Abstract: When wire-bonding process is effected, a head assembly is held between a pair of clamp members. A head slider is urged against a microactuator. The urging force is transmitted to the microactuator through second adhesive layers. Since the second adhesive layers are positioned symmetrically around the rotational axis of the head slider, the urging force tends to act along the rotational axis. The microactuator is simultaneously urged against the support member. The urging force is transmitted from a first adhesive layer to the support member. Since the first adhesive layer extends around the rotational axis, the urging force tends to act along the rotational axis. The head slider is thus allowed to keep a uniform attitude. The microactuator is also allowed to keep a uniform attitude. The microactuator is prevented from suffering from substantial bending stresses.

Abstract: A HGA includes a slider, a micro-actuator horizontally rotating the slider with a central portion of the slider as a rotation center, and a suspension to load the slider and the micro-actuator; wherein the micro-actuator comprises a support frame having a base, a moving plate, and a leading beam to connect the base and the moving plate; and at least one piezoelectric pieces to be connected with the base and the moving plate; wherein the leading beam has a pivot part to assist the horizontal swing of the slider. The pivot part has a narrower width than that of the leading beam. The suspension also includes a support means to support the base of the support frame on a suspension tongue portion. The invention also discloses a disk drive unit having the HGA.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension has a base portion, a spring portion, and a beam portion carrying a slider at a disk. The base portion is a laminate of two inextensible outer layers and an inner layer that is extensible in shear. Microactuators that expand or contract are attached by their opposite ends in angled or parallel relation to the respective outer layers to shift the outer layers relative to each other as a function of shearing in the inner layer to shift the slider at the disk.

Abstract: A suspension assembly includes a load beam, a mount plate, first and second piezoelectric microactuators, and a flex circuit segment. The first piezoelectric microactuator is electrically non-conductively attached to the load beam and the mount plate. The first piezoelectric microactuator includes a first piezoelectric element, a first top electrode, and a first bottom electrode. The second piezoelectric microactuator is electrically non-conductively attached to the load beam and the mount plate. The second piezoelectric microactuator includes a second piezoelectric element, a second top electrode, and a second bottom electrode. The flex circuit segment is disposed folded about the first and second piezoelectric microactuators. The flex circuit segment is in electrical communication with the first top electrode, the first bottom electrode, the second top electrode, and the second bottom electrode.

Abstract: A dual-stage actuator disk drive has both a rotary primary actuator and a rotary secondary actuator. When the primary actuator initiates a seek there are two torque components acting on the center of mass of the secondary actuator's moving portion. The center of rotation of the moving portion is located at an optimal location relative to the center of mass of the moving portion, which results in cancellation of the two torque components and a secondary actuator that has essentially no resonant frequency in response to a seek by the primary actuator. If the optimal location can not be achieved because of assembly tolerances, then the center of rotation is placed at a distance at least as great as the assembly tolerance from the optimal location.

Abstract: A magnetic head actuator includes a head-holding substrate having a pair of movable arms for clamping a magnetic head, and piezoelectric elements fixed along the pair of movable arms to move the pair of movable arms in response to an applied voltage. The head-holding substrate comprises a fired glass-ceramic compact containing at least one of SiO2, B2O3, and Al2O3. The piezoelectric elements are formed on the head-holding substrate with a piezoelectric material by printing and low-temperature firing.

Abstract: A head slider with a precise positioning actuator includes a thin plane shaped head section provided with a first surface that is substantially perpendicular to an ABS of the head slider, a second surface opposite to the first surface and at least one head element formed on the first surface, and an actuator section located at a side of the second surface of the head section and integrally fixed to the head section, for precisely positioning the at least one head element.

