Resonant frequency separation for an actuator assembly of a disc drive

Abstract

An actuator assembly is provided that includes a body portion, a first actuator arm assembly, a second actuator arm assembly, a first flexure assembly, and a second flexure assembly. Each of the first and second actuator arm assemblies projects from the body portion and has a distal end with different respective first and second mechanical configurations. Each of the flexure assemblies is respectively mounted to the distal ends of the first and second actuator arm assemblies. The first and second mechanical configurations are selected to provide the first and second flexure assemblies with different mechanical resonance characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the second actuator arm assembly includes an actuator arm and a spacer disposed between the actuator arm and the second flexure assembly. The spacer has a stiffness different from the stiffness of the actuator arm.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/332,921 entitled FREQUENCY SEPARATION DAMPING filed Nov. 14, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The claimed invention relates generally to moveable actuator systems and more particularly to actuator assemblies for disc drives.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Data storage devices of the type known as “Winchester” disc drives are well known in the industry. These disc drives magnetically record digital data on several circular, concentric data tracks on the surfaces of one or more rigid discs. The discs are typically mounted for rotation on the hub of a spindle motor. The spindle motor is mounted to a base deck. In disc drives of the current generation, the discs are rotated at speeds of more than 10,000 revolutions per minute.

[0004] Data are recorded to and retrieved from the discs by an array of vertically aligned read/write head assemblies, or heads, which are controllably positioned by an actuator assembly. Each head typically includes electromagnetic transducer read and write elements which are carried on an air bearing slider. The slider acts in a cooperative hydrodynamic relationship with a thin layer of air dragged along by the spinning discs to fly each head in a closely spaced relationship to the disc surface. In order to maintain the proper flying relationship between the heads and the discs, the heads are attached to and supported by flexures (also called head suspensions).

[0005] A typical disc drive has an actuator assembly with more than one arm supporting a number of flexure assemblies. Any structure, such as an actuator assembly, that has several identical components can have balanced modes of vibration. A balanced mode of vibration occurs for a structure when there is no net reaction force on the structure. Because balanced modes do not have a net reaction force acting on the structure, the vibration decay rate is determined solely by the individual identical components making up the structure.

[0006] When the vibration modes of the individual components are separated in frequency and when the remainder of the structure has high damping, then there is a greater degree of damping than what is caused by each individual component. The vibration modes of the individual components can be separated in frequency by making structural changes to eliminate the balanced modes.

[0007] When the vibration modes of the individual components, such as the flexure assemblies, are close in frequency, the excitation of one of the flexure assemblies can couple to produce sympathetic motion in one of the other flexure assemblies. If this occurs, the amplitude of vibration becomes higher than it would be for only one flexure assembly. This increase in the amplitude of vibration can cause an increase in the track following error and the position error that affects the reading and writing performance. Depending on the vibration mode, the increase in the amplitude of vibration could also cause head-to-disk contact. Thus, it is highly desirable to cause the flexure assemblies have different resonant frequencies.

[0008] One method for separating vibration modes of the individual components is to make each flexure slightly different. U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,180 issued to Frater et al. (Frater '180) presents several alternative means of differentiating head/gimbal assemblies that share a common actuator arm. Each head/gimbal assembly is made up of a flexure, a gimbal, a head, and the slider for the head. If there is sufficient damping, these alternatives that Frater '180 disclose can be effective. However, providing different head/gimbal assemblies for each actuator arm can be relative expensive and difficult to manage in a high volume manufacturing environment.

[0009] Thus, there is a need for an improved actuator assembly that overcomes these and other limitations of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In accordance with preferred embodiments, an actuator assembly is provided that includes a body portion, a first actuator arm assembly, a second actuator arm assembly, a first flexure assembly, and a second flexure assembly. Each of the first and second actuator arm assemblies projects from the body portion and has a distal end with different respective first and second mechanical configurations. The flexure assemblies are nominally identical, and are respectively mounted to the distal ends of the first and second actuator arm assemblies. The first and second mechanical configurations are selected to provide the first and second flexure assemblies with different mechanical resonance characteristics.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the second actuator arm assembly includes an actuator arm and a spacer disposed between the actuator arm and the second flexure assembly. The spacer has a stiffness different from the stiffness of the actuator arm.

