Spring Region Detail Patents (Class 360/244.8)
  • Patent number: 7900341
    Abstract: A high yield in a manufacture of an HDD having a high recording density and using a patterned medium by a trench-like or a dot-like pattern is realized. In this HDD manufacturing method, a magnetic field size (writing and reading) of a head in a head manufacturing process is measured in a head unit inspection process. According to the result of the measurement, the head is classified into a plurality of groups in a head classifying process. In a patterned medium manufacturing process, a plurality of types of the patterned media which are designed so as to correspond to the classified head groups are manufactured. In an HDD assembly process, the HDD is manufactured by combining the plurality of head groups and the plurality of patterned media following a predetermined rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiteru Katsumura
  • Patent number: 7898771
    Abstract: A head suspension assembly for carrying a slider assembly in a disc drive has a beam component having a front end and a rear end, a hinge component near the rear end of the beam component for connecting to an actuation means, and a gimbal component near the front end of the main beam section for carrying a transducing head. At least one of the hinge component and the gimbal component is made from a structural damping material having high stiffness and high damping capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Joseph H. Sassine, Sandeepan Bhattacharya, Andrew J. Hutchinson, Joel D. Limmer
  • Patent number: 7894163
    Abstract: Laser beam irradiation areas are provided in a load curve portion and an angle adjustment portion of a suspension. The laser beam irradiation areas are oriented in a direction in which the suspension is to be bent. A laser beam having a predetermined length and a predetermined shape is irradiated onto each laser beam irradiation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Inoue, Hiroshi Kawamata, Hironori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7872834
    Abstract: A dual stage microactuated head suspension includes a base plate, a mounting region attached to the base plate, a load beam coupled to the mounting region, a flexure supported by the load beam and the mounting region, and a microactuator mechanically and electrically coupled to the mounting region. The mounting region is oriented in a plane and includes a microactuator slot for receiving the microactuator such that the microactuator lies substantially or entirely in the plane of the mounting region. The head suspension includes a microactuator support structure provided for mechanically and electrically coupling the microactuator to the mounting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Zachary A. Pokornowski, Ryan N. Ruzicka
  • Patent number: 7861399
    Abstract: A method for loading single head in a hard disk drive includes the following steps: mounting a head assembly (30) in a baseplate (10) of a hard disk drive, the head assembly comprising an actuator arm (32), a suspension (34) and a HGA, the baseplate engaging a motor (110) and the HGA is positioned close to the motor; biasing the suspension by a mounting tool (50) from the original position, the mounting tool comprising a cantilever arm (52), a pressing head (54) and a supporting rod (56), wherein, the mounting tool rotates to the suspension and gets down to press the suspension; mounting a disk (90) on the motor in the baseplate; and releasing the pressing head from the suspension, loading the HGA of the head assembly to a parking zone of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: ESGW Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Ming-Goei Sheu, YuQing Niu
  • Patent number: 7832082
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated lead suspension component. One or more first conductive ground planes are formed on a stainless steel base layer. One or more second conductive ground planes, including portions on the surface of the first conductive ground planes, are formed at void portions and backed portions of the stainless steel base layer. The material of the second conductive ground planes is non-reactive to a first etchant. An insulating layer is formed on the second ground planes on the side opposite the stainless steel base layer and on the stainless steel base layer. Traces are formed on the insulating layer. Voids are formed in void portions of the stainless steel base layer using the first etchant and the second conductive ground planes at the void portions as etch stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Reed T. Hentges, Kurt C. Swanson, Peter F. Ladwig
  • Publication number: 20100220413
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a slider support mechanism includes a flexure includes a distal end portion on a front side mounted with a slider includes a magnetic head configured to record/reproduce data on/from a recording medium, a hinge plate configured to produce spring force urging the slider toward the recording medium, a load beam joined to a front portion of the hinge plate, and a base plate joined to a rear portion of the hinge plate. The flexure comprises a front portion on a back side joined to the load beam, a rear portion on the back side joined to at least one of the rear portion of the hinge plate and the base plate, and a control mechanism configured to control the spring force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: TOSHIBA STORAGE DEVICE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsuo MAKINO
  • Patent number: 7787217
    Abstract: An actuator load beam comprising a preload bend section defining an array of differently configured stiffness-reducing features. The stiffness-reducing features are characteristically sized in inverse relation to a respective distance from a longitudinal centerline of the actuator load beam at the preload bend section. An associated method comprising determining a thickness of a preload bend section for an actuator load beam associated with a desired resonant performance; determining a volume of stiffness-reducing features in the preload bend section associated with a desired vertical stiffness; and arranging an array of stiffness-reducing features associated with the determined volume in an array of sequentially smaller size with the largest size of the array being disposed nearest to a longitudinal centerline of the actuator load beam at the preload bend section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Markus Erwin Mangold, Frederick P. Renken
