Abstract: A data storage system may utilize a gimbal test system to find open circuits and short circuits in a head gimbal assembly. The gimbal test system can have a gimbal flexure suspended between a load beam and a data storage medium with a flex circuit physically attached to the gimbal flexure to electrically connect a transducing head to a controller. The flex circuit can be tested with a test via that continuously extends through the flex circuit to a probe portion and a test pad located on an air bearing side of the gimbal flexure. The probe portion can be backed by the gimbal flexure along a plane perpendicular to a recording surface of the data storage medium.

Abstract: An approach to a head gimbal assembly (HAG), such as for a hard disk drive, includes a load beam formed with a deck portion and side rail portions extending from each lateral edge of the deck portion, where each side rail portion includes a crash stop structure extending away from and in the thickness direction of the side rail portion. In a configuration in which the side rails extend at an obtuse angle, z-shaped and reverse z-shaped crash stop structures, opposing angled c-shaped notch structures pairs, or opposing half dome shaped dimple pairs, on back-to-back load beams of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head gimbal assembly can elicit mechanical contact between the crash stops in the event of an operational shock event, thereby avoiding mechanical contact between HAMR chip-on-submount assembly (CoSA) laser modules.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a camera includes an optical package, a camera actuator for moving the optical package, a camera cover, and an impact absorption member to prevent contact between the camera cover and the lens carrier. In some embodiments, the camera actuator includes a lens carrier moveably mounted to a camera cover.

Abstract: A data storage device can have a suspension with a loadbeam. The loadbeam can be configured with one or more a stiffening features. The loadbeam and stiffening feature may be constructed as products of a single piece of material. The stiffening feature can be defined by a varying thickness of the loadbeam.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern a head suspension system having a load beam. The lead beam comprises a metal base having a proximal portion and a distal portion. Two opposing rails extend along the proximal and distal portions. The load beam has a void in the metal base separating the proximal portion from the distal portion, the void extending between the rails. A pair of microactuators is coupled to each of the proximal portion and the distal portion such that each microactuator extends across the void. The microactuators bend the rails to move the distal portion along a X-Y plane relative to the proximal portion. Additionally, the rails stiffen the load beam to resist movement between the first portion and the second portion along a Z-axis.

Abstract: A data storage system includes an actuator assembly including a load beam having a base plate end and a slider end. A bias feature is formed in the load beam near the base plate end of the load beam. The bias feature is configured to induce lateral motion on the load beam when the slider end is displaced along a z-axis. An anti-bias feature is positioned between the bias feature and the slider end of the load beam. The anti-bias feature is configured to induce lateral motion on the load beam during resonance of the load beam to oppose the lateral motion induced by the bias feature.

Abstract: A dual stage microactuated (DSA) suspension has two microactuators which are located approximately mid-load beam, and which are close to the stiffening edge rails of the load beam. A vertically extending C-spring is formed in the rails adjacent the microactuators in order to allow the microactuators to expand and contract.

Abstract: The present invention directs an anti-shock method for head stack assembly which carries a slider for flying on a disk for operation, and the anti-shock method includes: inputting a constant current to a head disk interface sensor which is deposited in the slider; obtaining a changing voltage of the head disk interface sensor, which is changed with the temperature of the head disk interface sensor as the slider is shocked; outputting the changing voltage to a controller with a threshold set therein; if the changing voltage is bigger than the threshold for a specified number of times, the controller is triggered to control the head stack assembly to stop operating and load on a ramp beside the disk; while if the changing voltage is small than the threshold for said specified number of times, the controller is not be triggered and the head stack assembly still operates.

Abstract: Each of side edges of a main body portion of a load beam part includes a proximal end region inclined at a first inclination angle so as to come closer to a suspension longitudinal center line as it goes from proximal to distal sides, and a distal end region inclined at a second inclination angle smaller than the first inclination angle so as to come closer to the center line as it goes from a proximal side connected via an inflection point to a distal end of the proximal end region to a distal side.