[0012] In another preferred embodiment, the first actuator arm assembly includes a first actuator arm having a first mounting area to which the first flexure assembly is affixed. The second actuator arm assembly has a second mounting area to which the second flexure assembly is affixed. The second mounting area is smaller than the first mounting area. In this preferred embodiment, a notch may be formed in the second actuator arm to define the second mounting area.

[0013] These and various other features as well as advantages which characterize the claimed invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reviewing the associated drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a disc drive constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a partial, section view of an actuator assembly of the prior art.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a partial section view of an actuator assembly constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a partial section view of an actuator assembly constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a partial section view of an actuator assembly constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a partial section view of an actuator assembly constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] FIG. 1 provides a top plan view of a disc drive 100 constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. A base deck 102 and a top cover 104 (shown in partial cutaway) cooperate to form a sealed housing for the disc drive 100. A spindle motor with a hub 106 rotates a number of magnetic recording discs 108 at a constant, high speed. An actuator assembly 110 includes a number of rigid actuator arms (topmost shown at 112) that extend adjacent the disc surfaces. Flexures (topmost shown at 114) extend from the actuator arms 112 to support an array of read/write heads 116. The actuator assembly 110 is pivotally moved through the application of current to an actuator coil 118 of a voice coil motor (VCM) 120.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a partial section view of an actuator assembly 110 of the existing art. In FIG. 2, nominally identical flexures 114, 115 extend from nominally identical actuator arms 112, 113. The read/write heads 116 are positioned at the end of the flexures 114, 115 to read data from the disc 108 and write data to the disc 108. The first flexure 114 is attached to the first actuator arm 112. The second flexure 115 is attached to the second actuator arm 113.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows an actuator assembly constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention. The actuator assembly 110 includes a body portion 122, a first actuator arm assembly 124, a second actuator arm assembly 126, a first flexure assembly 128 and a second flexure assembly 130. The first actuator assembly 124 has a first actuator arm 112 and the second actuator arm assembly 126 has a second actuator arm 132.

[0023] The first actuator arm assembly 124 has a conventional actuator arm 112 as is commonly found in actuator arms of the existing art. The second actuator arm assembly 128 has an actuator arm 132 with a notch 134 formed in an end 136 of the second actuator arm 132 distal from the body portion 122. Each of the distal ends 136 of the first actuator arm assembly 124 and the second actuator arm assembly 126 has a different mechanical configuration. Because of the notch 134, a mounting area 135 of the distal end 136 for attaching the second flexure assembly 130 to the second actuator arm 132 is reduced, as compared with a mounting area 135 of the first actuator arm 114.

[0024] The first flexure assembly 128 includes a first flexure 114 and the second flexure assembly 130 includes a second flexure 138. Each of the flexure assemblies 128 and 130 also includes a head 116. Each of the flexure assemblies 128 and 130 is nominally identical to the other. Each head 116 reads data from the disc 108 or writes data to the disc 108. Each of the flexures 114 and 138 is attached to one of the actuator arms 112 and 132, respectively, by an adhesive.

[0025] The reduced mounting area 135 for attaching the second flexure 138 to the actuator arm 134 causes the second flexure assembly 130 to have mechanical resonance characteristics different from the mechanical resonance characteristics of the first flexure assembly 128. In general, the resonant frequencies of the first flexure assembly 128 are different from the resonant frequencies of the second flexure assembly 130 because of the reduced mounting area 135 for the distal end of the second actuator arm 132. In a mathematical model of the vibration of the flexure assemblies 128 and 130, this difference in mounting area 135 is modeled as different boundary conditions for the equations of motion.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows another actuator assembly 110 having a body portion 122, a first actuator arm assembly 124, a second actuator arm assembly 126, a first flexure assembly 128 and a second flexure assembly 130. The first actuator assembly 124 has a first actuator arm 112 and the second actuator arm assembly 126 has a second actuator arm 132. The first actuator arm 112 is a conventional actuator arm 114 as is commonly found in actuator arms of the existing art.