  • Patent number: 7774922
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing disk drive head suspension components includes supporting the components from carrier strips and/or other components by tab regions consisting substantially of a polyimide insulating layer. The components are detabbed by severing the insulating layer at the tab regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark M. Kiviahde, Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Ryan D. Kariniemi
  • Patent number: 7719796
    Abstract: In a dynamic electric test, a head slider is to be fixed positively to a suspension and to be removable easily from the suspension in accordance with the result of the test. In one embodiment of the present invention a head gimbal assembly includes a head slider, a gimbal and a load beam. The head slider is disposed on a gimbal tongue and is held with an urging force of a resilient clamp at a position between the resilient clamp formed on the leading side of the head slider and connecting terminals formed on the opposite side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Haruhide Takahashi, Kousaku Wakatsuki, Shinobu Hagiya, Takayoshi Ohtsu, Kouji Kataoka, Yohtaroh Ichimura
  • Patent number: 7688550
    Abstract: A head suspension for a hard disk drive includes a base to be attached to a carriage of the head disk drive and turned around a spindle. A load beam includes a rigid part and a resilient part separated from the rigid part, to apply load onto a head that is arranged at a front end of the load beam to write and read data to and from a disk arranged in the hard disk drive. A base end of the rigid part is connected to the resilient part that is supported with the base. A flexure has read/write wiring patterns connected to the head, the flexure supporting the head and attached to the load beam. A joint is provided on the rigid part, to be connected to the resilient part. A protrusion formed on each side edge. Reinforcing part each expands and connects between each of the protrusions and the rigid part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Tada, Masao Hanya, Kenichi Takikawa, Eiji Watadani
  • Patent number: 7688549
    Abstract: A head suspension for a hard disk drive is thin from an arm to a head and involves a minimum step between the arm and a load beam. The head suspension includes a load beam that includes a rigid part and a resilient part. The load beam applies load onto a head that is arranged at a front end of the load beam to write and read data to and from a disk arranged in the hard disk drive. The head is connected to read/write wiring patterns of a flexure. The flexure supports the head and is attached to a disk-facing surface of the rigid part. An arm is attached to a carriage of the hard disk drive and is turned around a spindle. The arm supports the resilient part that is attached to a base end of the rigid part. A disk-facing surface of the arm is arranged within the total of thicknesses of the rigid part and head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Watadani, Masao Hanya
  • Patent number: 7688551
    Abstract: A hinge plate is bonded to a base plate and a load beam in a head suspension assembly. The load beam includes a wide section and a narrow section extending forward from the front end of the wide section. The head suspension assembly allows the load beam to have a narrower width based on the narrow section. The load beam is thus allowed to enjoy a reduced weight. The mass is reduced at a position distanced from the centerline of the load beam. This results in a reduction in the inertial force around the centerline in the load beam. The inventors have demonstrated that the resonance frequency of the first torsion mode is allowed to fall in a higher frequency range. The resonance of the head suspension assembly can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Storage Device Corporation
    Inventors: Takuma Kido, Toru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7660073
    Abstract: A suspension is disclosed that includes a pre-load section and a load section. The pre-load section is configured to be connected to a base. The load section is connected to the pre-load section and comprises a load beam portion, a flex circuit portion, and a brace. The brace extends laterally exterior to the load beam portion proximate to the pre-load section. The brace increases the lateral sway vibration mode of the load section, allowing the load beam portion to be narrower, and provide a decreased weight and increased torsion vibration mode, while also maintaining an increased lateral sway vibration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Markus Erwin Mangold, Sandeepan Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 7636221
    Abstract: A head suspension for a hard disk drive is capable of improving shock property of the hard disk drive while miniaturizing the hard disk drive. A head suspension has a base plate to be attached to a carriage and turned around a spindle of the carriage, a load beam which includes a beam and a hinge, a base end of the beam being supported to the base plate through the hinge and which applies a load onto a head for writing and reading data to and from a disk at a front end side thereof, and a flexure which connects the head to writing and reading wires and supports the head and which is attached to the load beam, where the hinge is set to be relatively thicker than the beam so that the load beam is made thin and the load is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Watadani, Masao Hanya, Takumi Karasawa
  • Patent number: 7612966
