Abstract: An actuation assembly includes a movable actuator arm, a suspension assembly, a slider, and means for attaching the slider to the gimbal. The actuator arm supports the suspension assembly, which includes a gimbal carrying a gimbal bond pad that is electrically isolated from the gimbal. The slider includes an air bearing surface and a gimbal opposing face opposite the air bearing surface. The means for attaching the slider to the gimbal provide a direct contact between the gimbal and the slider and elevate a plane of the gimbal opposing face with respect to the gimbal bond pad. The means for attaching the slider to the gimbal is integral with the gimbal.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a disk drive and methods for operating the same. A venting assembly of this disk drive generally includes a slider having an air bearing surface system for generating positive pressure to urge the slider away from a data storage disk, and a suction cavity for generating negative pressure to urge the slider toward the surface of the disk. The slider of the venting assembly also generally includes a first venting hole extending through the slider within the suction cavity. A first valve of the venting assembly is generally associated with the first venting hole to at least assist in controlling airflow through the same. Contact between a load beam of the venting assembly and a corresponding load/unload ramp of the disk drive during unloading of the slider generally tends to open the first valve and substantially dissipate the negative pressure within the suction cavity.

Abstract: A slider scale package assembly in a head gimbal assembly (HGA) for electrically coupling a slider/magnetic recording (MR) head to a head interconnect circuit in a disc drive includes a flex circuit attached to the back of the slider/MR head which turns the slider/MR head into the slider scale package with at least one repositioned interconnect pad disposed at the back of the slider/MR head. The flex circuit further includes a conductive material, one end of which is electrically bonded to a bond pad of the slider/MR head, and the other end is electrically bonded to a conductive material of the head interconnect circuit via the interconnect pad. A plurality of flex circuits can be made in a sheet format and dividable into a plurality of individual flex circuits to be attached to a plurality of slider/MR heads.

Abstract: An electrically conductive adhesive includes a resin component, a photoinitiator, and metal-coated polymer beads. The beads have an average diameter and a very narrow size distribution around the average diameter. The adhesive is applied between a read/write head and a suspension to attach the two, and the adhesive is cured by exposure to an illumination and/or heat. A pad spacer is included between the read/write head and the suspension to define a spacing and parallelism therebetween. The beads in the adhesive can form one or more layers between the read/write head and the suspension or can be disordered. The metal coating of the beads provide electrical conductivity between the read/write head and the suspension.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board of the present invention directly relays connecting portions of a magnetic head placed on a suspension to connecting portions of a base end of a carriage arm in a head suspension assembly of a magnetic disk apparatus. The flexible printed circuit board includes a laminate composed of at least a base layer, a plurality of conductive circuits formed on the base layer, a cover layer covering the conductive circuits, and a conductive polymer layer formed in the insulating material portion in the surface of the laminate. The flexible printed circuit board includes a stainless layer below the base layer or on a lower side of the conductive polymer layer on the base layer side.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly equipped with a slider having a magnetic head and a gimbal spring on which the slider is mounted with an adhesive. The gimbal spring is supported by beam portions of a load beam. A thin-film wiring pattern formed on the load beam extends to a surface of the gimbal spring. A tip of the wiring pattern acts as a terminal portion that is connected to input/output terminals integrally formed on the slider. The slider is locked on the gimbal spring by electrically conducting bonding and an adhesive. A plurality of dummy patterns having the same height as the wiring pattern are provided at a position corresponding to where the adhesive is dropped on the surface of the gimbal spring. The adhesive is placed in an area sandwiched by the dummy patterns on the gimbal spring.

Abstract: A method for producing a slider for an optical head includes a slider member adapted for floating and running over a recording medium during recording and/or reproduction of information signals for the recording medium. An optical lens is bonded to the slider member and a magnetic field generator provided on a surface of the slider member carrying the optical lens facing the recording medium. A first step is forming a groove presenting a bottom surface inclined in the depth-wise direction by ejecting a polishing agent dispersed in a compressed gas on a substrate. A second step is charging an electrically conductive material, which proves a terminal electrically connected to the magnetic field generator in the inside of the groove formed in the substrate. A third step is cutting the substrate in the vicinity of an end of the groove to form a plurality of individual slider members.

Abstract: A suspension includes a load beam, a flexure fixed to the load beam for determining a flying attitude of a head slider provided with at least one head element, the flexure having a slider supporting section for supporting the head slider, and a load adjustment mechanism formed at the slider supporting section of the flexure, for adjusting a load imposed on the head slider.

