Abstract: An auxiliary tool for assembling a number of voice coil motors includes a number of trays, a rod member, and two limiting members. Each tray defines a through hole. The rod member passes through the through holes of the trays. The two limiting members are sleeved over the rod member at two ends of the rod member, the trays being between the two limiting members, each two neighboring trays being configured for clamping a respective one of the voice coil motors.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension having a DSA structure on a gimbaled flexure. The suspension comprises a loadbeam and flexure attached thereto. The flexure comprises a pair of spring arms, a tongue located between the spring arms and structurally supported by the pair of spring arms, and a pair of struts. The struts are positioned respectively between the pair of spring arms and the tongue. The longitudinal axes of the struts are offset with respect to each other. The suspension further comprises a slider and a motor mounted on the flexure. The motor has a longitudinal axis that is parallel with the axes of the struts and perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the loadbeam. Electrical activation of the motor bends the pair of struts to move the slider.

Abstract: A disk drive head gimbal assembly (HGA) includes a distal region that includes a load beam dimple having a protruding convex surface. The HGA includes a laminated flexure having a structural layer with a tongue disposed between two outrigger beams. A piezoelectric element is adhered to the tongue. The tongue includes an actuated portion to which a read head may be adhered, and that is rotated about an axis of rotation by expansion of the piezoelectric element. The tongue also includes a non-actuated portion that is not rotated by expansion of the piezoelectric element. The non-actuated portion of the tongue adjoins and forms a bridge between the two outrigger beams. The bridge includes a flexure dimple that protrudes from the tongue and has a concave surface that is in contact with the convex surface of the load beam dimple.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a base plate, after deburring and heat-treating a half-finished base plate, cuts off a scrap section at the ends of the scrap section from a half-finished actuator attaching area so that cutting surfaces left in a finished actuator attaching area are positioned onto the inner perimeter of the finished actuator attaching area and are oriented to at least partly face an actuator attaching position inside the finished actuator attaching area.

Abstract: A disk drive head gimbal assembly includes a laminated flexure with a tongue having an actuated portion that rotates about an axis of rotation by expansion of a first adhered piezoelectric element relative to a second adhered piezoelectric element. A non-actuated portion of the tongue adjoins and forms a bridge between two outrigger beams, with a dimple contact location that is in contact with a dimple of the load beam and through which the axis of rotation passes. A read head is adhered, closer to its leading end than to its trailing end, to the actuated portion of the tongue. Each of the first and second piezoelectric elements has an anchored end that is adhered to the bridge, closer to the trailing end of the read head, and an opposing actuated end adhered to the actuated portion of the tongue, closer to the leading end of the read head.

Abstract: A slider and microactuator elements are disposed on a gimbal portion of a flexure. A first end portion of each of the elements is secured to a first supporting portion. A second end portion is secured to a second supporting portion. A ground-side conductor is provided on the second supporting portion. A limiter member consists mainly of a resin shared with an insulating layer of a conductive circuit portion. The limiter member comprises a grounding junction, a first bridge portion, and a second bridge portion. The grounding junction is secured to the second supporting portion. The first bridge portion extends in a first direction from the grounding junction. The second bridge portion extends in a second direction from the grounding junction.

Abstract: Stable, low resistance conductive adhesive ground connections between motor contacts and a gold-plated contact area on a stainless steel component of a dual stage actuated suspension. The stainless steel component can be a baseplate, load beam, hinge, motor plate, add-on feature or flexure.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure. The flexure comprises a gimbal which includes a pair of spring arms, a pair of struts, and a tongue between the spring arms. A motor is mounted on the gimbal. The motor comprises a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side. The bottom side of the motor faces the flexure. A stiffener is mounted on the top side of the motor. At least one layer of adhesive is located between the stiffener and the motor and bonded to the stiffener and the motor. The gimbaled flexure includes a slider mounting for attaching a slider, such as to the tongue. The motor bends the struts to move the slider mounting about a tracking axis while the stiffener limits the degree of bending of the motor.

Abstract: A slider and a pair of microactuator elements are disposed on a gimbal portion of a flexure. The gimbal portion comprises a first tongue portion, a second tongue portion, and a hinge portion. A trailing-side portion of the slider is secured to the second tongue portion. A leading-side portion of the slider is movable relative to the first tongue portion. A conductive circuit portion comprises a conductor connected to an element of the slider and a conductor connected to electrodes of microactuator elements. The conductive circuit portion comprises a first wiring pattern portion disposed inside microactuator elements and a second wiring pattern portion extending rearwardly relative to the gimbal portion.