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

Abstract: Provided that a distance between a distal edge of a supporting part and a dimple is represented by L1, a load beam part is bent around a first bending line within a center region away from the distal edge of the supporting part by more than or equal to 0.4*L1 and less than or equal to 0.6*L1 and also around a second bending line positioned closer to a proximal side in the suspension longitudinal direction than the first bending line. Paired leaf springs are bent around a third bending line. The second bending line is positioned within a proximal region within 0.22*L1 from the distal edge of the supporting part, and no paired flange portions exist at an area at which the second bending line is positioned.

Abstract: Embodiments provide head suspension load beams formed from a sheet of material with one or more stiffening members molded on the sheet. In some cases the sheet material includes an out-of-plane portion extending out at a nonzero angle, and the stiffening member includes a rib formed on the sheet material about the out-of-plane portion of the sheet material. In some cases a void extending through the sheet material connects portions of a stiffening member on opposite surfaces of the sheet material. Ribs of stiffening material may also provide flow pathways for directing moldable material to portions of the sheet, such as for forming a rib about the sheet edge. A method of making a load beam includes placing a sheet material within an injection mold and bending a portion of the sheet material during the molding process.

Abstract: A head suspension 11 includes a load beam 17 having a base plate 13, a hinge part 15 resiliently supported by the base plate, and a rigid part 14 joined with the hinge part, a reinforcing plate 25 joined with the rigid part at a portion proximal to the hinge part, and a bend 17c on the load beam formed by bending the load beam toward the reinforcing plate along an edge 25a of the reinforcing plate. Only by accurately joining the reinforcing plate with the load beam in a sway direction (a widthwise direction of the head suspension), the load beam is easily and properly bent without torsion to form the bend 17c along the edge of the reinforcing plate that defines a bending strength boundary.

Abstract: A load beam part main body portion's side edges include a proximal end region inclined at a first angle and a distal end region inclined at a smaller second angle. Where “L” is a distance in a suspension longitudinal direction between a supporting part's distal end portion and a dimple, a distance “a” in the same direction from the supporting part's distal end portion until an inflection point between the proximal end region and the distal end region satisfies 0.44L?a?0.78L. A support plate's side edges fixed to the load beam part main body portion's lower surface is located, in the suspension width direction, inward from a virtual line connecting the proximal end region's proximal end and the distal end region's distal end and outward from the proximal end region and the distal end region, and extends, in the suspension longitudinal direction, across the inflection point.

Abstract: A load beam having a bent rail, a suspension that includes the load beam, and a related method for manufacturing a load beam. The method includes providing the load beam before the bent rail is formed, and coining the load beam at a location where the bend will occur in the rail.

Abstract: A structure for a load beam used in hard disk drive devices includes an asymmetric structure. The load beam exhibits longitudinal asymmetry (i.e., is asymmetric along its long axis) in regard to the weight distribution, but has a center of mass that lies along its longitudinal axis due to the provisioning of counterbalancing features, such as the addition of material, the removal of material, or a combination of adding material and removing material, or the use of an asymmetrical damping layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a head gimbal assembly for a hard disk drive that includes a head pivotally connected to a flexure. The flexure has a longitudinal axis. The assembly includes first and second micro-actuators that are located between the flexure and the head and spaced from the longitudinal axis. By way of example, the first and second micro-actuators may be thin piezo-electric transducers. Control signals can be provided to the micro-actuators to vary the pitch and/or roll of the head.

Abstract: A suspension for a disk drive includes a gimbal, a load beam and a constraint layer. The gimbal is configured to receive a head. The load beam has a first end and a second end and defines a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. The load beam is coupled to the gimbal proximate the first end and includes a base region proximate the second end, the base region having a first lateral section to one side of the longitudinal axis and a second lateral section to another side of the longitudinal axis. The first and the second lateral sections define a gap therebetween, and the base region has a bridge section extending across the gap between the first lateral section and the second lateral section. The constraint layer overlays at least a portion of the base region.

