Abstract: An improved load beam is described herein. In some embodiments, the load beam comprises a major surface including a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end including a tip weld, a dustpan, and a lift tab; side rails extending from the major surface and the dustpan; and a slit disposed on the major surface about the tip weld.

Abstract: A flexure includes a metal base, a base insulation layer formed on the metal base, a terminal formed on the base insulation layer, a conductor portion electrically conductive to the terminal and an detouring extending portion formed on the conductor portion. The conductor portion includes a conductor and a cover layer covering the conductor. A conductive adhesive is supplied to the terminal. The detouring extending portion is formed in a longitudinal middle of the conductor portion and extends from the side surface of the conductor portion in a direction intersecting the length direction of the conductor portion along the base insulation layer.

Abstract: A system and methods for manufacturing devices such as flexures using process coupons are described are described. The method including performing a test on at least one feature of a coupon, the coupon is included on an assembly sheet used in manufacturing flexures. The at least one feature is produced by a manufacturing processing step that is used to produce a portion of a flexure. And, the physical characteristics of the feature include at least one physical characteristic that is different than physical characteristics of the portion. The method also including determining the manufacturing processing step will produce an abnormal portion of a flexure based on the performed test. Further, the method includes adjusting the manufacturing processing step and manufacturing a portion of a flexure using the adjusted manufacturing processing step.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a suspension assembly includes a support plate, a wiring member on the support plate, and a magnetic head mounted on the wiring member. The magnetic head includes a head slider and connection pads provided at an outflow end of the head slider and electrically connected to the wiring lines. The wiring member includes a head installation region in which the magnetic head is mounted, and an etched region which is at least partly located in the head installation region and is opposed to an end portion of the head slider at the inflow end thereof to form a gap between the end portion and the etched region.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for a data storage device is provided. The head gimbal assembly includes a suspension, and a slider mounting point on the suspension. The slider mounting point includes an adhesive pocket bounded by a plurality of dielectric standoffs.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and apparatus are disclosed for a head assembly of a hard disk drive. In one example, a tilt-preventing standoff or datum is formed on a flexure cover layer of a head assembly of the hard disk drive to prevent tilting of a slider of the head assembly relative to the flexure cover layer during fabrication. The flexure cover layer may be, e.g., a laminate cover layer that covers and protects the flexure of the head assembly. In some examples, a primary standoff (or adhesive limitation) is formed on the flexure layer and shaped to limit the spread of an adhesive. The tilt-preventing standoff is a secondary standoff or datum that is sized and positioned to prevent tilting of the slider relative to the flexure cover layer during mounting of the slider to the flexure cover layer. The primary and secondary standoffs may be formed, for example, of polyamide.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern a method of attaching a microactuator to a flexure, depositing a wet mass of structural adhesive on the flexure, mounting the microactuator on the wet mass of structural adhesive, partially curing the mass of structural adhesive through a first application of curing energy, and depositing a mass of conductive adhesive on the flexure. The mass of conductive adhesive is deposited in contact with the mass of structural adhesive. The state of partial curing of the structural adhesive prevents the conductive adhesive from wicking between the flexure and the underside of the microactuator and displacing the structural adhesive which may otherwise result in shorting to a stainless steel layer of the flexure. The method further comprises fully curing the mass of structural adhesive and the conductive adhesive through a second application of curing energy.

Abstract: A carrier may be configured and operated to engage a lapping plate with a plurality of physically separated sliders attached to a common adhesive of the carrier. The carrier can be constructed to have at least one finger adjacent to and capable of translating a single slider of the plurality of physically separated sliders.

Abstract: A generator for a wind turbine is disclosed. The generator comprises a rotor configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and at least one stator arranged next to the rotor. Each stator comprises at least one flux-generating module facing the rotor but spaced therefrom, thereby forming an air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Each stator also comprises at least one bearing unit, each bearing unit comprising a body defining a cavity with an open end facing the rotor. The generator further comprises a source of pressurized fluid communicating with each bearing unit, and the body of each bearing unit directs the fluid towards the rotor to help maintain the air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Thereby the air gap between the rotor and the flux-generating modules is controlled by means of the fluid bearing units. The invention further provides a wind turbine comprising such a generator.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for a hard disk drive comprises a flexure having a planar surface and a standoff structure extending from the planar surface, where the standoff structure includes a monolithic element. A head slider in which a read-write head is housed is adhered to the flexure with an adhesive, such that the adhesive surrounds the monolithic element so that the monolithic element may absorb strain energy caused by curing of the adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate for suspension that includes a first structural part including a metal supporting substrate, an insulating layer, a wiring layer, and a cover layer, and a second structural part formed so as to extend continuously from the first structural part and has no metal supporting substrate. A position of an edge of an upper surface of the insulating layer coincides with a position of an edge of the lower surface of the cover layer or the position of the edge of the upper surface of the insulating layer is positioned on a side closer to the wiring layer than to the position of the edge of the lower surface of the cover layer at a boundary region between the first structural part and the second structural part.