[0027] The second actuator arm assembly 126 includes a spacer 140 positioned between the second actuator arm 132 and the second flexure assembly 130. The spacer 140 is made from a material having a different stiffness than the stiffness of the material that forms the actuator arms 112 and 132. In a preferred embodiment, the spacer 140 is plastic and the actuator arms 112 and 132 are aluminum.

[0028] The first flexure assembly 128 includes a first flexure 114 and the second flexure assembly 130 includes a second flexure 138. Each of the flexure assemblies 128 and 130 is nominally identical to one another. Each flexure assembly 128 and 130 includes a head 116. Each of the heads 116 reads data from the disc 108 or writes data to the disc 108. Each of the flexures 114 and 138 is attached to one of the actuator arms 112 and 132, respectively, by a swage interconnection 142.

[0029] The swage interconnection 142 for the second actuator arm 132 is formed by positioning a swage boss 144 through a hole in the second flexure 142, through a void in the spacer 140 and through an opening in a distal end 136 of the second actuator arm 132. The swage boss 144 is connected to swage plate 146. When the swage boss 144 is in place, a swage ball is passed through the swage boss 144 to deform the swage boss 144 against walls of the actuator arm openings and against walls of the flexure holes. The deformation of the swage boss 144 secures the second flexure 138 to the second actuator arm 132. The swage interconnection 142 is similarly formed for the first actuator arm assembly 124, but the first actuator arm assembly 124 does not have a spacer 140.

[0030] Each of the distal ends 136 of the first actuator arm assembly 124 and the second actuator arm assembly 126 has a different mechanical configuration. The presence of the spacer 140 that has a different stiffness than the stiffness of the actuator arm material causes the second flexure assembly 130 to have mechanical resonance characteristics different from the mechanical resonance characteristics of the first flexure assembly 128. In general, the resonant frequencies of the first flexure assembly 128 are different from the resonant frequencies of the second actuator arm assembly 130 because of the presence of the spacer 140. In a mathematical model of the vibration of the flexure assemblies 128 and 130, this difference of having a spacer 140 for the second actuator arm assembly 126, and not the first actuator arm assembly 124, is modeled as different boundary conditions for the equations of motion.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows another actuator assembly 110 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, an actuator assembly 110 has a body portion 122, a first actuator arm assembly 124, a second actuator arm assembly 126, a third actuator arm assembly 150, a first flexure assembly 128, a second flexure assembly 130, a third flexure assembly 152, and a fourth flexure assembly 154. The first actuator arm assembly 124 has a first actuator arm 112, the second actuator arm assembly has a second actuator arm 132, and the third actuator arm assembly 150 has a third actuator arm 156.

[0032] The first actuator arm assembly 124 has a conventional actuator arm 112 as is commonly found in actuator arms of the existing art. The second actuator arm assembly 126 has an actuator arm 132 with a reduced mounting area 135 at a distal end 136 for attaching the second flexure assembly 130 and third flexure assembly 152 to the second actuator arm 132, as compared with a mounting area 135 of the first actuator arm 114.

[0033] The third actuator arm assembly 150 includes a spacer 140 positioned between the third actuator arm 156 and the fourth flexure assembly 154. The spacer 140 is made from a material having a different stiffness than the stiffness of the material that forms the actuator arms 112, 132, 156. In a preferred embodiment, the spacer 140 is rubber and the actuator arms 112, 132, 156 are aluminum.

[0034] The first flexure assembly 128 includes a first flexure 114, the second flexure assembly 130 includes a second flexure 138, the third flexure assembly 152 includes a third flexure 158, and the fourth actuator assembly includes a fourth flexure 160. Each of the flexure assemblies 128, 130, 152, 154 also includes a head 116. Each head 116 reads data from the discs 108 or writes data to the discs 108. Each of the flexures 114,138, 158, 160 is attached to the actuator arms 112, 132, 156 respectively, by a swage interconnection, as described above for FIG. 4. Each flexure assembly 128, 130, 152, 154 is nominally identical.

[0035] FIG. 6 shows another actuator assembly 110 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, an actuator assembly 110 has a body portion 122, a first actuator arm assembly 124, a second actuator arm assembly 126, a third actuator arm assembly 150, a first flexure assembly 128, a second flexure assembly 130, a third flexure assembly 152, and a fourth flexure assembly 154. The first actuator arm assembly 124 has a first actuator arm 112, the second actuator arm assembly has a second actuator arm 132, and the third actuator arm assembly 150 has a third actuator arm 156.

