tail terminal region also includes a plurality of discontinuous edge stiffener islands in the structural layer that do not overlap the widened region of any flexure bond pad, and that are disposed no more than 50 microns from one of the two opposing longitudinal outer edges of the flexure tail terminal region. At least one of the plurality of discontinuous bond pad backing islands is disposed no more than 50 microns from one of the two opposing longitudinal outer edges.

Abstract: A disk drive head gimbal assembly includes a laminated flexure with a tongue having an actuated portion that rotates about an axis of rotation by expansion of a first adhered piezoelectric element relative to a second adhered piezoelectric element. A non-actuated portion of the tongue adjoins and forms a bridge between two outrigger beams, with a dimple contact location that is in contact with a dimple of the load beam and through which the axis of rotation passes. A read head is adhered, closer to its leading end than to its trailing end, to the actuated portion of the tongue. Each of the first and second piezoelectric elements has an anchored end that is adhered to the bridge, closer to the trailing end of the read head, and an opposing actuated end adhered to the actuated portion of the tongue, closer to the leading end of the read head.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a load beam extending from a load beam supported end to a load beam distal end, and a laminated flexure supported by the load beam. The laminated flexure includes a structural layer having a head mounting tongue, a conductive layer having a plurality of patterned traces, and a dielectric layer between the structural layer and the conductive layer. The structural layer of the laminated flexure includes a distal limiter that has a first limiter arm and a second limiter arm adjoining at a distal apex. The distal apex is disposed closer to the load beam distal end than is the head mounting tongue. Each of the first and second limiter arms splits into a plurality of branches.

Abstract: A disk drive head gimbal assembly includes a laminated flexure with a tongue having an actuated portion that rotates about an axis of rotation by expansion of an adhered piezoelectric element. A non-actuated portion of the tongue adjoins and forms a bridge between two outrigger beams, with a dimple contact location that is in contact with a dimple of the load beam and through which the axis of rotation passes. The piezoelectric element has an anchored end that is adhered to the non-actuated portion of the tongue, and an opposing actuated end adhered to the actuated portion. The actuated portion of the tongue includes first and second head mounting plates that are each adhered to the read head. Each of the head mounting plates is connected to the non-actuated portion of the tongue by an elongated compliant member that is oriented radially with respect to the dimple contact location.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a load beam, and first and second piezoelectric elements that are disposed within first and second piezoelectric element receiving windows in a mounting plate, respectively. The load beam includes a plurality of rails that includes first and second outer rails and first and second inner rails, each of the plurality of rails being oriented in the longitudinal direction and being formed or bent out of the load beam plane. The first and second inner rails are disposed between the first and second piezoelectric elements, and the first and second outer rails are disposed not between the first and second piezoelectric elements. The first piezoelectric element is disposed between the first outer rail and the first inner rail, and the second piezoelectric element is disposed between the second inner rail and the second outer rail.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microactuator. The method includes providing a sheet of a piezoelectric material having an electrically conductive layer on at least one side of the sheet. The method includes cutting the sheet to form a plurality of piezoelectric elements. Each of the piezoelectric elements includes a first element side with an electrically conductive layer. Each first element side includes a peripheral portion and an exposed portion interior to the peripheral portion. The method includes forming an encapsulation layer over the peripheral portion and not over the exposed portion of at least one of the sides. The encapsulation layer comprises a material of lesser electrical conductivity than the electrically conductive layer. An apparatus for manufacturing the microactuators may also be provided that includes a first fixture and first and second alignment combs.

Abstract: A head stack assembly (HSA) for a disk drive includes a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The FPC includes a plurality of electrically conductive FPC traces, each leading to a respective one of a plurality of FPC bond pads. The HSA also includes a head gimbal assembly (HGA) having a laminated flexure with a plurality of electrically conductive flexure bond pads that are bonded to the plurality of FPC bond pads. The laminated flexure includes a flexure tail having an overlap region that overlaps the FPC. A structural layer of the laminated flexure includes a jumper in the overlap region. The jumper is electrically connected to at least two of the plurality of flexure electrical traces in the flexure conductive layer. The jumper is disposed at least 50 microns from any of the plurality of FPC electrical traces or FPC bond pads.

