Abstract: A head arm assembly includes: a slider which has a head executing recording and/or reproducing operations of information onto and/or from an information recording medium, and which approaches or comes into contact with the information recording medium, a leaf spring holding the slider at its one end, an arm holding the other end of the leaf spring, provided with a groove at a predetermined position, and a tail extending from the leaf spring in a form of a band, which is provided with a conductive pattern connected to the head along the band, in which a halfway position of the band in a longitudinal direction is mounted in the groove of the arm, one of both edges at the position is directed toward the arm, and the tail has projections and depressions in a widthwise direction of the band on an edge opposite to the arm at the position.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a drive circuitry, a suspension, a slider assembly that includes a read/write head, and a pressure compensator. The pressure compensator is electrically decoupled from the drive circuitry. A portion of the pressure compensator has a volume that passively changes when an ambient pressure near the pressure compensator changes. The pressure compensator at least partially offsets a change in a head-to-disk spacing that occurs when an ambient pressure near the pressure compensator changes. The pressure compensator can exert a force on the slider assembly to change a pivot angle between the suspension and the slider assembly, and/or to change a pitch angle between the slider assembly and the storage disk. In alternate embodiments, the pressure compensator can include a piston that moves or a resilient membranous material that changes shape based on changes in ambient pressure.

Abstract: A magnetic head is provided that is formed by fixedly bonding a slider having a thin-film magnetic element on a flexure formed of metallic material which constitutes a gimbal suspension. The slider includes electrodes conducted to the thin-film magnetic head on an end surface thereof on a trailing side which is orthogonal to the recording-medium-opposed surface. The flexure has independent spacer projections. The slider and the flexure are bonded by an adhesive agent applied to bonding areas on end surfaces of a pair of spacer projections positioned in the vicinity of the end surface of the slider on the trailing side of the spacer projections.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a head gimbal assembly (HGA) provided with a solder ball connecting structure suitable for the re-utilization of a suspension assembly. In one embodiment, the HGA includes lead wires provided at front ends thereof with lead pads and also includes slider pads capable of being connected to the lead pads by solder ball bonding with the use of solder balls. Respective grooves formed in the surfaces of the slider pads inhibit the solder balls from rotating and moving over the surfaces of the slider pads and the lead pads before the radiation of a laser beam.

Abstract: An elastic plate that is supported at both ends by a pair of supporting pieces of a supporting part functions as the load bending part. A portion of a load beam base plate that is positioned on a distal end side than a load bending center line BL of the elastic plate includes a parallel region that is fixed to the elastic plate, an intermediate region that extend to a distal end side through a proximal-side bending line along a suspension widthwise direction, and a distal region that extends to a distal end side through a distal-side bending line and is formed with a dimple with which a head-mounting region of a flexure part is brought into contact. The distal-side bending line is positioned in the vicinity of an intermediate point between the load bending center line and the dimple in a suspension lengthwise direction.

Abstract: A disk device has a head reading/writing data from and to a disk medium, a head slider supporting the head, a head suspension having a gimbal mounting the head slider, gimbal supports supporting the gimbal, traces having a wirings pattern, and a carriage arm supporting the head suspension. Further, the disk device has vibration sensors, each of the vibration sensors arranged at each side of a centerline of the head slider along a longitudinal direction of the head suspension and a signal processing circuit processing output signals from the vibration sensors so as to remove up/down vibration components.