Abstract: A precise positioning actuator to be fixed to a head slider provided with at least one head element and to a support, for precisely positioning the at least one head element includes a pair of movable arms and a base section. Each movable arm is formed by a plate member including a first metal plate to be substantially in parallel with a side surface of the head slider. Top end sections of the pair of movable arms are capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator along a direction crossing planes of the metal plates. The base section is connected between rear end sections of the pair of movable arms and formed by a plate member including a second metal plate. The base section and the pair of movable arms are formed by adhering the first metal plates and the second metal plate that are individually formed.

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: A magnetic head assembly equipped with a slider and a gimbal spring to which the slider is secured with an adhesive agent. According to one aspect, at least one slit is formed in the gimbal spring opposing the adhesion surface of the slider, so that expansion and contraction of the gimbal spring caused by a change in the temperature is hardly transferred to the slider. According to a second aspect, the Young's modulus after hardening of the adhesive agent applied onto thee adhesion surface of the slider is selected to be smaller than about {fraction (1/13000)} of the Young's modulus of the slider material or of the gimbal spring material. According to the first aspect, therefore, the area of the gimbal spring on which the adhesive agent is applied is limited by the slit. According to the second aspect, the Young's modulus of the adhesive agent after hardening is so small that the warping amount of the slider caused by a change in the temperature lies within a predetermined range.

Abstract: In a magnetic head having a slider provided with a thin-film element used for writing and/or reading, a flexure bonded to the slider and having a tongue which is resiliently deformable, and a conductive resin film electrically connecting the slider to the flexure, the conductive resin film has a conduction starting voltage of 2.0 V or less.

Abstract: A vibration-canceling mechanism includes a vibration transfer member of a plane shape inserted between a vibration-origination system having a plurality of resonance frequencies and an object to which vibrations are applied from the vibration-origination system. The vibration transfer member has a plurality of resonance frequencies equal to or near the plurality of resonance frequencies of the vibration-origination system. The vibration transfer member has a plurality of pairs of arm sections for coupling one end section of the vibration transfer member with 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 apparent vibrations of the object are substantially canceled by resonances of the vibration transfer member.

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. 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: A vibration-canceling mechanism includes a vibration transfer member. At least part of the vibration transfer member is 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. 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: The invention is a suspension gimbal-head assembly that includes a magnetic head having a leading edge and a following edge, a suspension gimbal, the magnetic head is mechanically connected to the suspension gimbal at the head leading edge and the head following edge. There is also provided a disk drive that includes a suspension gimbal-head assembly that includes a magnetic head having a leading edge and a following edge, a suspension gimbal, the magnetic head mechanically connected to the suspension gimbal at the head leading edge and the head following edge.

Abstract: A microactuator device for effecting fine positioning of a transducing head with respect to a selected track on a disk having: an S-shaped piezoelectric element with three or more legs having opposite ends, wherein either; one end of the piezoelectric element is affixed or connected to one end of the slider, and the other end is affixed or connected to the flexure member, or both ends of the element affixed to corresponding ends of the slider and the center is affixed to the flexure, for obtaining movement of the head transducer to enable fast and accurate tracking of read/write tracks on a high track density disk. Attachment of the one leg of piezoelectric element to the flexure produces translation movement of the slider and head transducer while attachment of the center leg of the element to the flexure and the two ends legs to the slider produces a rotary movement of the head transducer.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the process of attaching a hard disk microactuator to a slider device with a bonding agent such as epoxy, the slider having design characteristics to avoid various problems associated with bonding said 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: A protective member, which covers a sensor portion, is positioned on a slider so that this sensor portion is in close proximity to the slider flying surface. Furthermore, a step is formed on the surface of this slider on the side opposite the flying surface at a location separated from the protective member. Then, an actuator is either mounted on the flat portion which was made thin by the formation of the step, or an actuator is stored and affixed within a slot created in line with the formation of the step. Furthermore, a suspension is bonded to a surface of this actuator on the side opposite the slider, and a head assembly is configured.

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: 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 &mgr;m to 20 &mgr;m. and in diameter from 0.3 &mgr;m to 0.6 &mgr;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: To control the gap length in the near-field area with a high accuracy, the exposure apparatus includes an exposure light source (11) to emit an exposure laser light, a gap length controlling light source (16) to emit a gap length controlling laser light different in wavelength from the exposure laser light, a condenser lens (17a), collimator lens (17b) and a dichroic mirror (12) to project the gap length controlling laser light to a condenser lens (14) and solid immersion lens (SIL) (15), and a photodetector (22) to detect the intensity of a return part of the gap length controlling laser light from an outgoing surface (15b) of the SIL (15). Thus in the exposure apparatus, the gap between the SIL (15) and object (100) is controlled based on the detected return light intensity from the photodetector (22).

