Abstract: A head supporting assembly having high flexibility, while applying a necessary and sufficient pressing force to a head, excellent in shock resistance, and providing a stabilized pressing force not affected by manufacturing variations, and a head driving assembly and a disk drive apparatus using the same.

Abstract: In a suspension comprising a base portion, beam portion, and a hinge member connecting the base portion and the beam portion to each other, a hole for lowering the stiffness of a region of the beam portion near the hinge member is formed in that region. A cover portion closes the opening of the hole.

Abstract: A suspension for disc drive comprises a base portion, a beam portion formed of the same material as the base portion and made thinner than the base portion by partial etching, and a hinge member connecting the base portion and the beam portion to each other. In manufacturing this suspension, a platelike semi-finished suspension, which integrally includes a base portion, a beam portion, and a connecting portion connecting the base portion and the beam portion to each other, is first manufactured. The thickness of the beam portion of the semi-finished suspension is reduced by partial etching. Thereafter, the base portion and the beam portion are connected by means of the hinge member, and moreover, the connecting portion is separated from the base portion and the beam portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a suspension assembly that includes a load beam having a bend section with a bending stiffness and an in-plane stiffness. The assembly also includes a constraint or stiffening layer cooperatively attached to the bend section. The constraint layer includes a pattern formed therein, and the constraint layer is arranged and configured to increase the in-plane stiffness of the bend section and to maintain a substantially constant bending stiffness of the bend section. The constraint layer pattern may be preformed or may be formed in the constraint layer after the constraint layer has been mounted to the bend section.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a head suspension, which can be assembled without damaging the head element. In the head suspension, a rigid section holds a head slider which writes data on and reads data from a disk. The rigid section is capable of bearing an external force whose direction is perpendicular to a recording face of the disk. A spring section has elasticity in the direction perpendicular to the recording face of the disk. An anti-vibration member is provided in the spring section, the anti-vibration member partially has a vacant space. With this structure, change of elastic pressure of the head suspension can be maintained within a proper range, transmitting the vibration to the head slider can be restricted, and the head slider can be floated stably.

Abstract: A suspension load beam for an actuator assembly of a disk drive includes a bend radius portion with a spring rate that is less than 18 Newtons per meter, a first bending mode that is greater than 3,500 Hertz, and a first torsion mode that is greater than 5,300 Hertz. The method of making this suspension load beam includes cutting a sheet of material to form a flat suspension load beam including a bend radius portion, removing material in the bend radius portion from full thickness, inspecting the bend radius portion to determine its thickness, and removing material from the bend radius portion and/or from the main body of the suspension load beam to compromise the performance difference due to thickness variation in bend radius portion.

Abstract: A head suspension, for supporting a head slider relative to a rotating disk in a rigid disk drive, formed from a flexure and a load beam that has a mounting region, a rigid region and a spring region located between the mounting and rigid regions. The load beam including a shock limiter integrally formed within the spring region as a cantilevered portion surrounded by a spring aperture used for adjusting the spring stiffness of the spring region. The head suspension typically configured to include a bend or radius in the spring region to bias the head suspension toward the disk surface. The cantilevered portion of the shock limiter formed with a pre-determined gap between the shock limiter and the head suspension when the head suspension is in an operating position.

Abstract: In order to provide a suspension, a head suspension assembly, and a disk drive apparatus that can contribute to an increase of record and playback reliability, holes 3c in ribs 3b of the head suspension assembly 3 are provided. This design decreases the displacement of a head slider 2 that is caused by Karman vortex streets occurring near the ribs 3b in company with the rotation of the magnetic disk 1.

Abstract: A method of controlling the spring rate of a spring region of an unassembled load beam for a disk drive head suspension by partially etching the spring region and providing the partially etched spring region with a number of bridges which may then selectively opened to achieve a target spring rate. Adjusting the spring rate before assembly of the load beam enables tighter control of resulting performance characteristics of the head suspension. In one aspect, a data set of spring rate reductions corresponding to bridge sets removed is predetermined and used with the corresponding type of load beam to determine the bridges to remove to approximate the target spring rate.