Abstract: A head suspension 31 has a piezoelectric element 13 that deforms in response to a voltage applied thereto, a base plate 33 having an attaching part to which the piezoelectric element 13 is attached, and a load beam 35 having a flexure 39. A front end of the load beam 35 moves in a sway direction according to the deformation of the piezoelectric element 13. The head suspension 31 includes adhesives that attach the piezoelectric element 13 to the attaching part. The adhesives are applied to and hardened at the attaching part one by one. At least one of the adhesives that is first applied to and hardened at the attaching part is electrically insulative. The head suspension 31 properly maintains electric insulation between the piezoelectric element 13 and the attaching part, sufficiently demonstrates original functions, and secures a rigidity balance and proper vibration characteristic.

Abstract: A slider and a microactuator element are disposed on a gimbal portion of a flexure. The gimbal portion comprises a metal base, an electrically insulating resin layer, a conductor disposed on the resin layer, an electrically insulating adhesive block, and an electrically conductive paste. The adhesive block secures an end portion of the microactuator element to the metal base. The conductive paste is provided between the conductor and an electrode of the microactuator element. A first adhesive interface extending along the thickness of the resin layer, a second adhesive interface extending along a surface of the resin layer, and a corner portion are formed between the metal base and the conductive paste.

Abstract: A microactuator element is disposed on a gimbal portion of a flexure. A first end of the element is secured to a first supporting portion by a first insulating adhesive. A second end is secured to a second supporting portion by a second insulating adhesive. A first conductor is disposed on the first supporting portion. A second conductor on the ground side is disposed on the second supporting portion. A first electrode is disposed on a first end of the element. A first electrically conductive paste is provided between the first electrode and the first conductor. A second electrode is disposed on a second end of the element. A second electrically conductive paste is provided between the second electrode and the second conductor.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a first piezoelectric (PZT) element poled in the same direction as a second PZT element. The first and second PZT elements are configured to be driven while simultaneously sensing motion. The apparatus further includes a circuit configured to add outputs of the first and second PZT elements, extract the sensed motion, and detect off-track motion from the extracted sensed motion.

Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting layer, an insulating base layer formed on the metal supporting layer, a conductive layer formed on the insulating base layer, and a slider supported on the metal supporting layer via a pedestal. The conductive layer includes a conductive overlapping portion which overlaps a plane on which the slider is projected when projected in a thickness direction. The conductive overlapping portion is provided to be spaced apart from the slider.

Abstract: A gimbal portion of a flexure is provided with first supporting portions to which first end portions of microactuator elements are secured and second supporting portions to which second end portions are secured. A first tongue portion is formed between the pair of first supporting portions. A leading-side portion of a slider is movably disposed on the first tongue portion. A second tongue portion is formed between the pair of second supporting portions. A trailing-side portion of the slider is secured to the second tongue portion. A narrow hinge portion is formed between the first and second tongue portions. The tongue portions are pivotably connected by the hinge portion. The distal end of a dimple contacts the hinge portion at a point of contact.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head suspension assembly includes a base plate, a load beam including a proximal end secured onto the base plate, a head supported on the load beam via a gimbal, a flexure attached on the load beam and the base plate, and first and second piezoelectric elements in first and second openings of the base plate. The proximal end of the load beam includes first and second extended connections bifurcated from the proximal end and connected to the base plate, first and second island connections, and an opening region exposing the base plate. The flexure extends between the first and second extended connections and between the first and second island connections, and is directly provided on the base plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a suspension assembly for a disk drive that includes: a mounting plate having a through-hole; a microactuator mounted on the mounting plate; a flexure attached to the mounting plate, the flexure including a trace layer that includes a ground trace; and a conductive epoxy bonded to the microactuator extending through the through-hole to bond to the flexure, wherein the epoxy extends to the ground trace of the flexure such that the microactuator is grounded to the flexure.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern a dual stage actuation flexure. The dual stage actuation flexure comprises a flexure having a gimbal. The gimbal comprising a pair of spring arms, a tongue between the spring arms, and a pair of linkages respectively connecting the pair of spring arms to the tongue. The dual stage actuation flexure further comprises a pair of motors mounted on the gimbal and a pair of stiffeners respectively mounted on the motors. The dual stage actuation flexure further comprises a slider mounting. Electrical activation of the motors bends the pair of linkages to move the slider mounting about a tracking axis while the stiffeners limit the degree of bending of the motors during the electrical activation.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern a suspension having a DSA structure on a gimbaled flexure comprising a loadbeam having a load point dimple and a flexure attached to the loadbeam. The flexure comprising a metal layer having a pair of spring arms, a tongue located between the spring arms, and a pair of struts. The struts connect the pair of spring arms to the tongue. One of the struts is located distal of the other strut. The pair of struts has a midline centered between the pair of struts. The suspension further comprises a motor mounted on the flexure. Electrical activation of the motor bends the pair of struts to rotate the tongue about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is aligned with the dimple. The midline is offset distally or proximally with respect to the axis of rotation. The offset counters a mass in imbalance of the tongue.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for mitigating impedance changes in a microactuator conductive joint. In accordance with some embodiments, a microactuating element has a conductive input junction, the junction having dissimilar metals in contact with one another. The microactuating element is adapted to mechanically deform to displace a control object responsive to a micractuation control signal that is applied to the junction. A control circuit applies a bi-directional transition signal to the conductive input junction to reduce an increased impedance of the junction.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern a gimbaled flexure having a dual stage actuation structure. The flexure comprises a gimbal which includes a pair of spring arms, a pair of struts, and a tongue between the spring arms. A motor is mounted on the gimbal. The motor comprises a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side. The bottom side of the motor faces the flexure. A stiffener is mounted on the top side of the motor. At least one layer of adhesive is located between the stiffener and the motor and bonded to the stiffener and the motor. The gimbaled flexure includes a slider mounting for attaching a slider, such as to the tongue. The motor bends the struts to move the slider mounting about a tracking axis while the stiffener limits the degree of bending of the motor.