Abstract: A method of assembling a head stack assembly of a magnetic storage drive is provided. The method includes attaching a flexible printed circuit (FPC) with a suspension tail of a head gimbal assembly, wherein the suspension tail includes a plurality of discrete segments positioned within a bonding area and other portions of a structural layer outside of the bonding area, and pressing tail bond pads of the suspension tail against corresponding ones of FPC bond pads of the FPC by bringing a single flat surface of a thermode in contact with each of the discrete segments.

Abstract: A method of assembling a head stack assembly (HSA) includes securing a flex cable to an actuator including an actuator arm having a side slot with a slot end. A first head gimbal assembly (HGA) is attached to the actuator arm. The first HGA includes a first laminated flexure having a first flexure tail with a first raised region that includes an out-of-plane bend. The first raised region is squeezed while inserting the first flexure tail partially within the side slot with the first raised region adjacent the slot end. The first raised region is allowed to expand into contact with the side slot adjacent the slot end. The first flexure tail is electrically connected to the flex cable.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments directed to a head gimbal assembly including a novel suspension assembly that includes a flexure tail with a first plurality of apertures in its structural layer. Each of the first plurality of apertures underlies a first trace but not a second trace. Each of a second plurality of apertures in the structural layer underlies a second trace but not the first trace. Each of the first plurality of apertures includes a corresponding region of maximum width, and each of the second plurality of apertures includes a corresponding region of maximum width, as measured in the width direction. None of the corresponding regions of maximum width of the first plurality of apertures is disposed in an overlapping position along the long axis as any of the corresponding regions of maximum width of the second plurality of apertures.

Abstract: A novel suspension assembly includes a flexure tail with a first plurality of apertures in its structural layer. Each of the first plurality of apertures underlies a first trace but not a second trace. Each of a second plurality of apertures in the structural layer underlies a second trace but not the first trace. Each of the first plurality of apertures includes a corresponding region of maximum width, and each of the second plurality of apertures includes a corresponding region of maximum width, as measured in the width direction. None of the corresponding regions of maximum width of the first plurality of apertures is disposed in an overlapping position along the long axis as any of the corresponding regions of maximum width of the second plurality of apertures.

Abstract: A novel head stack assembly (HSA), and method for HSA assembly, are disclosed and claimed. A first flexure tail has a long axis approximately parallel to a side of the actuator arm. The actuator arm includes a slot in the side having a slot end. The first flexure tail is disposed partially within the slot. The first flexure tail includes a first raised region in contact with the slot adjacent the slot end. The first raised region includes an out-of-plane bend with cross-sectional curvature along the long axis. The first raised region may be squeezed while inserting the first flexure tail partially within the side slot, with the first raised region adjacent the slot end, and then allowed to expand into contact with the slot adjacent the slot end.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension assembly includes a load beam, a first hinge arm, a second hinge arm, a base plate, and a flexure that includes a head mounting surface. The base plate has a first base plate layer that includes a first base plate side and an opposing second base plate side. The first base plate side has a main base plate surface and a recessed base plate surface parallel to and offset from the main base plate surface. A first hinge arm is attached to the main base plate surface. A second hinge arm is attached to the recessed base plate surface. The first and second hinge arms are attached to the load beam. The base plate has a first thickness at the main base plate surface and a second thickness at the recessed base plate surface that is the same as the first thickness.

Abstract: An actuator arm assembly has an actuator arm and an actuator for moving the actuator arm whereby the arm assembly experiences vibrations. The actuator has a body with a recess formed therein, and a strain sensor is fitted essentially inside the recess such that the sensor generates signals correlated to the vibrations. This arrangement produces a high gain boost from the strain based sensor, making an amplifier circuit unnecessary. The sensor signals are used to damp the vibrations.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension assembly. The suspension assembly includes a load beam and a base plate with a longitudinal axis. The base plate includes an actuator arm and an opposing actuator arm end. The head gimbal end is disposed in mechanical communication with the load beam for distally supporting the load beam. The head gimbal end defines opposing first and second distal corners. The base plate includes first and second mass reduction openings formed through the base plate symmetrically about the longitudinal axis at the head gimbal end for locally reducing mass to mitigate torsional vibration mode frequency about the longitudinal axis. The first mass reduction opening is disposed at the head gimbal end between the first distal corner and the longitudinal axis. The second mass reduction opening is disposed at the head gimbal end between the second distal corner and the longitudinal axis.