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: Herein is disclosed a method and apparatus for controlling a lapping process, so as to create a read/write head that contains a primary magnetoresistive read element with a desired stripe height. An improved lapping guide is achieved by incorporating a secondary magnetoresistive element into a read/write head. By virtue of its location on the same read/write head as a primary magnetoresistive element (used for reading data during operation of the disc drive), the secondary element is located in close proximity to the primary element, resulting in smaller tolerances in aligning or relating the top edges of the primary and secondary elements. Accordingly, the secondary magnetoresistive element more reliably serves as a proxy for the primary element. Optionally, the secondary magnetoresistive element may be fashioned with identical dimensions as the primary element, so as to render the secondary element equivalent to the primary element with regard to magnetic sensitivity.

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: Herein is disclosed a method and apparatus for reducing particle collection on a slider or gimbal tongue. The gimbal tongue is shaped so as to interact with airflow within a disc drive to direct particles away from the slider and gimbal tongue. The leading edge of the gimbal tongue overhangs the leading edge of the slider. As air current approaches such a geometry, a large pocket of slow moving, high pressure air is created just upwind of the slider. Thus, as particulate matter encounters this pocket, the matter is slowed and its momentum is partially dissipated. A vent is provided in the gimbal tongue. The vent permits an escape route for the particles to move to an area of lower pressure, located on the other side of the gimbal tongue.

Abstract: A microactuator suspension supports a slider. The microactuator suspension has at least a first resilient support extending from a slider attachment pad to a suspension arm attachment pad. The slider attachment pad forms a clip which contacts the slider on side faces of the slider, and the microactuator adds little or nothing to the vertical thickness of the head gimbal assembly. The suspension arm attachment pad attaches to the gimbal with an attachment bridge which is longitudinally balanced relative to the gimbal point and relative to the air bearing centroid of the slider. The resilient supports may be beams having ends which are longitudinally spaced relative to the gimbal point, to the air bearing centroid, and to the attachment bridge to minimize moments and localized stresses on the beams. Dual beam and multiple beam arrangements are provided. The microactuator suspension further provides vibration attenuation at the slider of vibrations experienced by the suspension arm.

Abstract: A method of handling a wafer for through-wafer plasma etching includes lateral support provided between a handle wafer and a product wafer without wafer bonding or an adhesive film using mating mechanical structures. The product wafer is easily separated from the handle wafer following etching without stripping or cleaning. Because the connection between the wafers is mechanical, not from an adhesive layer/bonded layer, a wafer can be etched, inspected, and subsequently continue to be etched without the hindrance of repeated bonding, separation, and cleaning. A non-bonded support for released devices following a through-etch process is also provided.

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: The present invention includes a disc drive including an integral inertial latch comprised of a single material having a fixed pivot, an inertial mass and at least one spring. The at least one spring attaches the inertial mass to the fixed pivot. In one embodiment the disc drive has an integral inertial latch that includes a plurality of spoke springs that radiate outwardly from the fixed pivot to a ring shaped inertial mass. In one embodiment the disc drive includes an integral inertial latch that includes two leaf springs that attach the inertial mass to the fixed pivot. The inertial mass translates perpendicular to the fixed pivot.

Abstract: A monocoque head suspension carries a read-write head on a distal end and is attachable at a proximal end to an actuator assembly. The monocoque head suspension includes a bottom skin and a top skin, and also a core positioned between the bottom and top skins. The core has voids therein that form hollow regions between the bottom and top skins. The core may be made of low-density material, such as photo-imageable epoxy, polyamide or polyimide, deposited on the bottom skin, or may be a separately formed piece. The bottom skin and top skin may be made of a stainless steel material. The monocoque head suspension may be a component of an assembly to store data to a magnetic medium and read data from the medium.

Abstract: A read/write head microactuator includes first and second insulating deposits that are flat, spaced apart by an air gap, and laterally movable responsive to a microactuator electrical drive current. First and second flat, interdigitated drive electrode deposits are deposited on the first insulating deposit. A flat, digitated sense electrode deposit is deposited on the second insulating deposit. The sense electrode deposit provides a relative position output. The sense electrode deposit faces both the drive electrode deposits across the air gap.