Abstract: An HSA transport comb includes an alignment pin extending from the comb body into a tooling hole of the actuator arm, and a separator finger in contact with a suspension assembly of an HGA with the transport comb in a second angular orientation with respect to the actuator arm, but not in a first angular orientation. The transport comb includes a restraining tower extending into a mass-reduction opening of the actuator arm. The restraining tower includes a first lobe that fits within the mass-reduction opening with the transport comb in the first angular orientation, but not with the transport comb in the second angular orientation. The restraining tower also includes a first neck that fits within the mass-reduction opening with the transport comb in either angular orientation, and has a neck height that is greater than the actuator arm thickness.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly located in a memory device. The assembly includes: a suspension including a flexure to which a slider is coupled and a load beam disposed at an upper part of the flexure. The assembly also includes at least one piezoelectric film coupled to the suspension and configured to control at least one of an angle between the load beam and the flexure in a pitching direction and an angle between the load beam and the flexure in a rolling direction by being extended or contracted when electrical current is applied thereto.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern a DSA suspension of a disk drive. The DSA suspension comprises a support configured to attach to the disk drive, the support comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a linkage portion therebetween. The DSA head suspension system further comprises at least one motor mounted on the support, each motor positioned between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The DSA suspension further comprises a damper attached to some or all of the proximal portion, the motor(s), the distal portion, and the linkage portion. The damper can be a single layer or multilayered. The damper can comprise viscoelastic material. The damper can be adhesive. The damper may only be attached to the support and the motors and not to other components of the DSA suspension.

Abstract: Disclosed is a suspension assembly for a disk drive that includes: a mounting plate having a through-hole; a microactuator mounted on the mounting plate; a flexure attached to the mounting plate, the flexure including a trace layer that includes a ground trace; and a conductive epoxy bonded to the microactuator extending through the through-hole to bond to the flexure, wherein the epoxy extends to the ground trace of the flexure such that the microactuator is grounded to the flexure.

Abstract: A microactuator, for example for a disc drive, comprising a substrate, a sandwich structure on the substrate, and a passivation layer over the substrate and the sandwich structure. The sandwich structure has a bottom electrode formed from noble metal, a piezoelectric layer, and a top electrode formed from noble metal. The microactuator further has one or both of a bottom adhesion layer present between the bottom electrode and the passivation layer, and a top adhesion layer present between the top electrode and the passivation layer. That is, the microactuator may have only the bottom adhesion layer, only the top adhesion layer, or both the bottom adhesion layer and the top adhesion layer.