Abstract: A magnetic head includes an adhesive layer having particulate disposed between a slider and a flexure. A gap of a predetermined size is disposed between the slider and the flexure. Stress generated by the thermal expansion of the slider and the flexure are absorbed or substantially prevented by the adhesive layer.

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 said components with a bonding agent such as epoxy.

Abstract: A slider and suspension of a hard disk drive are joined with a low modulus epoxy adhesive. The slider and suspension are set in a bonding jig while they are moving from process to process or subjected to a thermosetting treatment in a controlled temperature chamber. The slider and suspension must be kept bound together with the bonding jig until the adhesive is cured through a thermal treatment. The low modulus epoxy adhesive is cured with heat from a laser beam. In addition, a resistance value of the head disposed at the slider is measured so as to monitor the temperature of the head, thereby deciding both output and irradiation time of the laser beam for obtaining a desired strength of the bond within a predetermined temperature range.

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: The magnetic head of the present invention is a small magnetic head capable of reducing inertia working thereto.

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 system and method for the prevention of electrostatic discharge (ESD) by a hard drive magnetic head is disclosed. The magnetic head is secured to a head-gimbal assembly (HGA) by anisotropic conductive paste (ACP) to provide an improved electrostatic discharge path.

Abstract: The present invention provides a head supporting arm that allows for laser tacking while having a merging lip and limiters for loading/unloading respectively. A head supporting arm according to the present invention includes a load beam, and a flexure connecting the load beam to a slider. The load beam having a dimple for generating a gimbal motion between the flexure and the slider. The slider having a head connected to its one end. The head supporting arm of the present invention further including an exposure opening formed in the load beam. The exposure opening allowing for the exposing of the bonding portion of the flexure that is bonded to the other end of the slider. The exposure opening further providing an opening to extend the limiters formed unitarily with the flexure 36 onto a surface of the load beam that is opposite to the surface on which the flexure 36 is provided. The extended limiters are hooked to the load beam at the opposite surface.

Abstract: A suspension design for improving the curing process for head bonding application and a method for same is disclosed. Vias are formed in the load beam and the flexure so that UV light is allowed to pass to cure the UV sensitive adhesive thereby bonding the slider to the head gimbal assembly.

Abstract: A method for assembling a slider suspension assembly for use in a disk drive is disclosed. A ceramic slider with an attached recording head is placed on a suspension and is held in alignment by soldering the electrical connections while the epoxy placed between the slider and the suspension hardens. The method results in a much more economical process which does not require the number of expensive tools needed to carry out the conventional process.

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: A microactuator is attached to a first face of a coupling formed on a suspension, so that an R/W transducer projects from an opposite face. A hole in the coupling permits passage of an adhesive mass interposed between a rotor of the microactuator and the R/W transducer. A strip of adhesive material extends between a die accommodating the microactuator and the coupling, and externally surrounds the microactuator. The coupling acts as a protective shield for the microactuator, both mechanically and electrically. The coupling covers the microactuator at the front, and prevents foreign particles from blocking the microactuator. In addition, the coupling electrically insulates the R/W transducer, which is sensitive to magnetic fields, from regions of the microactuator biased to a high voltage. With the coupling, the strip forms a sealing structure, which in practice surrounds the microactuator on all sides.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a write/read head supporting mechanism for a magnetic or optical disk system having a micro-displacement actuator, by which any impediment to the displacement capability of the actuator is eliminated to achieve reliability improvements. The write/read head supporting mechanism comprises a slider, a suspension and an actuator as at least head constituents. The slider is provided with an electromagnetic transducer element or an optical module. The slider supported on the suspension by way of the actuator is displaceable relatively with respect to the suspension by the actuator. Between relatively displacing head constituents there is a space. Preferably, friction-reducing means should be provided in the space.

Abstract: The present invention is a package for incorporating a micromotor into a head gimbal assembly. The head gimbal assembly includes a slider package and a micromotor package assembled on a load beam. The slider package and micromotor package include circuitry which allow a read/write signal to be conducted from the read/write head on the slider to the load beam. Solder joints form the electrical and mechanical connections between the load beam, the micromotor, and the slider.