[0036] The first actuator arm assembly 124 has a conventional actuator arm 112 as is commonly found in actuator arms of the existing art.

[0037] The second actuator arm assembly 126 has a second actuator arm 132 with a spacer 140 positioned between the top side of the second actuator arm 132 and the second flexure 138. The spacer 140 is made from a material having a different stiffness than the stiffness of the material that forms the actuator arms 112, 132, 156. A bottom side of the second actuator arm assembly 126 is configured as a conventional actuator arm of the existing art for attaching the third flexure assembly 152 to the bottom side of the second actuator arm 132.

[0038] The third actuator arm assembly 150 includes a spacer 141 positioned between the third actuator arm 156 and the fourth flexure assembly 154. The spacer 141 is made from a material having a different stiffness than the stiffness of the material that forms the actuator arms 112, 132, 156. In a preferred embodiment, the spacer 140 is rubber, the spacer 141 is plastic and the actuator arms 112, 132, 156 are aluminum.

[0039] The first flexure assembly 128 includes a first flexure 114, the second flexure assembly 130 includes a second flexure 138, the third flexure assembly 152 includes a third flexure 158, and the fourth flexure assembly includes a fourth flexure 160. Each of the flexure assemblies 128, 130, 152, 154 also includes a head 116. Each head 116 reads data from the discs 108 or writes data to the discs 108. Each of the flexures 114,138, 158, 160 is attached to the actuator arms 112, 132, 156 respectively, by a swage interconnection, as described above for FIG. 4. Each flexure assembly 128, 130, 152, 154 is nominally identical.

[0040] For the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the flexure assemblies 128, 130, 152, 154 generally has different vibration and mechanical resonance characteristics. If one wished to add more actuator arms, one could provide another actuator assembly with a spacer having a different stiffness than the spacers 140, 141 used for the second and third actuator assemblies 126, 150. Alternatively, one could provide an actuator assembly such as the second actuator arm assembly 126 having a notch of a different size than the notch of the second actuator arm assembly 126 so that the mounting area 135 of the distal end of the actuator arm is also different.

[0041] Accordingly, an actuator assembly (such as 110) is provided that includes a body portion (such as 122), a first actuator arm assembly (such as 124), a second actuator arm assembly (such as 126), a first flexure assembly (such as 128), and a second flexure assembly (such as 130). Each of the first and second actuator arm assemblies projects from the body portion and has a distal end (such as 136) with different respective first and second mechanical configurations. Each of the flexure assemblies is respectively mounted to the distal ends of the first and second actuator arm assemblies. The first and second mechanical configurations are selected to provide the first and second flexure assemblies with different mechanical resonance characteristics.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the second actuator arm assembly includes an actuator arm and a spacer (such as 140) disposed between the actuator arm and the second flexure assembly. The spacer has a stiffness different from the stiffness of the actuator arm.

[0043] In another preferred embodiment, the first actuator arm assembly includes a first actuator arm having a first mounting area (such as 135) to which the first flexure assembly is affixed. The second actuator arm assembly has a second mounting area to which the second flexure assembly is affixed. The second mounting area is smaller than the first mounting area. In this preferred embodiment, a notch (such as 134) may be formed in the second actuator arm to define the second mounting area. For all embodiments, the flexure assemblies are nominally identical.

[0044] In yet another preferred embodiment, the actuator assembly is used in a disc drive (such as 100). In this embodiment, each flexure assembly includes a flexure (such as 114, 138) and a head (such as 116). The head writes data to and reads data from a disc (such as 108). For all embodiments, the flexure assemblies are nominally identical.

[0045] It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this detailed description is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangements of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the particular elements may vary depending on the particular application of the actuator assembly without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0046] The claims below include steps for mounting a flexure to an actuator arm. Although the steps are listed in a particular order, this does not mean that the steps must be carried out in the order the steps are listed. The only order that may be inferred from the claims is for the steps that must be accomplished before other steps can be accomplished.