Abstract: A suspension comprises a load beam, a base plate, and a hinge member. The hinge member has an end portion lapped and fixed on the proximal portion of the load beam, a base plate mounting portion lapped and fixed on the base plate, and flexible portions situated between the end portion and the base plate mounting portion. The flexible portions are situated individually on the opposite sides of an opening formed in the hinge member, and are elastically deformable in its thickness direction. An end portion of the base plate and the hinge member are fixed on each other by means of laser welds in positions near the flexible portions. The laser welds are formed individually in regions that extend in the axial direction of the hinge member from the flexible portions.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension in which resonance characteristics are adjustable and a method for such adjustment. The disk drive suspension includes a load beam, a head mounting region and one or more mass balancing structures. The mass balancing structures are adapted for permanent displacement or removal to adjust mass distribution of the load beam. In this way, resonance characteristics of the load beam can be adjusted. A method of adjustment includes determination of an adjust location on the load beam at which a resonance characteristic to be adjusted is sensitive to changes in mass. The mass distribution of the load beam are adjusted at this adjust location.

Abstract: A head suspension, for supporting a head slider relative to a rotating disk in a rigid disk drive, formed from a flexure and a load beam that has a mounting region, a rigid region and a spring region located between the mounting and rigid regions. The load beam including a shock limiter integrally formed within the spring region as a cantilevered portion surrounded by a spring aperture used for adjusting the spring stiffness of the spring region. The head suspension typically configured to include a bend or radius in the spring region to bias the head suspension toward the disk surface. The cantilevered portion of the shock limiter formed with a pre-determined gap between the shock limiter and the head suspension when the head suspension is in an operating position.

Abstract: A head suspension, for supporting a head slider relative to a rotating disk in a rigid disk drive, formed from a flexure and a load beam that has a mounting region, a rigid region and a spring region located between the mounting and rigid regions. The load beam including a shock limiter integrally formed within the spring region as a cantilevered portion surrounded by a spring aperture used for adjusting the spring stiffness of the spring region. The head suspension typically configured to include a bend or radius in the spring region to bias the head suspension toward the disk surface. The cantilevered portion of the shock limiter formed with a pre-determined gap between the shock limiter and the head suspension when the head suspension is in an operating position.

Abstract: A suspension load beam for an actuator assembly of a disk drive includes a bend radius portion with a spring rate that is less than 18 Newtons per meter, a first bending mode that is greater than 3,500 Hertz, and a first torsion mode that is greater than 5,300 Hertz. The method of making this suspension load beam includes cutting a sheet of material to form a flat suspension load beam including a bend radius portion, removing material in the bend radius portion from full thickness, inspecting the bend radius portion to determine its thickness, and removing material from the bend radius portion and/or from the main body of the suspension load beam to compromise the performance difference due to thickness variation in bend radius portion.

Abstract: A head suspension for supporting a head slider relative to a rotating disk in a rigid disk drive, formed from a flexure and a load beam that has a mounting region, a rigid region and a spring region located between the mounting and rigid regions. The load beam including a shock limiter integrally formed within the spring region as a cantilevered portion surrounded by a spring aperture used for adjusting the spring stiffness of the spring region. The head suspension typically configured to include a bend or radius in the spring region to bias the head suspension toward the disk surface. The cantilevered portion of the shock limiter formed with a pre-determined gap between the shock limiter and the head suspension when the head suspension is in an operating position.

Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus of the present invention comprises a head slider with a magnetic head mounted thereon, a disk on which information is recorded/regenerated by the magnetic head, a spindle motor, integrally structured with the disk, for rotating the disk, a suspension for elastically supporting the magnetic head slider, a carriage arm for supporting the suspension and positioning the magnetic head, and a base plate for attaching the spindle motor and the carriage arm. An out-of-plane primary natural frequency of a base plate part to which the spindle is to be attached is set to be substantially the same as that of a base plate part to which the carriage arm is to be attached. An out-of-plane primary natural frequency of the carriage arm is detached from that of the base plate part to which the carriage arm is to be attached to such an extent that no resonance occurs.

Abstract: A height reduced rotary voice coil actuator assembly includes an E-block defining one or more vertically aligned short tines. Fastened to each short tine are one or two elongated tine extenders. The tine extender-short tine connection occurs outside the region above and below the data storage disks. A peg-leg load beam having tabs adapted to receive wires having no protective plastic tubing is connected to each tine extender. The wires are bonded directly to the tabs and provide electrical communication between data transducer heads located on the load beam and drive electronics. A swage boss formed in the tine extender faces outwardly in the same direction as a data transducer head assembly supported by the peg-leg load beam. Each short tine is substantially coplanar with an associated data storage disk and lies beyond the outer periphery thereof. The resulting in-line rotary actuator achieves substantial vertical or Z height compaction.

Abstract: A head suspension for a rigid disk drive comprising one or more tapered processing holes in the load beam. The tapered processing holes can be located in the rigid region, the flexure or the mounting region. The tapered processing holes have a first diameter at a first surface of the load beam and a second diameter at a second surface of the load beam, wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter. A method of processing a head suspension for a rigid disk drive is also disclosed. A processing tool is operatively engaging with the tapered processing hole to perform one of mechanically or optically locating, measuring. mounting, and/or aligning a suspension arm or components thereof.