Abstract: A low cost, flex head gimbal assembly has a substrate with an attachment region, a flexure region and an integrated gimbal. The flex head gimbal assembly is electrically and mechanically connected to an actuator arm via solder bumps in the attachment region. A stiff plate is attached to the substrate between the attachment region and the flexure region. A flex cable and electrical interconnections extend from the attachment region across the flexure region to the gimbal. Electrical leads extend from the solder bumps to the flex cable. The substrate is bent at the stiff plate to achieve the desired z-height and to impart the pre-load to the assembly.

Abstract: An adjustable height elevation for an actuator arm of an actuator assembly. The height elevation of the actuator arm is adjustable relative to a disc surface for fly height control. The height elevation of the actuator arm is adjusted based upon read-back test data from the head to provide desired fly height control.

Abstract: A process for fabricating piezoelectric elements each having a wrap-around electrode to be used in a differential actuator design where electrical connection is made to the bottom electrode of the element from the top surface of the element. The wrap-around electrode is formed during the creation of the elements instead of on an element by element basis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a suspension assembly that includes a load beam having a bend section with a bending stiffness and an in-plane stiffness. The assembly also includes a constraint or stiffening layer cooperatively attached to the bend section. The constraint layer includes a pattern formed therein, and the constraint layer is arranged and configured to increase the in-plane stiffness of the bend section and to maintain a substantially constant bending stiffness of the bend section. The constraint layer pattern may be preformed or may be formed in the constraint layer after the constraint layer has been mounted to the bend section.

Abstract: A magnetic disc drive system is disclosed. The disc drive system includes at least one substantially flat magnetic disc, at least one read/write head, at least one head stack assembly, at least one head gimbal assembly, and at least one suspension limiter. The suspension limiter is operatively connected to the head stack assembly. The distal end of the suspension limiter is positioned proximate but normally not in contact with the head gimbal assembly for preventing large head slaps in both operational and nonoperational mode.

Abstract: A disc drive slider test system includes a support structure and a slider test socket carried by the support structure that releasably electrically and mechanically receives a slider for testing. The slider test socket includes a body forming a cavity for receiving the slider and a plurality of spring beams outside a plan area of the body connected to a clamp for releasably securing the slider in the cavity. In some exemplary embodiments, a microactuator is employed to position the slider secured by the slider test socket with high resolution with respect to tracks of the disc.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ramp load disc drive storage system having improved loading performance and a reduced likelihood of failure due to stiction and damage caused by contact between a slider and a disc surface during ramp load operations. The slider generally includes wear-resistive pads which allow for improved loading performance and reduce stiction between the slider and a disc surface. The pads also allow the ramp load disc drive storage system to be operated in a ramp load/unload mode or a contact start/stop mode. Additionally, a method of operating a ramp load disc drive is provided where the slider is loaded above a disc surface from a ramp prior to the disc reaching a full operating speed.

Abstract: A method of improving the robustness of microcomponents formed of silicon by armor coating the microcomponent with a ductile material, such as a metal. The armored coating may comprise either partial armored coating or total armored coating. Providing the microcomponent with an armored coating reduces chipping and breaking, and likewise reduces contamination problems which arise from chips and breaks.

Abstract: A device for accessing data stored on a medium includes a substrate that has a transducer on a back side, a bottom side facing the disc, and a surface that protrudes from the bottom side. An insulation layer is placed on top of the surface. An electrostatic actuator electrode is placed on top of the insulation layer. The electrostatic actuator electrode faces the medium across an electrostatically charged portion of an air layer. The electrostatic actuator electrode protrudes above the surface into the electrostatically charged portion of the air layer.

Abstract: A slider is provided for actively controlling a fly height of the slider relative to a data storage disc during operation of a data storage system. The slider includes a slider body having front and back surfaces, a length and a crown curvature on the front surface along the length. The slider also includes first and second elongated rails which are positioned on the front surface along the length of the slider body and form first and second bearing surfaces. Each bearing surface includes a leading portion, a trailing portion and a waist portion, wherein the waist portion is wider than the leading and trailing portions and has a maximum width within a middle half of the length of the slider body. A deformable material is positioned on the slider body having a dimension that is changeable in response to an electrical control signal applied in a deformable material, wherein a change in the dimension causes a change in the crown curvature.