[0047] In addition, although the embodiments described herein are directed to an actuator assembly for a disc drive, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the actuator assembly can be used for other devices without departing from the scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

1. An actuator assembly, comprising:

a body portion;

first and second actuator arm assemblies which project from the body portion and which have distal ends with different respective first and second mechanical configurations; and

first and second flexure assemblies respectively mounted to the distal ends of the first and second actuator arm assemblies, wherein the first and second mechanical configurations are selected to provide the first and second flexure assemblies with different mechanical resonance characteristics.

2. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the second actuator arm assembly comprises an actuator arm and a spacer disposed between the actuator arm and the second flexure assembly.

3. The actuator assembly of claim 2 wherein the spacer has a stiffness different from a stiffness of the actuator arm.

4. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the first actuator arm assembly comprises a first actuator arm having a first mounting area to which the first flexure assembly is affixed, wherein the second actuator arm assembly comprises a second actuator arm having a second mounting area to which the second flexure assembly is affixed, and wherein the second mounting area is smaller than the first mounting area.

5. The actuator assembly of claim 4, wherein a notch is formed in the second actuator arm to define the second mounting area.

6. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second flexure assemblies are nominally identical.

7. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second flexure assemblies respectively comprise first and second data transducing heads in a disc drive.

8. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein swage interconnections are used to affix the first flexure assembly to the first actuator arm assembly and to affix the second flexure assembly to the second actuator arm assembly.

9. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein adhesive is used to affix the first flexure assembly to the first actuator arm assembly and to affix the second flexure assembly to the second actuator arm assembly.

10. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the body portion is rotatable about an actuator axis which extends substantially normal to a direction along which the first and second actuator arm assemblies extend.

11. The actuator assembly of claim 2 further comprising a third flexure assembly mounted to the distal end of the second actuator arm, wherein the second flexure is mounted to a top side of the second actuator arm and the third flexure is mounted to a bottom side of the second actuator arm.

12. A disc drive, comprising:

first and second flexure assemblies;

first means for supporting the first flexure assembly; and

second means for supporting the second flexure assembly, wherein the second means provides mechanical response characteristics different from mechanical response characteristics provided to by the first means.

13. The disc drive of claim 12, wherein the first means comprises a first actuator arm assembly having a distal end with a first mechanical configuration and wherein the second means comprises a second actuator arm assembly having a distal end with a second mechanical configuration different from the first mechanical configuration.

14. The disc drive of claim 13, wherein the second actuator arm assembly comprises an actuator arm and a spacer disposed between the actuator arm and the second flexure assembly.

15. The disc drive of claim 14 wherein the spacer has a stiffness different from a stiffness of the actuator arm.

16. The disc drive of claim 13, wherein the first actuator arm assembly comprises a first actuator arm having a first mounting area to which the first flexure assembly is affixed, wherein the second actuator arm assembly comprises a second actuator arm having a second mounting area to which the second flexure assembly is affixed, and wherein the second mounting area is smaller than the first mounting area.

17. The disc drive of claim 12, wherein the first and second flexure assemblies are nominally identical.

18. The disc drive of claim 12 wherein the first flexure assembly is attached to a top side of an actuator arm and the second flexure assembly is attached to a bottom side of the actuator arm.

19. A method for forming an actuator, comprising:

providing first and second actuator arm assemblies having different, respective first and second mechanical configurations;

providing first and second flexure assemblies;

affixing the first flexure assembly to the first actuator arm assembly; and

affixing the second flexure assembly to the second actuator arm assembly, wherein the second mechanical configuration results in the second flexure assembly having different mechanical response characteristics as compared to mechanical response characteristics of the first flexure assembly.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the providing first and second flexure assemblies step comprises providing nominally identical first and second flexure assemblies.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the providing first and second actuator arm assemblies step comprises providing the second actuator arm assembly with a spacer that is disposed between the second flexure assembly and a second actuator arm of the second actuator arm assembly during the affixing the second flexure assembly step.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the providing first and second actuator arm assemblies step comprises forming a notch in a second actuator arm of the second actuator arm assembly to reduce a flexure mounting area of the second actuator arm as compared to a flexure mounting area of a first actuator arm of the first actuator arm assembly.