Abstract: In magnetic disk structures having a high density, positioning errors (generally referred to as “flutter error”) occur due to a fluctuation of a magnetic disk. As a result, reading precision deteriorates. This is a significant problem in realizing a large capacity for a magnetic disk apparatus. This can be resolved by providing a magnetic apparatus such that a suspension which holds a slider having a magnetic head at one end and which is attached to a supporting arm at the other end is inclined so that an interval between the suspension and the magnetic disk is small on the inner rim side and is large on the outer rim side with this arrangement, the occurrence of the positioning error due to the fluctuation of a deformation of the magnetic disk is reduced, thereby enabling a high density recording of the magnetic disk.

Abstract: A suspension system comprises a first rigid beam section having a first portion for connection to an actuator arm. The first rigid beam section having at least one stamped ridge which extends past the edge of an actuator arm and along the length of the first rigid section. A flexible spring section is connected to the first rigid section and a second rigid section is connected to the spring section, the second rigid section having a transducer assembly receiving portion for receiving a transducer assembly.

Abstract: A suspension for connecting a slider to an actuator arm of a disc drive and for maintaining the slider substantially engaged with a disc surface positioned below the suspension incorporates a load beam defining a first bend region adjacent a proximal end of the load beam and a second bend region adjacent a distal end of the load beam. An overlapping member attached to a top surface of the load beam has a first segment fixed to the load beam on one side of the second bend region and a second segment that engages the load beam on the other side of the second bend region when the distal end of the load beam is placed under a load in the absence of a shock event. The second segment of the overlapping member disengages from the surface of the load beam during a shock event to allow the second bend region to help absorb the shock and maintain the slider engaged with the disc surface.

Abstract: A disc drive suspension incorporates a loadbeam with a shorter bend section having higher torsional stiffness and higher-frequency resonance states than conventional suspension bend sections. The bend section is formed by etching a narrow groove in the loadbeam. The suspension may also include a separate bend section piece that bridges a gap between the loadbeam anchor sheet and the loadbeam. A method of performing a pre-load adjustment on a transducer suspension for use in a disc drive includes attaching a loadbeam anchor sheet of the suspension to an actuator arm of an E-block to form part of an actuator assembly, measuring a pre-load force on the suspension on the actuator arm, back-bending the suspension until the bend section yields and measuring the pre-load force on the suspension on the actuator arm.

Abstract: In a suspension comprising a base portion, beam portion, and a hinge member connecting the base portion and the beam portion to each other, a hole for lowering the stiffness of a region of the beam portion near the hinge member is formed in that region. A cover portion closes the opening of the hole.

Abstract: A suspension for disc drive comprises a base portion, a beam portion formed of the same material as the base portion and made thinner than the base portion by partial etching, and a hinge member connecting the base portion and the beam portion to each other. In manufacturing this suspension, a platelike semi-finished suspension, which integrally includes a base portion, a beam portion, and a connecting portion connecting the base portion and the beam portion to each other, is first manufactured. The thickness of the beam portion of the semi-finished suspension is reduced by partial etching. Thereafter, the base portion and the beam portion are connected by means of the hinge member, and moreover, the connecting portion is separated from the base portion and the beam portion.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a head positioning suspension for a modern disc drive. The suspension has a base, a load beam, and a bend section. The load beam extends in a first plane and has a longitudinal axis extending between its first and second ends. The load beam also has a transverse axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that is also within the first plane. The bend section connects the base to one end of the load beam and includes a longitudinal axis and transverse axis parallel to each of the respective longitudinal and transverse axis of the load beam. The bend section includes a plate with a given width extending substantially within the first plane and a rail that extends across a portion of that width in a direction that is parallel to the transverse axis of the bend section. The bend section rail further extends in a direction out of the first plane.

Abstract: A suspension assembly which can be energized to provide in-situs fly height adjustment for a head of a disc drive or energizable to adjust preload force for CSS. The suspension assembly includes a shape memory flexure element having an energizable length differential. In one aspect, the flexure element is integrated with a flexible suspension circuit which provides advantages for manufacture and assembly. In another aspect, the flexure element is coupled to a bending portion of the head suspension assembly and energized to adjust flexure of the suspension assembly relative to the bending portion.