    Abstract: A head suspension assembly includes a plate member located at a position distanced from the base. A head slider is supported at the front end of the plate member. A leaf spring connects the rear end of the plate member to the front end of the base. A rib extends at least from the rear end of the plate member toward the front end of the plate member. A restraining piece is located in a space between the rib and the base. When the internal force is induced in the head suspension assembly in response to an impact, the leaf spring receives a force to bend upward to move the head slider upward. The restraining piece serves to avoid any change in the position of the plate member relative to the base. The lead spring is prevented from bending. The plate member is thus reliably prevented from an upward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kushima
  • Patent number: 7606000
    Abstract: A TMR-compensating suspension, or one or more suspension components such as a hinge or beam that can be assembled with other components to make a suspension. The suspension includes a proximal actuator mounting region, a rigid beam region, and a spring region or spring legs between the actuator mounting and beam regions. The load beam or component is formed from a multi-layer laminate and is configured with an offset structure at the spring region or spring legs that skews or twists the beam region with respect to the actuator mounting region. Motion of the beam region with respect to the actuator mounting region when the load beam is used in a disk drive will therefore include a TMR-compensating radial component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Jackson W. Brandts, Corey P. Theis
  • Patent number: 7595964
    Abstract: Improved head gimbal assemblies reducing TMR (Track Mis-Registration) in a hard disk drive are provided. These head gimbal assemblies are as mechanically simple as contemporary head gimbal assemblies, support parallel flying sliders over flat disk surfaces, and reduce TMR induced by disk vibration. They are easier to build, more reliable, and cost less to make, than other known approaches at comparable track densities and rotational rates. The improved head gimbal assemblies include three sets of mechanisms for moving the slider parallel the disk surface, when the disk surface is flat, and radially moving the slider toward the track, when the disk surface is bent. The first and third mechanisms as well as the second and third mechanisms can be used together in a head gimbal assembly. An improved and distinctive servo-controller scheme resulting in an overall improvement in PES performance, particularly when applied to hard disk drives employing the invention's TMR reduction mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Ho Oh, Seong-Woo Kang, Yun-Sik Han, Young-Hoon Kim, Myeong-Eop Kim, Tae-Yeon Hwang, Jae-Won Kim
  • Patent number: 7586714
    Abstract: A head suspension includes an arm turned around a spindle, the load beam, and a flexure. The load beam includes a rigid part, a resilient part, and a head. The rigid part has a body and a joint. The joint is connected to a first end of the resilient part that is supported with the arm. The head is for writing and reading data to and from a disk and is positioned at a front end of the load beam to receive load from the load beam. The flexure is attached to the load beam and supports the head. A rail is formed along each side edge of the body of the rigid part and rises in a thickness direction of the body. The first end of the resilient part has extensions that extend over the joint of the rigid part toward the body of the rigid part. The extensions are fixed to the body of the rigid part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Watadani, Masao Hanya
  • Patent number: 7573680
    Abstract: Structures and methods for creating a vertical offset between suspension springs or fingers within a suspension head assembly for use in a disk drive are disclosed, the vertical offset helping to reduce track mis-registration errors. The base plate and load beam may be made from three-layer composite materials that have been etched to create either recesses therein into which the suspension springs ends are placed and then welded, or the base plate and load beam may be etched to create mesas on which the ends of one of the suspension springs are welded. The three layers may comprise stainless steel, polyimide, and stainless steel. In another embodiment, one of the suspension springs is a three-layer material that has been etched to create a raised central portion that is vertically offset from the other suspension spring. In another embodiment, spacers are employed as shims underneath one of the suspension springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventor: Sivadasan Kulangara
  • Patent number: 7571535
    Abstract: A suspension load beam used for attachment to a slider assembly and an actuation arm in a disc drive for data storage has a rigid middle beam section comprising a rigid bottom layer, a rigid top layer and a composite core layer sandwiched between the bottom layer and the top layer. A method for fabricating a vibration resistant mechanical member used a disc drive subject to high frequency motion operations is also disclosed. The method involves making an integral laminate structure and fabricating the mechanical member from the integral laminate structure. The integral laminate structure has a rigid bottom layer, a composite core layer on top of the rigid bottom layer, and a rigid top layer on top of the core layer so that the composite core layer is sandwiched between the rigid bottom layer and the rigid top layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: John S. Wright
  • Publication number: 20090195934
    Abstract: A spring member manufacturing device that manufactures the spring member by laser irradiation includes a laser irradiation unit including a plurality of laser irradiation devices that perform predetermined laser irradiation with respect to the spring member. In the spring member manufacturing device, the laser irradiation devices are configured so that laser irradiated conditions different from each other are preset for the respective laser irradiation devices, and are arranged so that the respective irradiated positions do not overlap each other. The laser irradiation apparatus is constituted by combining laser irradiation devices having laser irradiation conditions being 2 to the (n?1)th power, n being a positive integer,of predetermined minimum adjustment amount for adjusting load on the spring member. The combination of the laser irradiation devices are selected in accordance with load adjusting amount required for the spring member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Toshikazu Furui, Naohisa Matsushita