Abstract: A read head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The read transducers have a cross track width, wr, and a center-to-center separation distance between the two read transducers either greater than 3wr or the distance of two tracks of an associated medium in the cross track direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a slider having a textured bonding surface. The slider may be used in a hard disk drive (HDD). The textured bonding surface permits the slider to be effectively bonded to a suspension and prevent the slider from debonding from the suspension due to shear forces that may occur during HDD operation.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a support plate, a wiring member including a thin metallic plate, an insulating layer and a conductive layer, the wiring member including a tongue portion located on a convex portion of the support plate, a proximal end portion fixed onto the support plate, and a bridge portion bridged between the tongue portion and the proximal end portion and including a inflection point with respect to a height direction of warping, a magnetic head attached to the tongue portion, and a piezoelectric element bonded to the bridge portion at a section between the proximal end portion and the inflection point.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly has a suspension configured to extend along a surface of a recording medium and to bend and deform in a thickness direction of the recording medium. A slider is provided on a front end side of the suspension so as to confront the surface of the recording medium. A support section supports the slider such that the slider can pivot about two axes parallel to the surface of the recording medium and perpendicular to each other. An optical waveguide is connected to the slider and is configured to introduce a light flux into the slider. A near-field light generating element generates near-field light from the optical flux and causes the near-field light to record information on the recording medium. A positioning section is mounted between the support section and the slider for positioning the optical waveguide relative to the slider.

Abstract: A slider supporting apparatus of includes a base portion; a flexure supported by the base portion; a contact portion being provided on a leading portion of the flexure for urging a trailing edge of the slider to contact with pads on the trailing edge; a support plate attached beneath a tongue; and a clamp comprising a mounting portion fixed on the support plate, two spring arms downward extended from the mounting portion to pass through a hole of the flexure slantwise, and a connection bar connected with two ends of the spring arms for urging a leading edge of the slider to provide a downward component force to the slider. The apparatus provides a larger spring stroke with long lifetime to reduce cost, and avoid pitch and roll static torque to generate so as to prevent the slider popping out the suspension during slider testing process.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive effect element that prevents a recording medium from deteriorating by effectively inhibiting erroneous writing to a medium or the like includes a magnetoresistive effect part, and an upper shield layer and a lower shield layer that are laminated and formed in a manner sandwiching the magnetoresistive effect part from above and below, and is in a current perpendicular to plane (CPP) structure in which a sense current is applied in a lamination direction.

Abstract: A slider for a disc drive assembly may be attached to various substrates during manufacture and installation in the disc drive assembly. In some examples, a slider attachment system includes a substrate, a first diffusion barrier layer formed over the substrate, a first solder-wettable protection layer formed over the first diffusion barrier layer, a second diffusion barrier layer formed over the first solder-wettable protection layer, and a second solder-wettable protection layer formed over the second diffusion barrier layer. The first and second solder-wettable protection layers may be formed of a material that is inert to a chemical etchant that can chemically dissolve the diffusion barrier layers. In use, solder may be applied to the second solder-wettable protection layer to wet and dissolve the layer. If the substrate needs to be detached and reattached, etchant can chemically dissolve the second diffusion barrier layer to expose the first solder-wettable layer for reattachment.

Abstract: Approaches to a mass balanced flexure gimbal assembly for controlling the sway mode of the loadbeam portion of the suspension of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) of a hard-disk drive (HDD). The sway mode of concern is that which is excited when a head slider is actuated by a plurality of piezo actuation devices of a secondary actuation system. A suspension includes a mass attached to the suspension flexure and configured for balancing a moment force about the gimbal, about which a slider rotates when microactuated. The mass is located on the side of the slider opposing the side on which the piezo actuation devices are mounted, to counteract the mass of the piezo devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate for suspension that includes a first structural part including a metal supporting substrate, an insulating layer, a wiring layer, and a cover layer, and a second structural part formed so as to extend continuously from the first structural part and has no metal supporting substrate. A position of an edge of an upper surface of the insulating layer coincides with a position of an edge of the lower surface of the cover layer or the position of the edge of the upper surface of the insulating layer is positioned on a side closer to the wiring layer than to the position of the edge of the lower surface of the cover layer at a boundary region between the first structural part and the second structural part.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a read head includes the step of depositing a conductive filler into a plurality of holes that extend through a wafer. Each of the holes extends from a wafer top surface to a wafer bottom surface. Each of the holes includes an inner surface that includes an insulative layer. The method further includes the steps of fabricating a read transducer on the wafer top surface, and depositing a plurality of electrically conductive leading connection pads on the wafer bottom surface. The plurality of electrically conductive leading connection pads are in electrical contact with the conductive filler.