Abstract: A write circuit and a head for a hard disk drive. The head includes a substrate that has an electrical ground and a write element that has a center tap. The head also has a resistor that is connected to the center tap and the electrical ground. The resistor provides a return path for AC and DC components of any common mode signal in a write circuit. The resistor can also generate heat that thermally expands the head and varies a head flying height. The write element is connected to an write driver circuit that provides in phase currents to a write element during the write operation and out of phase currents during a read operation. The out of phase currents allow for thermal expansion and flying height control even during a read operation.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly includes a slider, a flexure, and a plurality of solder receptacles. The slider has an air-bearing surface and a metallized backside opposite the air bearing surface. The flexure includes a flexure tongue layer at least partially formed of stainless steel. The flexure further includes at least one additional layer over the flexure tongue layer. The plurality of solder receptacles extend through the at least one additional layer to the flexure tongue layer. Solder fills at least one of the solder receptacles and contacts the stainless steel of the flexure tongue layer.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly (HGA) is provided. The HGA includes a suspension that has a suspension coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and a slider that has a slider CTE. A bonding element attaches the slider to the suspension. A compensation layer, having a compensation CTE, is located on the suspension. The compensation layer serves to compensate for a thermal distortion of the slider. A method of forming a HGA is also provided. The method includes providing a suspension having a suspension CTE and forming a slider having a slider CTE. The method further includes attaching the slider to the suspension and depositing a compensation layer, having a compensation CTE, on the suspension. The compensation layer serves to compensate for a thermal distortion of the slider.

Abstract: A slider having bonding pads opposite an air bearing surface and a method for producing the same is disclosed. Bonding pads are formed on the side of a slider assembly opposite the air bearing surface (ABS) to allow electrical probing devices on the slider while applying pressure to the slider during the lapping process and to allow a flip chip bonding process of the slider to the suspension thereby reducing or eliminating the need to bend wires and attach to the end of the slider body.

Abstract: A suspension for a HGA includes a flexure having a suspension tongue with electrical pads adapted for mounting a slider thereon. The suspension tongue has some portions etched with left portions therebetween forming into at least one hinge or spring mechanism for releasing thermal deformation of the suspension tongue and suppressing thermal crown change of the slider. The etched portions have an H-shaped, an M-shaped, an X-shaped, or a stairway configuration, or the like. The invention also discloses a HGA with the suspension and a disk drive unit having such suspension.

Abstract: This head gimbals assembly has a head slider, a flexure, and a load beam. The head slider has a head element and slider-side connection terminals. The flexure has a free end, a fixed end, a slider mounting portion and suspension-side connection terminals connected to the slider-side connection terminals. The load beam fixes a fixed end of the flexure on the side opposite to a flexure surface on which the head slider is mounted a connecting portion for interconnecting the suspension-side connection terminals and the slider mounting portion has higher resiliency than other portion of the connecting portion. According to a suspension in the present embodiment, a head gimbals assembly can be easily manufactured without wastefully discarding the suspension even when the desired evaluation result is not obtained because of problems in the head characteristics and the floating surface of the head slider.

Abstract: An o-ring free cooling pallet for holding a carrier is disclosed. The pallet comprises a first clamp fixed to a planar surface of the pallet for coupling with a first edge of the carrier. The pallet also comprises a second clamp removably coupled to the planar surface of the pallet for coupling with a second edge of the carrier, wherein the second clamp comprises a spring mechanism for applying a force to the second edge of the carrier that is substantially parallel to the planar surface, the force for coupling the carrier to the pallet.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording write head has a main pole and return poles that are substantially coplanar. The write head includes a main pole, two return poles and a connecting stud that are all formed as a single layer in a single deposition and patterning step. The coplanar main and return poles lie in a plane parallel to the cross-track direction. The two return poles are thus spaced from the main pole in the cross-track direction. The main pole includes a write pole connected to it but lying in a plane spaced in the along-the-track direction from the plane of the main pole. The write head includes a helical coil wrapped around the main pole. The magnetic flux path is from the write pole to the disk recording layer in a data track aligned with the write pole, to the disk underlayer beneath the recording layer, through the underlayer to data tracks spaced cross-track from the data track aligned with the write pole, and back through the return poles.

Abstract: An integrated lead flexure for a disk drive head suspension of the type having a plurality of stacked leads disposed on separate layers, the plurality of stacked leads extending between terminal connector pads and head connector pads, comprising stacked lead pairs having opposing and regularly alternating wider and narrower portions, respectively.