  • Patent number: 7559132
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to method for manufacturing a shock absorber that allows a disk drive to move with respect to the chassis of a computer system. In one embodiment, a flexure is formed that is capable of being coupled to an assembly joint. An assembly joint is formed so that the assembly joint is capable of being coupled to the flexure and the chassis of a computer system. A shock absorber is created by coupling the flexure to the assembly joint. The shock absorber has a form that can be used to flexibly couple the disk drive's enclosure with the computer system's chassis without requiring an increase in size of the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Sri M. Sri-Jayantha, Vijayeshwar D. Khanna, Gerard McVicker
  • Patent number: 7549211
    Abstract: A method for de-tabbing a dielectric tab extending between and bonded to first and second stainless steel portions of a disk drive head suspension component. Exemplary first and second stainless steel portions are a flexure base region and a flexure tongue. The method includes applying laser energy to the dielectric tab. The laser energy is characterized by one or more parameters, e.g., a pulse width and/or an energy density, causing de-bonding of the dielectric tab from the first and second stainless steel portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Lucas P. Keranen, Hryhory T. Koba, Raymond A. Loehlein, Patrick E. Madsen, Arun S. Kumar
  • Patent number: 7545606
    Abstract: A head element support apparatus having a load beam including a first elastic member, a second elastic member. The elastic members are fixedly joined together at a joining portion. The first elastic member has a first elastically deformable portion, the second elastic member has a second elastically deformable portion, and the bending rigidity of the first elastically deformable portion is lower than the bending rigidity of the second elastically deformable portion. The second elastically deformable portion is deformable about an intermediate pivot. The balance between a floating force and a load pressure, acting on a slider, may be maintained, and consequently, and the slider may move in a rolling direction and a pitching direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Michiharu Motonishi
  • Patent number: 7542239
    Abstract: A suspension is provided, which has a base, a load beam and a hinge structure. The hinge structure and at least one of the base and the load beam are formed of a single continuous piece of multiple layer laminate material, which includes first and second layers. The hinge structure includes a first beam formed by the first layer and a second beam formed by the second layer. The first layer is absent along the second beam and the second layer is absent along the first beam such that the first and second beams are vertically offset from one another. The first and second beams extend between the base and the load beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Roger A. Resh, James R. Mahoney, Sandeepan Bhattacharya, Jagdish L. Agrawal, Ravishankar A. Shivarama, James A. Fisher
  • Patent number: 7502191
    Abstract: An improved and distinctive servo-controller scheme resulting in an overall improvement in PES performance, particularly when applied to hard disk drives employing the invention's TMR reduction mechanisms. The servo-controllers trade off gain in the disk vibration frequency range, in favor of, increased rejection of low frequency disturbances. This leads to the lowest PES statistics, when applied to hard disk drives with the TMR reduction mechanisms of the invention. Improved head gimbal assemblies reducing TMR (Track Mis-Registration) in a hard disk drive are provided. These head gimbal assemblies are as mechanically simple as contemporary head gimbal assemblies, support parallel flying sliders over flat disk surfaces, and reduce TMR induced by disk vibration. They are easier to build, more reliable, and cost less to make, than other known approaches at comparable track densities and rotational rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Ho Oh, Seong-Woo Kang, Yun-Sik Han, Young-Hoon Kim, Myeong-Eop Kim, Tae-Yeon Hwang, Jae-Won Kim
  • Patent number: 7480982
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to techniques to remove a defective head gimbal assembly (HGA) from a head stack assembly and replace the defective HGA with a good one without allowing any good HGAs to be damaged. In one embodiment, a volatile alcohol solvent is moved by gravity from a holder included in a reworking tool provided for a reworking jig to a shearing edge of a cartridge type edge mounted in the holder. The alcohol solvent is thereby deposited on the shearing edge in a drop-like shape through surface tension. The cartridge type edge is made to slide on a surface of an actuator arm and is inserted in a gap between contacting surfaces of a mount plate and the actuator arm. This assigns the drop-like alcohol solvent a function as a lubricant. Possible vibration can therefore be prevented from being transmitted through a carriage to other HGAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi GLobal Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Junichi Hosaka, Yasuhiro Mita, Katsuo Tsubaki
  • Patent number: 7469464