Abstract: A head support assembly for a disk drive is comprised of a head suspension assembly connected to an actuator arm at one end and supporting a head at the other end, wherein a projection is formed on a flexure closely fixed on a thin-plate load beam, said projection projecting toward a disk surface and having a smooth surface. The projection is formed at a region somewhat close to the head supporting end from the hinge portion of the load beam. When shock is applied to the disk drive, bending occurs around the hinge portion of the load beam. During such bending, the projection having a smooth round surface is caused to contact the disk, whereby the disk surface is prevented from being damaged.

Abstract: A height reduced rotary voice coil actuator assembly includes an E-block defining one or more vertically aligned short tines. Fastened to each short tine are one or two elongated tine extenders. The tine extender-short tine connection occurs outside the region above and below the data storage disks. A peg-leg load beam having tabs adapted to receive wires having no protective plastic tubing is connected to each tine extender. The wires are bonded directly to the tabs and provide electrical communication between data transducer heads located on the load beam and drive electronics. A swage boss formed in the tine extender faces outwardly in the same direction as a data transducer head assembly supported by the peg-leg load beam. Each short tine is substantially coplanar with an associated data storage disk and lies beyond the outer periphery thereof. The resulting in-line rotary actuator achieves substantial vertical or Z height compaction.

Abstract: A suspension for disc drive having a micro actuator mechanism comprises a base plate, a connecting plate having a hinge portion thinner than the base plate, a load beam provided with a flexure, a pair of actuator elements such as PZT, etc. The micro actuator mechanism includes a pivot portion formed between a pair of slits and support walls formed on the connecting plate. The actuator elements are provided individually on the opposite sides of the pivot portion. Each support wall is a bent portion that is formed by raising an edge portion of the connecting plate in the thickness direction of the main portion of the connecting plate.

Abstract: A height reduced rotary voice coil actuator assembly includes an E-block defining one or more vertically aligned short tines. Fastened to each short tine are one or two elongated tine extenders. The tine extender-short tine connection occurs outside the region above and below the data storage disks. A peg-leg load beam having tabs adapted to receive wires having no protective plastic tubing is connected to each tine extender. The wires are bonded directly to the tabs and provide electrical communication between data transducer heads located on the load beam and drive electronics. A swage boss formed in the tine extender faces outwardly in the same direction as a data transducer head assembly supported by the peg-leg load beam. Each short tine is substantially coplanar with an associated data storage disk and lies beyond the outer periphery thereof. The resulting in-line rotary actuator achieves substantial vertical or Z height compaction.

Abstract: A suspension assembly that supports a head adjacent to a rotating storage disk is provided for use within a single or multi-platter disk drive. The suspension assembly includes a generally elongated loadbeam that has an electrically grounded baseplate at a first end thereof and a gimbaled flexure portion for supporting the head over the rotating storage disk at a second end thereof. A power conductor electrically interconnected between a power source and the loadbeam enables the power source to heat a predetermined portion of the loadbeam to adjust the gramload of the suspension assembly for controlling the fly height of the head.

Abstract: A transducer suspension for a drive system has a beam which is bendable in a vertical direction for holding the transducer adjacent to the media, but is torsionally stiff for quicker access times and reduced noise and errors. This inherently contradictory performance occurs by joining a laterally elongated brace which is torsionally stiff about its elongated dimension across a pair of laterally disposed strips to cause the strips to flex in unison, allowing bending but reducing torsional motion in the suspension about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the torsionally stiff axis of the brace. The torsionally stiff brace may take the form of a tube having a rectangular, triangular or circular cross-section, and may be formed of material cut from the suspension to define the hinge strips. The brace may have reduced longitudinal dimensions at the connections to the strips to further filter torsional versus bending vibrations.

Abstract: A suspension for disc drive comprises a base plate, a load beam attached to the base plate, and a flexure attached to the load beam. The load beam includes a rigid body portion, formed of a thick plate independent of the base plate, and a spring portion, formed of a spring member in the form of a thin sheet independent of the rigid body portion. The spring member connects the rigid body portion and the base plate. The spring member is thinner than the rigid body portion and has a lower spring constant. The spring portion is more flexible than the rigid body portion.

Abstract: In order to prevent an occurrence of troubles such as abnormal wear, a self-excited vibration and a forced vibration caused by a friction force in a contact type magnetic head slider, a load beam, which is supported on a proximal end thereof by an actuator, at a distal end of which a magnetic head slider mounting a magnetic head is fixed, and which is for bringing the magnetic head slider into contact with a recording surface of a rotating magnetic disk by a desired load, is curved convexly on the side of the magnetic disk when an assembly is completed. Thus, a center of rotation in a slider pitch direction due to a friction force between the magnetic head slider and the magnetic disk can be positioned below the recording surface of the magnetic disk.