Abstract: A head suspension includes a base to be attached to a carriage, a load beam having a rigid part and a resilient part that connects the rigid part to the base, the load beam applying load onto a read/write head, a flexure attached to the load beam and supporting the head, an actuator attaching part located between the base and the head, and a piezoelectric element being deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto to move the head in a sway direction relative to the base. For the head suspension, it bonds the piezoelectric element with a bonding tape to the actuator attaching part and applies an adhesive to fix the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect from a suspension electrical circuit to a PZT microactuator motor includes copper plated onto a first side of a stainless steel support layer and gold plated onto a second and opposite side of the stainless steel support layer, with the gold plated stainless steel surface bonded to the PZT motor surface by conductive epoxy. The stainless steel may have a via etched into it to the copper surface before the gold plating step which then plates both the stainless steel and the copper with gold, so that the conductive epoxy is in physical and electrical contact with both the gold plated stainless steel and thus in electrical contact with the copper, and also in direct physical and electrical contact with the gold plated copper.

Abstract: A piezoelectric (PZT) microactuator directly attached to a head slider, for mounting on a suspension for use as a third stage actuator in a hard disk drive, is fabricated from and comprises a single sheet of a piezoelectric material with the top and bottom covered with an electrically conductive material to form the electrodes. The piezoelectric material is differential-poled so that one lateral portion is poled in one direction and another lateral portion is poled in the opposite direction. When a drive voltage is applied between the top and bottom electrodes, one portion of the piezoelectric material expands while the other portion contracts, thereby providing a rotational movement. The direction of motion of each respective portion is determined by the direction of the applied voltage and the respective direction of poling.

Abstract: A disk drive head gimbal assembly includes a laminated flexure with a tongue having an actuated portion that rotates about an axis of rotation by expansion of an adhered piezoelectric element. A non-actuated portion of the tongue adjoins and forms a bridge between two outrigger beams, with a dimple contact location that is in contact with a dimple of the load beam and through which the axis of rotation passes. The piezoelectric element has an anchored end that is adhered to the non-actuated portion of the tongue, and an opposing actuated end adhered to the actuated portion. The actuated portion of the tongue includes first and second head mounting plates that are each adhered to the read head. Each of the head mounting plates is connected to the non-actuated portion of the tongue by an elongated compliant member that is oriented radially with respect to the dimple contact location.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a mounting plate that may include an annular swage boss. A load beam is attached to and extends from the mounting plate in a longitudinal direction. A first piezoelectric element is disposed within a first piezoelectric element receiving window in the mounting plate. The load beam includes a first etched region that is elongated in a transverse direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction. The first etched region neighbors the first piezoelectric element and is disposed closer to the annular swage boss than is the first piezoelectric element.

Abstract: Approaches to a mass balanced flexure gimbal assembly for controlling the sway mode of the loadbeam portion of the suspension of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) of a hard-disk drive (HDD). The sway mode of concern is that which is excited when a head slider is actuated by a plurality of piezo actuation devices of a secondary actuation system. A suspension includes a mass attached to the suspension flexure and configured for balancing a moment force about the gimbal, about which a slider rotates when microactuated. The mass is located on the side of the slider opposing the side on which the piezo actuation devices are mounted, to counteract the mass of the piezo devices.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a load beam, and first and second piezoelectric elements that are disposed within first and second piezoelectric element receiving windows in a mounting plate, respectively. The load beam includes a plurality of rails that includes first and second outer rails and first and second inner rails, each of the plurality of rails being oriented in the longitudinal direction and being formed or bent out of the load beam plane. The first and second inner rails are disposed between the first and second piezoelectric elements, and the first and second outer rails are disposed not between the first and second piezoelectric elements. The first piezoelectric element is disposed between the first outer rail and the first inner rail, and the second piezoelectric element is disposed between the second inner rail and the second outer rail.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning a control object, such as a microactuator used to position a read/write transducer adjacent a data storage medium. In accordance with some embodiments, a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) element is adapted to induce rotational displacement of the control object in a bending mode of operation. The PZT element has a plurality of piezoelectric material layers and a plurality of electrically conductive layers interposed between the piezoelectric material layers. The piezoelectric material layers include a first subset of active layers and at least one non-active layer.