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a performance parameter of a head suspension for positioning a read/write head in a disk drive. The suspension includes a beam and flexible element for carrying a read/write head extending from the beam. The flexible element has one or more adjustment portions. The beam has one or more openings adjacent to the adjustment portions of the flexible element to provide access to the adjustment portions through the beam. The method comprises acting upon one or more adjustment portions of the flexible element through one or more of the openings in the beam to change a performance parameter of the head suspension. A laser beam is used to irradiate the adjustment portions of the flexible element in one embodiment of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Jacob D. Bjorstrom, Michael W. Davis, Craig A. Leabch
  • Patent number: 7468865
    Abstract: A slider touch-down preventing system for a head stack assembly, which includes a weight load to reduce the slider's movement; and a weight holder connecting with a suspension of the head stack assembly to hold the weight load. The weight holder is positioned at an opposite side of slider loading part of the suspension which has a structure to absorb vibration energy and is positioned beyond a middle portion of the suspension. The invention also discloses a HSA and a disk drive unit having such a slider touch-down preventing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Huai Yang, HaiMing Zhou
  • Patent number: 7441323
    Abstract: A head suspension for supporting a head slider over a storage media in a dynamic storage device is provided with a head suspension component having a spring metal layer, an electrically conductive layer and a dielectric layer interposed between the metal layer and the electrically conductive layer. A plurality of electrically conductive traces with bond pads are formed in the electrically conductive layer. A feature datum is also formed in the electrically conductive layer on a detachable carrier strip. The feature datum defines a first edge in the electrically conductive layer parallel to an edge of the bond pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Raymond R. Wolter
  • Patent number: 7440234
    Abstract: There is provided a disk drive including a disk and an actuator. The actuator includes a first actuator arm. The first actuator arm has a region of reduced thickness between an arm longitudinal axis and a disk axis of rotation. An average thickness of the first actuator arm in the region of reduced thickness is less than an average thickness of the first actuator arm at an equal distance from an actuator axis of rotation but on an opposing side of the arm longitudinal axis. The actuator includes a suspension assembly having first and second flexible legs. The suspension assembly is coupled to the first actuator arm via the flexible legs. The second flexible leg is disposed further from the disk in a direction parallel to the disk axis of rotation than the first flexible leg and closer to the disk axis of rotation than the first flexible leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunjer Chuck Cheng, David J. Bagaoisan
  • Publication number: 20080247093
    Abstract: A suspension for a disc drive includes a base plate, a load beam, and a flexure. The flexure includes a metal base member and a circuit member disposed along the metal base member. The circuit member extends along the load beam. The circuit member includes a resin base member formed of a first polyimide, conductors, and a resin cover member formed of a second polyimide. The resin cover member is lower than the resin base member in humidity expansion coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsukasa Higashi, Hidenori Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7408744
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for reduced contribution to suspension hinge stiffness of an electrical interconnect metal layer while retaining substantial impedance reductions from the metal layer use a sinuous pattern of removed and retained subregions of the metal layer selectively and distributively to ease bending of the metal layer and decrease its stiffness contribution while the retained metal layer subregions provide a substantial proportion of the impedance reduction normally provided by the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventor: Rafael Cuevas
  • Patent number: 7408743
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for reading and writing information onto a hard disk drive is provided. The apparatus includes a suspension assembly for a hard disk drive. The suspension assembly includes at least two spring extensions that couple to a proximal portion of a load beam. These spring extensions are disposed by a vertical offset and couple to the load beam on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the load beam. The method for operating a disk drive apparatus includes following by a suspension assembly from a reference position to a second position a vertical movement of a rotating disk. The suspension assembly is predisposed to move from the reference position to the second position by a vertical offset between a first and second spring extensions of the suspension assembly. A read/write head coupled to the suspension assembly is in closer alignment to a selected track during the vertical movement in the second position than if the first and second spring extensions are disposed to be co-planar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Martin John McCaslin, Khampon Sittipongpanich, Sitthipong Footrakul, Visit Thaveeprungsriporn
  • Publication number: 20080144223
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a suspension assembly having a dielectric limiter. According to one embodiment, the suspension assembly includes a load beam and a flexure assembly. The flexure assembly includes a metal layer where there are formed a fixing portion fixed to the load beam, main rings, and extending from the fixing portion, sub-rings, and a flexure tongue having moving-side limiter coupling portions defined thereon. Fixing-side limiter coupling portions are defined at the main rings. Dielectric limiters each have a gross length larger than a between-coupling-portions distance between a fixing-side limiter coupling portion and a moving-side limiter coupling portion, and couple the fixing-side limiter coupling portion to the moving-side limiter coupling portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B. V.