Abstract: A magnetic head suspension assembly includes a load beam, a flexible member or flexure, and an air bearing slider. Disposed on the flexible member is a plurality of bonding pads. Bonding pads are also formed on the edge surfaces of the slider. The bonding pads of the slider and the corresponding bonding pads on the flexible member are attached to each other via bonding joints. One of the bonding pads is electrically linked to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) path and the other bonding pads are connected to electrical signal traces which convey electrical signals to and from magnetic transducers. The undesirable steps of epoxy application for adhering a slider to a flexure can be eliminated, thus resulting in a more reliable and accurately oriented slider in a magnetic head suspension assembly.

Abstract: A disc head slider includes a slider body having a leading slider edge, a trailing slider edge, a bearing surface, a back surface, which is opposite to the bearing surface, and a length measured from the leading slider edge to the trailing slider edge. First and second discrete pads extend normally from the bearing surface. The first pad is located forward of a midpoint along the length, and the second pad is located rearward of the midpoint and forward of the slider trailing edge. A recess is formed in the back surface and has a recess floor, which defines a load point surface located between the first and second pads along the length.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes an adhesive layer having particulate disposed between a slider and a flexure. A gap of a predetermined size is disposed between the slider and the flexure. Stress generated by the thermal expansion of the slider and the flexure are absorbed or substantially prevented by the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A head assembly for an information storage device that includes a head slider with a read/write element for reading/recording information to/from a disk and a suspension for supporting the head slider. The suspension includes a generally planar sheet that extends in a longitudinal direction from a first end to second end and an arm attaching portion located near the first end of the generally planar sheet of the suspension. The arm attaching portion is adapted to be attached to a head arm. The suspension also includes a slider attaching portion positioned near the second end of the generally planar sheet of the suspension, where the slider attaching portion extends generally in the longitudinal direction and is surrounded by a generally U-shaped opening in the generally planar sheet. The slider attaching portion faces a securing surface of the head slider.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a slider having any one of recording and reproducing elements, and a flexure having an elastically deformative tongue. The slider and the flexure are bonded together with a resin adhesive therebetween. The resin adhesive has a Young's modulus E in a range of 700 to 5,200 kg/cm2 at 25° C. and a bond strength of 50 gf or more.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a slider having any one of recording and reproducing elements, and a flexure having an elastically deformative tongue. The slider and the flexure are bonded together with a resin adhesive therebetween. The resin adhesive has a Young's modulus E in a range of 700 to 5,200 kg/cm2 at 25° C. and a bond strength of 50 gf or more.

Abstract: A method for changing the curvature of an air bearing surface (ABS) of a slider after the slider is attached to a suspension. The method includes the step of scribing a surface of the suspension to alter the stress on the suspension to change the curvature of the suspension and thus cause a change in the curvature of the slider ABS. The method includes producing scribe lines by ablation and melting/resolidification of the suspension to alter the stress on the suspension, thereby also causing a change of curvature in the ABS. Scribing is performed within a scribe region, which is defined according to a slider footprint. The curvature of a suspension can be altered by scribing before the slider is attached to it thus adjusting the curvature of the suspension to reduce any undesirable slider curvature changes caused by the attachment process. The present invention also includes suspensions processed according to the method.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is provided for controlling unwanted flow of slider bonding adhesive from the flexure tongue portion to the flexure outrigger portion including roughening the tongue portion surface opposite the slider, enclosing the locus of slider attachment fully or partially with a trough etched into the tongue portion, and increasing the depth of fluid adhesive at the locus to increase the adhesive mass and improve the bonding at the slider.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is provided for controlling unwanted flow of slider bonding adhesive from the flexure tongue portion to the flexure outrigger portion including roughening the tongue portion surface opposite the slider, enclosing the locus of slider attachment fully or partially with a trough etched into the tongue portion, and increasing the depth of fluid adhesive at the locus to increase the adhesive mass and improve the bonding at the slider.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive has a magnetic disk and a magnetic head assembly mounted on an arm. The assembly is utilized in the recording and reproducing of data on and from a recording/reproducing surface of a magnetic disk. The magnetic head assembly includes a support body for connecting the magnetic head assembly to the arm and a head chip attached to the support body. The head chip is configured and arranged for making substantially continuous sliding contact with the recording/reproducing surface of the magnetic disk during recording/reproducing. The head chip includes a wafer base, a read/write element for recording/reproducing data from the recording/reproducing surface of the magnetic disk. The read/write element is formed from a plurality of thin film layers superposed upon the wafer base and the head is elongated in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane generally defined by the recording/reproducing surface.