Abstract: A PZT microactuator for a disk drive suspension has a first electrode on a majority of its top surface, a second electrode on a majority of its bottom surface, the first electrode extending to a small portion of the bottom surface through a via filled with a conductive material such as conductive epoxy. The microactuator may be cut near the via during manufacturing in order to separate it from the bulk PZT material. Alternatively, the microactuator may be cut through the via in which case the via becomes a conductive column at the side edge of the microactuator. The conductive column may be coated with an encapsulant in order to prevent particle shed from the cut material.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a piezoelectric actuator is provided. The piezoelectric actuator includes a shear mode piezoelectric material including a first arm and a second arm intersecting each other, the shear mode piezoelectric material having a polarization direction oriented at least substantially along a length of the first arm, wherein the shear mode piezoelectric material has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface and the second surface being adapted to undergo a shear displacement relative to each other along an axis at least substantially parallel to the polarization direction in response to an electric field applied between the first surface and the second surface in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the polarization direction.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microactuator. The method includes providing a sheet of a piezoelectric material having an electrically conductive layer on at least one side of the sheet. The method includes cutting the sheet to form a plurality of piezoelectric elements. Each of the piezoelectric elements includes a first element side with an electrically conductive layer. Each first element side includes a peripheral portion and an exposed portion interior to the peripheral portion. The method includes forming an encapsulation layer over the peripheral portion and not over the exposed portion of at least one of the sides. The encapsulation layer comprises a material of lesser electrical conductivity than the electrically conductive layer. An apparatus for manufacturing the microactuators may also be provided that includes a first fixture and first and second alignment combs.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a load beam, a base plate fixed to a proximal-end portion of the load beam, a flexure attached to the load beam and the base plate, a gimbal portion formed of a distal-end portion of the flexure positioned on a distal-end portion of the load beam, a magnetic head attached to the gimbal portion, and electrically connected to the traces of the flexure, a concave portion formed in the gimbal portion, and concaved toward the thin metallic plate side, and a piezoelectric element arranged in the concave portion, fixed on a bottom of the concave portion, and configured to expand/contract in a longitudinal direction of the flexure by application of a voltage thereto.

Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting layer, an insulating base layer formed on the metal supporting layer, a conductive layer formed on the insulating base layer, and a slider supported on the metal supporting layer via a pedestal. The conductive layer includes a conductive overlapping portion which overlaps a plane on which the slider is projected when projected in a thickness direction. The conductive overlapping portion is provided to be spaced apart from the slider.

Abstract: An improved dual stage actuated disk drive head suspension in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a mounting/base plate having first and second portions connected by a linkage, one or more PZT motors and a flexure having one or more pairs of differential drive signal traces. Each PZT motor has a pair of electrodes. Non-conductive adhesive secures each PZT motor to the first and second portions of the mounting/base plate with the electrodes of each motor being electrically isolated from the mounting/base plate. Each pair of drive signal traces is electrically connected to one of the pair of PZT motor electrodes to couple differential electrical drive signals to the PZT motor. Each PZT motor drives the first and second portions of the mounting/base plate with respect to one another in response to the drive signals.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning a control object, such as a microactuator used to position a read/write transducer adjacent a data storage medium. In accordance with some embodiments, a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) element is adapted to induce rotational displacement of the control object in a bending mode of operation. The PZT element has a plurality of piezoelectric material layers and a plurality of electrically conductive layers interposed between the piezoelectric material layers. The piezoelectric material layers include a first subset of active layers and at least one non-active layer.

Abstract: A head suspension 31 has a piezoelectric element 13 that deforms in response to a voltage applied thereto, a base plate 33 having an attaching part to which the piezoelectric element 13 is attached, and a load beam 35 having a flexure 39. A front end of the load beam 35 moves in a sway direction according to the deformation of the piezoelectric element 13. The head suspension 31 includes adhesives that attach the piezoelectric element 13 to the attaching part. The adhesives are applied to and hardened at the attaching part one by one. At least one of the adhesives that is first applied to and hardened at the attaching part is electrically insulative. The head suspension 31 properly maintains electric insulation between the piezoelectric element 13 and the attaching part, sufficiently demonstrates original functions, and secures a rigidity balance and proper vibration characteristic.

Abstract: A dual stage actuator (DSA) suspension has a single microactuator such as a PZT element on one side of central longitudinal axis of the suspension, and a pseudo symmetry structure formed or affixed on the other side of the central longitudinal axis opposite the PZT. The pseudo symmetry structure has mass and stiffness that mirrors the PZT, thus keeping the suspension mechanically balanced and symmetric about the longitudinal axis for improved suspension performance especially in a shock environment. The pseudo symmetry structure can include a spring to keep the PZT under compression to prevent PZT failure, and/or a strain gauge for use by the head positioning servo-control system.