    Inventors: Takuma Muraki, Hiroyasu Tsuchida, Tomoki Hiramatsu, Takeji Sumiya
  • Patent number: 7385787
    Abstract: A head suspension for supporting a read/write head in a dynamic rigid disk data storage device and applying a load force on the read/write head in a load direction when the storage device is in operation, the suspension comprising an elongated loadbeam portion extending along a longitudinal axis having a bending spring rate in the load direction. The loadbeam comprises a rigid mounting portion at a proximal end of the loadbeam portion for attaching the loadbeam portion to an actuating mechanism, a rigid load portion at a distal end of the loadbeam portion for supporting an assembly configured to carry the read/write head, and a spring portion integrally formed with the mounting region and load region and having partially etched regions with a thickness that is smaller than the mounting region and load region. The spring portion appreciably affects the bending spring rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventor: Craig A. Leabch
  • Patent number: 7365944
    Abstract: A magnetic head suspension includes a flexure portion, a load bend portion, a load beam portion, and a base portion. The load beam portion includes: a base end area continuously connected with the load bend portion; an intermediate area extending from the base end area toward a tip end side, and a tip end area extending from the intermediate area toward the tip end side to reach the magnetic head mount area. The base end area has first side edges tilted so as to gradually approach a central longitudinal axis line of the magnetic head suspension as the first side edges go toward the tip end side. The intermediate area has second side edges continuously connected with the first side edges and configured to be substantially parallel with the central longitudinal axis line or to be tilted to gradually approach the central longitudinal axis line as the second side edges go toward the tip end side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Suncall Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Fujimoto, Satoru Takasugi
  • Patent number: 7359158
    Abstract: A suspension for disc drive has a base portion including a base plate, a load beam, a pair of hinge members, a wired flexure, etc. The wired flexure has a metal base and a wiring portion on the metal base. The hinge members are fixed overlapping the rear end portion of the load beam and the front end portion of the base plate. The wired flexure extends through a gap between the hinge members and ranges over the load beam and the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Takikawa, Noriyuki Saito, Masao Hanya
  • Patent number: 7356907
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cartridge assembly of a hard disk drive, including a step of forming a part of a wiring circuit into flying leads and a step of forming a coating layer on the respective opposite surfaces of the bonding surfaces of the flying leads, which will be connected to bonding terminals of a flexible printed circuit board. The method also includes a step of placing an ultrasonic tool in contact with the opposite surfaces of the flying leads via the coating layers, and applying ultrasonic vibration from the ultrasonic tool in a state where the flying leads are pressed onto the bonding terminals to ultrasonically bond the flying leads and the bonding terminals together. Additionally, the method includes a step of heating and melting the coating layers to smooth surfaces of the coating layers that have been roughened by contact with the ultrasonic tool during ultrasonic bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kenji Kobae, Takashi Kubota
  • Publication number: 20080084638
    Abstract: A suspension assembly is disclosed having a base, a load beam region and a spring region. The spring region is positioned between the base and the load beam region. The spring region includes a material having a ratio of modulus of elasticity to yield strength that is less than 100.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Wayne Allen Bonin
  • Patent number: 7352530
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Walton Fong, Remmelt Pit, Mike Suk
  • Publication number: 20080055782
    Abstract: A correcting method for reducing variations in floating height and gram load of a floating-type magnetic head device is disclosed. The floating-type magnetic head device includes a load beam, a flexure that has an elastically flexible tongue piece and disposed in the load beam adjacent to the recording medium, and a head body fixed on the surface of the tongue piece adjacent to the recording medium. During rotation of the recording medium, the head body floats over the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Michiharu Motonishi
  • Patent number: 7333299