Abstract: A suspension for supporting a head slider has a flexure, several trace patterns positioned on the flexure, front flexure-bonding pads disposed on the flexure at a position corresponding to a leading edge of the head slider and connected to the trace patterns, and rear flexure-bonding pads disposed on the flexure at a position corresponding to a trailing edge of the head slider and connected to the trace patterns. The front and the rear flexure-bonding pads and the trace patterns are integrally formed and disposed on the flexure at the same time, so the fabricating process is simplified and there is no alignment problem for bonding location. This can ensure the connection strength and position between the head slider and the suspension changeless and, in turns, ensure a good attitude of the head slider. The invention also discloses a HGA and a disk drive device with such suspension, and a fabricating method for the suspension.

Abstract: A suspension for a HGA includes a suspension flexure and an out trigger. The suspension flexure has a tongue region having a first flexure part in a tip portion thereof for mounting a trailing edge of a slider and a PZT mounting region for mounting PZT elements. One end of the out trigger is connected to the suspension flexure, and the other end of the out trigger has a trigger support portion which extends above the tongue region so as to support the leading edge of the slider. The structure of the out trigger is capable of stiffening the tongue region of the suspension flexure and, in turns, avoiding the deformation problem and the dimple separation problem during the manufacturing process or in vibration or shock events. The invention also discloses a HGA with the suspension, manufacturing methods of the HGA and a disk drive unit having such HGA.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments described herein relate to a micro-actuator for use with an HGA and/or disk drive device. A substantially U-shaped frame may include a cavity capable of receiving a slider. The frame may include two segmented, flexible side arms and a bottom support arm at least partially defining the cavity. Each segmented side arm may have a PZT element mounted on an outer surface thereof facing away from the cavity, and each may include a lower portion proximate to the bottom support arm and an upper portion disposed at an end opposing the bottom support arm. The lower portion and the upper portion may be at least partially separated by a gap. Accordingly, micro-actuators having better resonance and servo performance, reduced difficulties associated with the slider/micro-actuator mounting process, and/or better shock performance may be provided.

Abstract: A flexure with improved temperature sensitivity is disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention includes a bi-layered flexure that raises or lowers a read/write element a distance that is approximately equal to the distance of protrusion and retraction at varying temperatures.

Abstract: A micro-actuator for a head gimbal assembly includes a metal frame including a bottom support adapted to be connected to a suspension, a top support adapted to support a slider, and a pair of side arms that interconnect the bottom and top supports. The side arms extend vertically from respective sides of the bottom and top supports. A PZT element is mounted to each of the side arms. Each PZT element includes two PZT portions supported by a PI substrate base. The PI substrate base includes one or more bridges that physically and electrically couple the two PZT portions. The bridges are bendable so that the two PZT portions sandwich the respective side arm when mounted thereto.

Abstract: A magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording that has a helical coil design that reduces manufacturing complexity and increases cycle time for manufacture. The write head includes a write pole and a helical write coil having upper coil portions that pass above the write pole and lower coil portions that pass below the write pole. The upper and lower coil portions are connected with another by connection studs. Whereas the upper and lower coil portions are constructed of a non-magnetic, electrically conductive material such as Cu, the connection studs are constructed of a magnetic, electrically conductive material such as NiFe. By constructing the connection studs of a magnetic material, they can be constructed in the same manufacturing steps used to manufacture various magnetic structures of the write head, such as a magnetic shaping layer and/or the back gap.

Abstract: A slide apparatus that provides horizontal support to a disc drive blade is described. The slide apparatus essentially includes a slider beam, a guide rail, a chassis and a retaining member. The slider beam possesses a slotted feature that extends at least partially along the length of the slider beam. The guide rail, which is adapted to be attached to a frame, constrains the slider beam to move only along the length of the guide rail. A retaining member is anchored to the chassis and extends into said slotted feature. The chassis, which supports the disc drive blade, is confined by the retaining member to move essentially only along the slotted feature in the slider beam.