Abstract: Approaches to a mass balanced flexure gimbal assembly for controlling the sway mode of the loadbeam portion of the suspension of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) of a hard-disk drive (HDD). The sway mode of concern is that which is excited when a head slider is actuated by a plurality of piezo actuation devices of a secondary actuation system. A suspension includes a mass attached to the suspension flexure and configured for balancing a moment force about the gimbal, about which a slider rotates when microactuated. The mass is located on the side of the slider opposing the side on which the piezo actuation devices are mounted, to counteract the mass of the piezo devices.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure comprising flexure which comprises a gimbal. The gimbal comprises at least one spring arm and a tongue connected to the at least one spring arm. The dual stage actuation structure further comprises a motor mounted on the gimbal, the motor comprising a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side, the bottom side of the motor facing the flexure. The dual stage actuation structure further comprises a damper located between the motor and the flexure, the damper contacting the tongue and the bottom side of the motor. The damper comprises one or both of elastic and viscoelastic material. Various other features of a dual stage actuation structure are provided.

Abstract: A wired circuit board includes a metal supporting layer, an insulating layer formed on the metal supporting layer, and a conductive layer formed on the insulating layer. In the metal supporting layer, a reference hole for positioning is formed, and a stepped portion is formed so as to surround the reference hole.

Abstract: A gimbal portion of a flexure is provided with first supporting portions to which first end portions of microactuator elements are secured and second supporting portions to which second end portions are secured. A first tongue portion is formed between the pair of first supporting portions. A leading-side portion of a slider is movably disposed on the first tongue portion. A second tongue portion is formed between the pair of second supporting portions. A trailing-side portion of the slider is secured to the second tongue portion. A narrow hinge portion is formed between the first and second tongue portions. The tongue portions are pivotably connected by the hinge portion. The distal end of a dimple contacts the hinge portion at a point of contact.

Abstract: A magnetic disc apparatus includes a micro actuator for two-stage actuator having a first stage and a second stage, and a slider mounted to the miro actuator and having a head element to perform recording and reproduction into/from a magnetic disc. A thermal actuator and a spring part are provided on a table, on which the slider is put. The thermal actuator is connected to the slider, and the thermal actuator includes a V-shaped thin film resistance.

Abstract: A thin film piezoelectric element of the present invention includes a substrate and a piezoelectric thin film stack formed on the substrate. The piezoelectric thin film stack includes a top electrode layer, a bottom electrode layer and a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between the top electrode layer and the bottom electrode layer, wherein the piezoelectric layer includes a first piezoelectric layer and a second piezoelectric layer whose compositions have different phase structures. The present invention can obtain high piezoelectric constants, enhanced coercive field strength and good thermal stability, thereby enabling larger applied field strength without depolarization and achieving a large stroke for its applied device.

Abstract: Assuming that a length in the suspension longitudinal direction between a distal edge of a supporting part and a dimple is represented by “L”, plural load beam part welding points at which spot welding are made for fixing a load beam part fixed region of a flexure base plate to a plate-like main body portion of a load beam part include paired right and left main welding points that are arranged symmetrically to each other with respect to a suspension longitudinal center line and that are disposed within a center region away from the distal edge of the supporting part by more than or equal to 0.4*L and less than or equal to 0.6*L.

Abstract: An inner race of a first rolling bearing is fixed to a shaft, and an outer race thereof is fixed to an inner race of a second rolling bearing. In the first bearing, the outer race and a rolling element contact each other on the side of a center of the rolling element closer to one end side in an axial direction, and the inner race and the rolling element contact each other on the side of the center of the rolling element closer to the other end side in the axial direction. In the second bearing, an outer race and a rolling element contact each other on the side of a center of the rolling element closer to the one end side, and the inner race and the rolling element contact each other on the side of the center of the rolling element closer to the other end side.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control heat dissipation in hard-disk drives (HDDs) are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus comprises a semiconductor die, a ground bump positioned on the die, and a hard-disk drive writer head positioned on the die relative to the ground bump based on a thermal impedance.