Abstract: An integrated lead flexure includes traces with windowed or reduced width portions. The flexure includes a metal base layer with a plurality of apertures, an insulating layer on the metal base layer, and one or more conductive traces formed on the insulating layer and extending over the metal base layer and the plurality of apertures. Backed portions of the one or more conductive traces that extend over the metal base layer have a first width, and unbacked portions of the one or more conductive traces that extend over the plurality of apertures have a second width that is less than the first width.

Abstract: A relatively stiff head suspension component. The suspension component is comprised of a sheet material having a major surface with side-edges. Tubular stiffening rails are integrally formed on the side-edges from the sheet material. The tubular rails have a substantially symmetrical cross section and extend around at least about 270 degrees from the major surface.

Abstract: A jointing apparatus includes a first laser head which emits a laser beam for adhesive heating and a second laser head which emits a laser beam for welding. In jointing components of a work with a thermosetting adhesive agent, the defocused laser beam is applied to an adhered part for a short time. Thereupon, the adhesive agent is primarily cured so that the components are tacked together. In spot-welding the components, the laser beam for welding that is converged by the second laser head is applied to a spot-welded joint.

Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a circuit board containing a metal supporting board, an insulating pattern formed on the metal supporting board, and a conductive pattern formed on the insulating pattern; an optical waveguide disposed on the circuit board; and a positioning portion provided on the circuit board in order to position the optical waveguide with respect to the circuit board.

Abstract: A load beam or load beam component having rails for use with a disk drive head suspension. The load beam or component is formed from a sheet of material having a first thickness. One or more polygons, beams or other structures having the full first thickness are formed in the rails by partial etching other portions of the rails to a non-zero second thickness that is less than the first thickness. The multi-thickness structures in the rails enhance the operational performance characteristics of the load beam or load beam component.

Abstract: A head stack assembly (HAS) of a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a swing arm, a connection plate integral with a terminal end of the swing arm, a head slider including a magnetic head for reading/writing data from/onto a disk, and a suspension that is attached to the connection plate, supports the head slider, and has characteristics which minimize the degree to which the magnetic head will run off-track due to vibrations induced in the HDD. The suspension includes two connecting parts having upper surfaces at which the suspension is attached to the connection plate. In the HDD, the upper surface of the connecting part positioned closest to the center of the disk center lies in a plane beneath the plane in which the upper surface of the other connecting part lies.

Abstract: Outer arm constrained layer dampers to improve actuator dynamics are disclosed. One embodiment provides a housing and disk pack mounted to the housing and having a plurality of disks that are rotatable relative to the housing. In addition, an actuator is coupled to the housing, the actuator having a plurality of suspensions arms for reaching over the plurality of disks. A first damper is coupled with an outside (or inside) portion of a top outside suspension arm of the plurality of suspensions arms. In addition, a second damper is coupled with an outside (or inside) portion of a bottom suspension arm of the plurality of suspensions arms. In so doing, vibration modes involving deformation of the top suspension arm and the bottom suspension arm are damped.

Abstract: A correcting method for reducing variations in floating height and gram load of a floating-type magnetic head device is disclosed. The correcting method includes a first correcting step of detecting a roll-angle corresponding amount in the free state of the front end of the front end and bending the load beam in the direction where the roll-angle corresponding amount approaches zero, and a second correcting step of putting the floating-type magnetic head device into a temporarily mounted state with respect to the load beam, detecting a roll-angle corresponding amount at the tongue piece of the flexure in the temporarily mounted state, and bending at least one of the left and right outriggers in the direction where the roll-angle corresponding amount approaches zero.

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.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension has laterally separated mount plate cooperating structure of a pair of spaced, left and right hand continued extents defining engagement structures extending into the vertical plane of the suspension hinge portion, and laterally separated beam portion cooperating structure of left and right hand continuations defining cooperating engagement structures also extending into the vertical plane of the hinge portion and overlapping the mount plate extents to block their relative vertical movement in one direction but not the other so that rotation of the beam portion relative to the mount plate is limited by this selective engagement of the cooperating structures, while the hinge portion is untrammeled by the cooperating structures and the suspension has increased torsional stiffness without an increase in suspension vertical stiffness or has a decrease in suspension vertical stiffness without a decrease in torsional stiffness.