Abstract: The invention is a moving-slider rotary piezoelectric microactuator as the secondary actuator for a dual-stage actuator disk drive. The microactuator has a substrate attached to the disk drive suspension and a rotatable frame that supports the slider, so the head-suspension assembly includes the suspension, the microactuator and the slider with attached read/write head. The rotatable frame is attached to a fixed post on the substrate by relatively stiff torsional springs. A piezoelectric driver having a fixed end attached to the substrate provides bidirectional linear displacement of its movable end. The microactuator has a displacement amplification mechanism that includes a connecting rod and a linkage that translates the linear displacement of the driver to amplified orthogonal linear displacement of the rod. The connecting rod is attached to the rotatable frame at a radial distance to cause rotary movement of the frame, and thereby cross-track displacement of the read/write head on the slider.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a head assembly improves the attachment position precision of a gimbal and a slider with a head, increases the efficiency of the attachment process, and can be carried out at low cost using small-scale equipment. The method of manufacturing includes an adhesive applying step of applying adhesive onto a gimbal; a slider setting step of setting a slider on the gimbal so that part of the adhesive sticks out from a side surface of the slider; a first hardening step of hardening the part of the adhesive that sticks out from a side surface of the slider; and a second hardening step of hardening a part of the adhesive between the gimbal and the slider.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting an actuator to a suspension element is disclosed. The actuator is electrically coupled using a silver paste. The silver paste is further covered by a coating application to provide structural support. A step, attached to either the actuator base or the suspension tongue, provides further structural support and maintains a gap between the actuator and the suspension element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing a suspension gram load to increase head to disk interface reliability for contact recording systems. The method provides a suspension for reaching over a disk. A slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion is also provided, the slider coupled with the suspension. In addition, a gram load of the suspension is reduced to minimize the friction force during contact of the TE with the disk such that when the TE portion of the slider contacts the disk the bouncing motion of the TE with respect to the disk is reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for utilizing an off-center gimbal to increase head to disk interface reliability for contact recording systems. The method provides a suspension for reaching over a disk. A slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion is also provided, the slider coupled with the suspension. In addition, an off-center gimbal device is coupled with the slider and the suspension away from the center of the slider and closer to the TE portion of the slider such that when the TE portion of the slider contacts a disk a bouncing motion of the TE with respect to the disk is reduced.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider and a fabrication method for the magnetic head slider are provided in which a change in crown profile shapes resulting from a temperature difference is suppressed. The magnetic head slider includes a read/write element integrated on a slider body. A medium-facing surface of the slider body disposed to face a recording medium is subjected to crown processing. Both longitudinal ends of a slider-bottom surface disposed opposite the medium-facing surface are bonded to a suspension by means of resin adhesive. In this case, the slider-bottom surface is entirely coated with a film having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the slider body so as to suppress thermal deformation.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly (HGA) is provided. The HGA includes a suspension that has a suspension coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and a slider that has a slider CTE. A bonding element attaches the slider to the suspension. A compensation layer, having a compensation CTE, is located on the suspension. The compensation layer serves to compensate for a thermal distortion of the slider. A method of forming a HGA is also provided. The method includes providing a suspension having a suspension CTE and forming a slider having a slider CTE. The method further includes attaching the slider to the suspension and depositing a compensation layer, having a compensation CTE, on the suspension. The compensation layer serves to compensate for a thermal distortion of the slider.

Abstract: A slider/suspension design and assembly method include securing a slider to a suspension assembly for use in a magnetic disk drive data recording device. To this end, solder bumps are applied to a metalized backside surface of the slider, and are patterned and flown within a plurality of receptacles to form a rigid mechanical connection between the slider to the flexure, while also enabling the slider-suspension assembly to be separated without damage during the process. The slider/suspension assembly is initiated by forming a plurality of slider bars on a wafer, in such a manner that the trailing edge surfaces of the sliders form a front side of the wafer. A plurality of thin film read/write elements and a plurality of electrical contact pads are formed on the wafer front side. Slider bars are then diced from the wafer, and the slider backsides are metalized on the slider bars.