Abstract: A suspension substrate according the present invention includes: an insulating layer; a metallic support layer provided on the actuator element's side of the insulating layer. A wiring layer is provided on the other side of the insulating layer. This wiring layer includes a plurality of wirings and a wiring connection section that can be electrically connected with the actuator element via a conductive adhesive. A conductive connection section extending through the insulating layer and configured to connecting the metallic support layer with the wiring connection section of the wiring layer is provided in the connection structure region.

Abstract: In a hard disk drive, for the purpose of solving a problem that a mass of the tip of a VCM actuator increases, a primary resonance frequency lowers and a control band lowers in a case where a balance driving mechanism which damps a vibration during the driving of a microactuator is mounted, a damping unit using a displacement enlargement mechanism by resonance is disposed to obtain a sufficient damping effect with a small mass, thereby setting a resonance frequency of the damping unit to be higher than a frequency of a resonance peak of a damping object. The hard disk drive includes a micromotion actuator for micromotion displacement which drives a head-gimbal assembly, and a micromotion actuator for damping which drives the damping unit so that the micromotion displacement direction of a magnetic head and the displacement direction of a mount portion have opposite phases.

Abstract: A head suspension 31 has a piezoelectric element 13 that deforms in response to a voltage applied thereto, a base plate 33 having an attaching part to which the piezoelectric element 13 is attached, and a load beam 35 having a flexure 39. A front end of the load beam 35 moves in a sway direction according to the deformation of the piezoelectric element 13. The head suspension 31 includes adhesives that attach the piezoelectric element 13 to the attaching part. The adhesives are applied to and hardened at the attaching part one by one. At least one of the adhesives that is first applied to and hardened at the attaching part is electrically insulative. The head suspension 31 properly maintains electric insulation between the piezoelectric element 13 and the attaching part, sufficiently demonstrates original functions, and secures a rigidity balance and proper vibration characteristic.

Abstract: A flexure 11 has a substrate 13 made of a thin conductive metal plate, a base insulating layer 31 made of flexible resin formed on the substrate, wiring patterns 15 formed on the base insulating layer and connected to a slider mount 17, and a cover insulating layer 33 formed over the wiring patterns. The flexure 11 is substantially coated with a conductive polymer layer 39 having a thickness in the range of 18 to 130 nm. The flexure 11 prevents electrostatic accumulation and ion migration that are trade-offs.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly having a stage fixed to a head-slider. A piezoelectric element which comprises; an upper surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a lower surface, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a gap between the first and second electrodes on the lower surface, the piezoelectric element moving the stage by extension or contraction thereof according to a voltage applied to the first and second electrodes. A transmission wiring part which has a connection pad for the piezoelectric element. A cross-connector for physically and electrically cross-connecting the first electrode and the connection pad. An adhesive fixing part which is formed from an insulating adhesive and adhesively fixes the lower surface of the piezoelectric element to the transmission wiring part, between an end of the second electrode at the gap and the cross-connector.

Abstract: An electrical connection structure for a piezoelectric element and a head suspension with the piezoelectric element employing the electrical connection structure are provided. The electrical connection structure fixes and connects a terminal of a wiring member to an electrode of the piezoelectric element, which is arranged to face the terminal, with a conductive adhesive so that no peeling due to thermal expansion occurs between the terminal and the conductive adhesive. The electrical connection structure includes a through hole formed through the terminal and a connection part formed around the through hole on an opposite side of a piezoelectric element on the terminal. The conductive adhesive is applied and solidified so that the conductive adhesive extends between a surface of the connection part and a surface of the electrode of the piezoelectric element through the through hole.

Abstract: In a disk drive suspension circuit, an electrical contact from a flexible circuit to a face of a PZT microactuator is provided by a mechanical bias to press a contact pad of the flexible circuit against the PZT surface. The mechanical bias is provided by a piece of stainless steel that is welded to a nearby point or points on the suspension, and which biases the electrical contact pad carrying the PZT driving voltage against the PZT. The piece of stainless steel may be in the form of a flat piece welded on one or more sides of the contact pad, and may include a dimple for pressing against the contact pad. Additional insulation material may be provided between the dimple and the contact pad to prevent the dimple from penetrating through the flexible circuit's cover layer and shorting the driving voltage.