Abstract: An assembly includes a slider and a suspension assembly. The slider includes an air bearing surface and a slider mounting surface opposite the air bearing surface. There are a plurality of slider pads on the slider mounting surface. The suspension assembly includes a plurality of suspension pads on a suspension mounting surface. Each of the suspension pads is connected to one of the slider pads with a solder joint so that the slider mounting surface has at least one of a pitch, roll, or yaw angle with respect to the suspension mounting.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a head-gimbal assembly. The head-gimbal assembly includes a head-slider bonded to a suspension. The method includes placing the head-slider and the suspension in a superposed manner with a photo-thermosetting adhesive applied between the head-slider and the suspension. The method also includes heating the suspension from a side of the suspension opposite to a side of the suspension in contact with the photo-thermosetting adhesive with a heated gas-stream. In addition, the method includes irradiating the photo-thermosetting adhesive with light at least partly in a time period during which the suspension is heated by the gas-stream.

Abstract: A load beam part, which includes a plate-like main body portion facing a disk surface and paired flange portions bended from both side edges of the main body portion in a suspension width direction so as to extend toward a direction opposite from the disk surface, is bended at first and second bending lines in such a convex manner as to project in the direction toward the disk surface, the first bending line being positioned between the proximal end portion of the load beam part and the dimple in the suspension longitudinal direction and extending along the suspension width direction, the second bending line being positioned between the first bending line and the dimple in the suspension longitudinal direction and extending along the suspension width direction.

Abstract: Minimizing slider vibration effects on a magnetic transducer coupled to a slider are described herein. In one embodiment, a method is described for minimizing slider vibration effects on a magnetic transducer coupled to the slider. A mass component of the slider is adjusted such that at least one pitch nodal line and/or at least one roll nodal line of the slider approximately coincide with an intersection point, and the magnetic transducer is positioned to approximately coincide with the intersection point.

Abstract: A vibration sensor for a slider includes a base portion, a loading portion adapted for supporting the slider mounted thereon and formed within the base portion, and at least two connection arms connecting the base portion with the loading portion. The vibration sensor of the present invention can sensitively sense a vibration of the slider, thus maintaining the flying height of the slider, and finally improving the performance thereof. The invention also discloses a suspension, a head gimbal assembly and a manufacturing method thereof, and a disk drive unit including the same.

Abstract: A suspension for a head gimbal assembly comprises a flexure having a suspension tongue with a trailing portion. The trailing portion has a plurality of trailing pads formed thereon adapted for bonding to a trailing edge of a slider. The trailing portion is isolated from other portions of the flexure by a first slot surrounding the trailing portion. The isolated trailing portion is not affected due to the temperature change, the thermal crown change of the slider is reduced and, in turn, the variation of flying height of the slider is reduce so as to improve read/write performance of the slider. The invention also discloses a head gimbal assembly and a disk drive unit with the same.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to approaches to effectively let noise on a head slider bonded to a silicon substrate of a microactuator, escape to the ground. A head gimbal assembly (HGA) according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a microactuator bonded to a gimbal tongue. The microactuator comprises a piezoelectric element and a movable part for moving in response to expansion or contraction of the piezoelectric element. The motion of the movable part causes a head slider to slightly move. The microactuator further comprises a conductive path including an impurity-containing silicon layer formed on the silicon substrate. The conductive path transmits electric charge of the head slider to a suspension. The conductivity of the impurity-containing silicon layer is lower than the one of the silicon substrate so that the noise charge of the head slider may escape to the suspension.

Abstract: An assembly includes a slider and a suspension assembly. The slider includes an air bearing surface and a slider mounting surface opposite the air bearing surface. There are a plurality of slider pads on the slider mounting surface. The suspension assembly includes a plurality of suspension pads on a suspension mounting surface. Each of the suspension pads is connected to one of the slider pads with a solder joint so that the slider mounting surface has at least one of a pitch, roll, or yaw angle with respect to the suspension mounting.

Abstract: A magnetic recording element has a substrate, a main pole for recording that includes an edge part positioned on an air bearing surface (ABS), a waveguide through which a laser light propagates, and a plasmon generator. The plasmon generator is positioned away from the substrate and extends to the ABS as facing a part of the waveguide. The plasmon generator has a propagation edge extending in a longitudinal direction. The propagation edge has an overlapping part overlapping the waveguide in the longitudinal direction, and a near field light generator positioned on the ABS and located in the vicinity of the edge part of the recording magnetic pole. The overlapping part of the propagation edge is coupled with the laser light propagating through the waveguide in a surface plasmon mode so that a surface plasmon is generated. The propagation edge propagates the surface plasmon generated in the overlapping part to the near field light generator.

Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting board, an insulating layer formed on the metal supporting board, a conductive layer formed on the insulating layer, and a pedestal for supporting a slider. The pedestal includes a lower pedestal made of the insulating layer, and formed in a continuous frame shape so as to surround a bonding surface of the metal supporting board to the slider, and an upper pedestal made of the conductive layer, and formed in a discontinuous frame shape on the lower pedestal.

Abstract: A head-gimbal assembly (HGA) is disclosed. The HGA comprises a slider, a flexure that includes a tongue, and an adhesive material bonding the slider to the tongue. The tongue includes a plurality of stand-offs that contact the slider, and a plurality of adhesive receptacles. Each of the plurality of adhesive receptacles is disposed adjacent to a corresponding one of the plurality of stand-offs. At least a portion of each of the plurality of adhesive receptacles is disposed between the adhesive material and a corresponding one of the plurality of stand-offs.

Abstract: A micro-actuator to which no head slider is adhesively bonded is mounted on a suspension. The head slider is adhesively bonded to the micro-actuator mounted on the suspension. Before the head slider adheres to the micro-actuator, an electrical connecting work of the slider is completed, and a characteristic test is carried out. If the head slider is judged as being normal as a result of the characteristic test, the head slider concerned is bonded to the micro-actuator by the adhesive.

Abstract: A method is provided for reclaiming a suspension from a disk drive head gimbal assembly (HGA). An ultrasonic probe is applied to the HGA's read/write head slider on a side opposite that of its solder balls. Ultrasonic oscillations are transmitted through the ceramic slider to the side with the solder balls. The oscillations break the brittle intermetallic compound of the slider balls and free the slider. The ultrasonic energy also weakens the epoxy adhesive between the slider and suspension. The method can be used with heat to further weaken the solder balls and adhesive.

Abstract: A locking segment presses a slider towards a supporting member so that the slider is fixed to the supporting member. In the present invention, the slider is mechanically pressure-mounted to the supporting member without the use of an adhesive. This reduces the fluctuation of the distance between the slider and the supporting member. Accordingly, when a magnetic head is scanning a recording medium in a floating fashion, the floating distance of the magnetic head can be readily controlled within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly in which a slider can be removed with deformation of a suspension suppressed and the posture angle of a magnetic head can be maintained stably and a magnetic disk drive mounted with the magnetic head assembly. A head gimbal assembly (HGA) according to an embodiment includes a suspension, a magnetic head slider provided with a magnetic head element section, and a gimbal retaining the slider and connected to the suspension. The gimbal includes a spacer formed around a conductive adhesive application area. A nonconductive adhesive application area having a planar dimension not larger than that of the conductive adhesive application area is formed outside the spacer. The gimbal and the slider are brought into conduction through a conductive adhesive applied to the conductive adhesive application area and are adhered to each other with a nonconductive adhesive applied to the nonconductive adhesive application area.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base layer, a bonding layer subject to laser radiation, and an insulating layer positioned between the base layer and bonding layer. The insulating layer includes a dielectric mirror, which is capable of reflecting laser radiation away from the base layer.

Abstract: A head-gimbal assembly (HGA) is disclosed. The HGA comprises a head including a slider having a leading end and a trailing end that define a slider length. The head further includes a read transducer disposed at the trailing end. The HGA further comprises an adhesive material and a flexure that includes a tongue to which the head is adhered. The tongue includes three stand-offs in contact with the slider, each of the three stand-offs spanning a stand-off length that is one-half the slider length or less. Two of the three stand-offs are disposed adjacent the leading end.

Abstract: A disk drive head-gimbal assembly includes a flexure that is modified to address the effects that the operating temperature of the disk drive may have on fly height. Generally, the flexure tongue is split into a leading edge flexure tongue section and a trailing edge flexure tongue section that are separated by a slider decoupling section. The slider decoupling section structurally interconnects the leading and trailing edge flexure tongue section, and further provides a reduced contact area with the slider. This reduced contact limits the ability of the flexure tongue to induce a positive crown on the air bearing surface of the slider.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly includes a suspension including a suspension flexure. The suspension flexure includes a step plate mechanically formed in the suspension flexure. A micro-actuator is mounted to the step plate of the suspension flexure. The step plate is constructed and arranged to support the micro-actuator such that a substantially constant gap is maintained between a top support of the micro-actuator and the suspension flexure in use.

Abstract: A holding portion, on which a slider having a magnetic element for recording and/or replaying is held is provided on a second supporting portion of a supporting member, in which conductive patterns are formed. A plurality of fixing portions are formed in the holding portion and when the slider is sandwiched between the plurality of fixing portions, the slider is electrically connected with the conductive patterns.