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.

Abstract: A loadbeam is locally stiffened by either, 1. the addition of strategically placed extra material to the loadbeam, 2. not removing material during the etching process to form the loadbeam, or 3. special forming, by crimping or bending, at specific sites on the beam. The use of local stiffening, when placed about the loadbeam dimple or between the dimple and flexure attachment points, with or without additional damping, can significantly improve the dynamical response of the loadbeam and eliminate vibrational modes of a slider mounted on the loadbeam during HDI interactions with disk surface asperities during disk drive operation.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A head suspension for a hard disk drive has an arm to be attached to a carriage of the hard disk drive and turned around a spindle, a load beam including a rigid part and a resilient part, to apply load onto a head that is arranged at a tip end thereof to write and read data to and from a disk arranged in the hard disk drive, a base end of the rigid part supported on the arm side through the resilient part, and a flexure having read/write wiring patterns connected to the head, the flexure supporting the head and attached to a disk side face of the rigid part, the resilient part at least separated from the arm side and fixed to an opposite disk side face on the arm side and the flexure fixed to a disk side face on the arm side.

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.

Abstract: The head suspension includes a base plate turned around a spindle, a load beam, and a flexure. The load beam includes the rigid part, a resilient part, and a head. A base end of the rigid part is attached to the resilient part, which is supported with the base plate. The head is for writing and reading data to and from a disk and is positioned at a front end of the rigid part 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 rigid part by bending the side edge in a thickness direction of the rigid part. The rail is continuous from the front end to the base end of the rigid part. The base end of the rigid part widens to form a wide part. The rail has a longitudinal curve around the start of the wide part. The longitudinal curve is provided with a deformable part that is more easily deformable in the longitudinal and vertical directions of the rail than the remaining parts.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension has a mount plate, an outwardly tapered load beam supported by the mount plate and having a base portion, a hinge portion, a beam portion having a first face with turned edges and a flexure supported by the beam portion distally of said beam portion face, and a generally congruent tapered stiffener having a central portion of a given height that is concave and open to the beam portion. The stiffener has left and right flange portions extending laterally from the central portion to the beam portion upturned edges to locate said central portion centrally on the beam portion face.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and combination for dissipating vibration from a head suspension of a data storage device. The combination includes a rotating disc in a data exchange relationship with a read/write head supported by a head suspension formed by the method. The method includes the steps of; forming a mounting region and a load beam region each adjacent a bend region; removing material from the bend region to form an aperture, a strut, an isolation aperture and a damping material support structure; and affixing a damping material to the strut and the damping material support structure. The apparatus includes the bend region adjacent both the mounting region and the load beam region, with the damping material attached to the strut as well as to the damping material support structure. The load beam region includes a rigid portion, which supports a flexure upon which a read/write head is attached.

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.

Abstract: For controlling 1st and 2nd torsion characteristics in a disk drive suspension, a disk drive suspension is provided having a beam portion with edge rails extending along its edge regions, the edge rails are locally varied substantially identically between lesser and greater heights along their lengths, the beam portion having a central region increasingly extending above or below the plane of excitation in inverse response to the edge rails increasingly or decreasingly extending above the plane of excitation. The inverse relation of the beam portion central region and the rail heights relative to the plane of excitation tends to offset in at least part changes in the balance of the suspension upper and lower inertia components from changes in the geometry of said suspension.

Abstract: Structure for a load beam used in hard disk drive devices includes an asymmetric structure. The load beam exhibits longitudinal asymmetry (i.e., asymmetry along its long axis) in regard to the weight distribution, but has a center of mass that lies along its longitudinal axis due to the provisioning of counterbalancing features, such as the addition of material, the removal of material, or a combination of adding material and removing material.