    Abstract: A suspension is provided, which comprises: a flexure with elasticity for supporting a head slider having at least one head element; a first load beam having first ribs for reinforcement at both side ends of the first load beam, for supporting the flexure; and a second load beam having second ribs for reinforcement at both side ends of the second load beam, at least a part of the second load beam being overlapped with the first load beam and being fixed to the first load beam, at least a part of the first and second ribs being overlapped with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Wada, Takeshi Wada, Takashi Honda, Yoshihisa Higuchi
  • Patent number: 7327536
    Abstract: An HGA includes a head slider having at least one head element, a resilient flexure for supporting the head slider to control flying attitude of the head slider, a load beam, supporting the flexure at its top end section, for applying a load in a direction perpendicular to a surface of a recording medium to the head slider, at least one fixing part, formed integral with the load beam, for fixing the load beam to a support arm, and a load-generation part, coupling the at least one fixing part with the load beam, for generating the load. The load-generation part has first at least one leaf spring section formed in a three-dimensionally bent shape and integral with the load beam, the first at least one leaf spring section being located at the rear of the at least one fixing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Wada, Takashi Honda
  • Patent number: 7322094
    Abstract: A head stack assembly of a disk drive unit including a head arm assembly (HAA) having a head gimbal assembly, a drive arm to be connected with the head gimbal assembly; wherein the drive arm comprises a securing portion, a connection portion and a spacer connecting the securing portion with the connection portion. In the present invention, at least one undercut is formed on the spacer of the drive arm to strengthen the drive arm. The invention also discloses a method of manufacturing such a head stack assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (HK)
    Inventors: Takehiro Kamigama, Yiu Sing Ho, Canhua Chen
  • Patent number: 7312953
    Abstract: A head suspension assembly includes a head, a load beam carrying the head at one end, a resilient member joining the load beam and a carriage, and a pivot bearing provided between the load beam and the carriage and structured so that the load beam is movable in a direction perpendicular to a record medium so that the load beam rocks. The head suspension assembly is structured so that the resilient member has narrow sections for reducing the width of the resilient member to a width smaller than that of both ends of the resilient member that are symmetrical with respect to a centerline of the resilient member. The distal end of the resilient member is joined to the carriage and the resilient member has an opening (hole) in the center thereof. This structure provides a highly shock-resistant and thin head suspension assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kuwajima, Zhisheng Deng, Hideyuki Hashi, Mitsuhisa Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7283332
    Abstract: A suspension includes a load beam section and a gimbal section, which is formed with the load beam section as a single, continuous piece of material, having a top surface and a bottom surface. The gimbal section has a first end formed with to the load beam section and is bent along the first end such that the bottom surface of the material along the gimbal section faces the bottom surface of the material along the load beam section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Steven Lee Weber
  • Patent number: 7280316
    Abstract: Techniques for reading and writing information onto a hard disk drive are provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a suspension assembly for a hard disk drive includes a load beam having a mounting region, a first spring extension on a first side of the load beam, and a rigid region. The suspension assembly also includes a hinge member having a second spring extension coupling the rigid region and the mounting region on a second side of the load beam. First and second spacers are disposed between the hinge member and the mounting region of the load beam and between the hinge member and the rigid region of the load beam, respectively. A vertical offset between the first and second spring extensions predisposes the rigid region to move from a first position to a second position in response to a disk flutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Martin John McCaslin, Khampon Sittipongpanich, Sittipong Footrakul, Visit Thaveeprungsriporn
  • Patent number: RE40203
    Abstract: A magnetic head suspension assembly is fabricated with an integral piece which includes a load beam section, a flexure section, a rear mount section and a leaf spring section between the load beam and rear mount. A tongue extends from the load beam to the flexure and has a down-facing load dimple which contacts the non-air bearing surface of an attached air bearing slider. The flexure includes narrow thin legs adjacent to a cutout that delineates the load beam tongue. The head suspension is characterized by a high first bending mode frequency and low pitch and roll stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Michael R. Hatch, Chak M. Leung