Abstract: A method is provided for reworking a head gimbal assembly (HGA). An ultrasonic probe is used to stress the connection between the slider component of an HGA to remove the slider from its mounting position.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide 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 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 slider. 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: A manufacturing method of an HAA includes a step of fixing a first lead conductor member onto a suspension, a step of attaching a second lead conductor member to at least one actuator arm, a step of fixing the suspension onto the at least one actuator arm, a step of electrically connecting the first lead conductor member fixed on the suspension with the second lead conductor member attached on the at least one actuator arm, a step of, thereafter, fixing a head slider provided with at least one head element onto the suspension, and a step of electrically connecting the at least one head element with the first lead conductor member.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a storage disk, a suspension and a slider assembly. The slider assembly includes a trailing half having a surface area, and a leading half having a substantially similar surface area to that of the trailing half. The percentage of the surface area of the trailing half that is directly secured to the suspension is greater than the percentage of the surface area of the leading half that is directly secured to the suspension. In another embodiment, the slider assembly includes a top surface that is secured to the suspension so that during an increase in temperature of the suspension only a portion of the top surface is subjected to a force that causes concavity of the slider assembly along a crown and/or a cross-crown direction. In yet another embodiment, the slider assembly is secured to the suspension so that a portion of the slider assembly cantilevers away from the suspension. In a further embodiment, the slider assembly has a leading edge and an opposing trailing edge.

Abstract: A head slider with a precise positioning actuator includes a thin plane shaped head section provided with a first surface that is substantially perpendicular to an ABS of the head slider, a second surface opposite to the first surface and at least one head element formed on the first surface, and an actuator section located at a side of the second surface of the head section and integrally fixed to the head section, for precisely positioning the at least one head element.

Abstract: A slider for supporting at least one transducer includes a slider body having a bearing surface and an opposing mounting surface. The slider also includes at least one adhesive control feature formed on the mounting surface to increase a surface area on which an adhesive is deposited.

Abstract: A gimbal assembly includes a gimbal and a slider. The slider has at least one adhesive receiving feature which is formed on a mounting surface of the slider. The gimbal has a lock feature including at least one body that protrudes from a slider-engaging surface and terminates at a first end. Each body of the lock feature engages each adhesive receiving feature of the slider.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting an actuator to a suspension element is disclosed. The actuator is electrically coupled using a silver paste. The silver paste is further covered by a coating application to provide structural support. A step, attached to either the actuator base or the suspension tongue, provides further structural support and maintains a gap between the actuator and the suspension element.

Abstract: A magnetic head device includes a slider including a thin-film element for writing and/or reading and a support for supporting the slider, the slider being bonded to a joint surface of the support at least partially with a conductive resin. A method for making the magnetic head device includes the steps of (a) applying the conductive resin at least onto a portion of an insulating layer formed on the joint surface of the support, (b) bonding the slider to the joint surface of the support with the conductive resin, and (c) causing dielectric breakdown in the insulating layer lying under the conductive resin before step (b) at the latest.

Abstract: A head assembly includes a suspension coupled to an end portion of an actuator arm located on a base to rotate around a pivot shaft, a head slider installed at the suspension and having a head to record and/or read information on and/or from a recording medium, and a variable device located between the suspension and the head slider, wherein one side of the variable device is coupled to the suspension to adjust a flying height of the head slider by adjusting inclination of the head slider with respect to the suspension. The head assembly can be applied to a magnetic head assembly by using a magnetic head and a magnetic disk as the head and the recording medium, respectively. Thus, since the variable device can be fixedly coupled to the suspension during the assembly process of the head assembly or the manufacture of the suspension, the process of manufacture is considerably simplified compared to the conventional magnetic head assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collocating an interface circuit with a disk drive read/write head is described. In one embodiment the interface circuit is attached to the load arm on one side and the miniflex interconnect on the other. The read/write head is mounted on the miniflex directly below the interface circuit. The interface circuit comprises a read signal preamplifier, a write driver, and head selection circuitry. A common multiplexer circuit is used to perform the other conventional read/write circuit functions. The common multiplexer circuit includes a head selection block to determine which heads are activated, a head driver block, and a read receiver block. The common multiplexer circuit is mounted at the base of the miniflex.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly has a gimbal suspension that includes a metal flexure bonded to a slider having a magnetic head element. This head gimbal assembly prevents damage from electrostatic discharge more efficiently. In the head gimbal assembly, a region of an oxide film on a slider-bonding surface of the flexure is completely or incompletely removed to form a film-removed region, and conductive adhesive resin is disposed between the film-removed region and the slider.

Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus and method for passive damping of slider modes in a storage device. An exemplary apparatus comprises a cradle for supporting a slider and comprising two side members and a center member, where each of the side members are disposed at opposite ends of the center member, and a viscoelastic layer lining two side members and the center member of the cradle.

Abstract: A head-gimbal assembly of a hard disk drive includes a loadbeam connected to a pivot arm, a slider on which a magnetic head is mounted, an elastic support member having one end coupled to the loadbeam and the other free end portion at which the slider is supported, and a damper provided between the loadbeam and the slider to attenuate vibration transferred between the loadbeam and the slider.

Abstract: The magnetic head of the present invention is a small magnetic head capable of reducing inertia working thereto. The magnetic head of the present invention includes a suspension having a front end section and a rear end section, a slider mounting section formed in the front end section of the suspension, and a slider mounted on the slider mounting section. The slider has a front end face and a rear end face, in which a read/write element is formed. The rear end face of the slider includes the read/write element, and is headed to the rear end section of the suspension.

Abstract: A system and a method for bonding a slider to a suspension tongue are disclosed. A set of conductive fibers is embedded in a bonding adhesive binding the slider to the suspension tongue to improve conductivity between the slider and the suspension assembly. The bonding adhesive includes binder resin and silver powder. The slider is composed of aluminum oxide and titanium carbide. The set of conductive fibers is composed of carbon coated potassium titanic acid whisker. The set of conductive fibers range in length from 10 ?m to 20 ?m, and in diameter from 0.3 ?m to 0.6 ?m. The set of conductive fibers range in resistance from 0.01 ohm to 0.1 ohm. The set of conductive fibers is mixed with the bonding adhesive in a 1% to 4% mixing ratio.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the process of attaching a hard disk micro-actuator to a slider device with a bonding agent such as epoxy, the slider having design characteristics to avoid various problems associated with bonding the components with a bonding agent such as epoxy.

Abstract: A vibration-canceling mechanism includes a vibration transfer member of a plane shape inserted between a vibration-origination system having at least one resonance frequency and an object to which a vibration is applied from the vibration-origination system. The vibration transfer member has a resonance frequency equal to or near the at least one resonance frequency of the vibration-origination system. A center of one end section of the vibration transfer member is coupled by a single arm section to a center of the other end section of the vibration transfer member. The one end section of the vibration transfer member is fixed to the vibration-origination system and the other end section of the vibration transfer member is fixed to the object so that an apparent vibration of the object is substantially canceled by a resonance of the vibration transfer member.

Abstract: In an actuator device for hard disks a suspension element carries a slider that is subject to undesired vibrations which give rise to rotations of the slider with respect to a nominal position. An electrostatically controlled position-control structure is arranged between the suspension and the slider and is controlled in an active way so as to generate torsions of the platform that counter the undesired rotations. The position-control structure comprises a platform of conductive material and control electrodes arranged underneath the platform. The platform is connected to a load-bearing structure by spring elements that enable movements of roll and pitch. Four control electrodes are arranged according to the quadrants of a square and can be selectively biased for generating electrical forces acting on the platform.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for a disk drive. The head gimbal assembly includes a trace suspension assembly backing layer including a gimbal. The trace suspension assembly backing layer is formed of a conductive material having a first oxidation rate. The head gimbal assembly further includes a gimbal conductive layer disposed upon the gimbal and formed of a conductive material having a second oxidation rate lower than the first oxidation rate. The head gimbal assembly further includes a slider supported by the gimbal. The head gimbal assembly further includes a conductive compound disposed between the gimbal conductive layer and the slider for electrically grounding the slider to the trace suspension assembly backing layer.