Abstract: In a disc drive suspension having a load beam and a flexure lapped on the load beam, the load beam and the flexure are fixed to each other by a laser weld. The load beam has an insular region including the laser weld of the load beam and a partially etched portion formed around the insular region. The partially etched portion is thinner than the insular region. The etched portion is formed around the whole circumference of the insular region.

Abstract: A disk drive head suspension of the type having a rigid beam region extending from a spring region and a flexure on the beam region. The beam region is etched from a laminate sheet of material having first and second stainless steel layers separated by a polyimide layer, and includes a base portion formed from the first layer and a stiffener portion formed from the second layer. The base portion is generally triangular in shape, having peripheral edges and a continuously decreasing width with increasing distance from the spring region. The stiffener portion has a tapered shape with generally concave peripheral edges and a continuously decreasing width with increasing distance from the spring region. Angles between the peripheral edges of the base portion and the stiffener portion at the proximal and distal ends of the beam region are between 5° and 30°.

Abstract: A method of fabrication of a magnetic head including a read head sensor includes providing a read sensor stack having a front edge, a rear edge, a right side edge and a left side edge, and at least one pinning layer. The left side edge, right side edge, front edge and rear edge of the sensor stack are milled. The read sensor stack is annealed in a magnetic field to set the final orientation of the pinning layer, and the read sensor stack is encapsulated in overcoat material having a front surface. A projected final ABS boundary is established which lies within the overcoat material. A trim range is established relative to the projected final ABS boundary. The front surface of the overcoat material is lapped until the overcoat front surface is within the trim range. Residual overcoat material is then removed by ion beam etching.

Abstract: A head suspension load beam having a longitudinal axis, first and second edges, and first and second opposite side surfaces. The load beam includes a central rail structure extending along at least a part of the longitudinal axis. The load beam also includes a first elongated partially etched portion in the first side surface of the load beam extending along a substantially entire length of the first edge of the load beam, as well as a second elongated partially etched portion in the first side surface of the load beam extending along a substantially entire length of the second edge of the load beam.

Abstract: An assembly includes a suspension component with a surface extending over a flexible region of the suspension component. The assembly also includes a damping layer disposed in a pattern that extends onto the surface. A sealing layer that is non-friable covers the damping layer. The sealing layer also preferably comprises a shear restraint layer for the damping layer.

Abstract: A head stack assembly (HSA) including a swing arm including a core pivotably coupled to a base of a hard disk drive apparatus (HDD) and at least one arm blade extending horizontally from the core, a suspension extending from a front end of the arm blade, a head slider mounted on a front end of the suspension, a blade extension portion provided at a side of the swing arm in a width direction of the swing arm, the blade extension portion being an extension of the arm blade toward the core to avoid interfering with a disk of the HDD, and a rigidity weakening portion provided at the other side of the swing arm in the width direction, the rigidity weakening portion having a thickness less than that of the arm blade so as to alleviate an inconsistency of the rigidity of the arm blade in a width direction of the arm blade caused by the blade extension portion.

Abstract: A head suspension load beam including a beam region and a headlift formed by etching from a laminated sheet of material having first and second stainless steel layers separated by a polyimide layer. The beam region includes a base portion formed from the first stainless steel layer and a stiffener portion formed from the second stainless steel layer. The headlift extends from the beam region and includes an offset region and a concave tab. The offset region is formed from the first and second stainless steel layers and the polyimide layer. The tab extends from the offset region and is formed from only the second stainless steel layer.

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.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly of a disk device comprises a head having a femto-slider, which is flied by an air current generated between the slider and a surface of the recording medium as the recording medium rotates, and a recording element which is provided on the slider and performs information processing for the recording medium, and a suspension which supports the head with respect to the recording medium and applies a head load bound for the surface of the recording medium to the head. The suspension has a thickness of less than 50 ?m and the head load of 2.0 gf or more.