Abstract: Devices for reading or writing electromagnetic information include a wafer substrate piece disposed between an electromagnetic transducer and an electrostrictive or piezoelectric actuator. The substrate piece is shaped as a rigid body adjoining the transducer and as a flexible element connecting the body and the actuator. To fabricate, at least one electrostrictive layer and many transducers are formed on opposite sides of a wafer that is then cut into rows containing plural transducers. The rows are processed from directions generally normal to the wafer surface upon which the transducers were formed, by removing material to form a head, flexures and a media-facing surface on the head. Conductive leads are formed on a back surface of flexures connecting the transducer with drive electronics. The flexures are aligned with forces arising from interaction with the media surface and from seeking various tracks, reducing torque and dynamic instabilities and increasing actuator access time.

Abstract: A moving mechanism using a piezoelectric actuator is attached by an adhesive with adhesive parts of a constant area between a piezoelectric element and a slider and between the piezoelectric element and a suspension. A movable part, serving as the slider, is moved by the piezoelectric actuator. A support part, serving as a gimbal part of a suspension, supports the piezoelectric actuator. At least one of the movable part and the support part is fixed to the piezoelectric element. At least one of the piezoelectric element, the movable part and the support part has a bonding surface that is defined by a level difference.

Abstract: Provided is a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) actuator in which a cantilever piezoelectric actuator and a comb actuator are combined to perform dual shaft drive. The MEMS includes: a stationary comb fixed on a substrate; a movable comb disposed separately from the substrate; and a spring connected to the movable comb and the substrate to resiliently support the movable comb, wherein the movable comb includes a piezoelectric material layer in a laminated manner to be perpendicularly moved by a piezoelectric phenomenon and laterally moved by an electrostatic force to the stationary comb, whereby the MEMS actuator can be used in a driving apparatus of an ultra-slim optical disk drive since the movable comb is made of a piezoelectric material to simultaneously perform focusing actuation to a Z-axis as well as planar actuation.

Abstract: A micro actuator having separated stages and a data storage apparatus employing the same are provided. The micro actuator includes: a supporting unit; stages that are elastically supported by the supporting unit, each stage having a mounting surface where a target driven body is mounted thereon, and arranged adjacent to each other; levers which are disposed between the stages, each lever having two ends respectively connected to adjacent stages, and which apply force to the adjacent stages so that when one of the stages is moved, an adjacent stage is moved in an opposite direction to a moving direction of the moved stage; and driving units which respectively provide a driving force to the stages.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an actuator includes applying at least one layer of electrically-conductive material and at least one layer of electrically-insulative material to an actuator block, and separating the actuator block into a plurality of actuators, each actuator having at least one actuator finger. The electrically-conductive material and the electrically-insulative material are applied one layer upon another in an alternating manner to the actuator block in at least one actuator finger location. The layer of insulative material is larger in area than the layer of conductive material such that an insulative layer, applied to the actuator block and sandwiching a conductive layer between the insulative layer and the actuator block, at least partially encloses and electrically isolates the electrically-conductive layer by covering the conductive material on at least three sides.

Abstract: A magnetic head positioning mechanism is provided which is excellent in shock-resistance and can achieve high positioning accuracy. By constructing the magnetic head positioning mechanism so that a fine actuator section is composed of an actuator spring made from a thin steel plate, a base plate made from a thick steel plate to be Functioned to the actuator spring, stiffness of the fine actuator section in a vertical direction can be improved with flexibility of a driving spring section mounted on the actuator spring being still kept, that is, with sufficient positioning accuracy and satisfactory stroke being maintained. Moreover, by designing a strength of the fine actuator section so that the actuator spring and a holder arm do not overlap when the base plate is connected to the holder arm, the fine actuator section can be made thin and implementing of the fine actuator section among narrow plates in a positioning device is made easy.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for hard drive damage prevention by improving the shock resistance of a hard disk micro-actuator. The interior angles of the micro-actuator are rounded and structurally supported by a reinforcing material.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly comprising a slider having a read\write sensor; a suspension to load the slider; a micro-actuator; wherein the micro-actuator comprises a piezoelectric unit with two piezoelectric elements and a support base having a base to be coupled with the suspension physically, a moving plate to be coupled with the two piezoelectric elements, and a leading beam to connect with the base and the moving plate. Also disclosed is a micro-actuator comprising inter alia a piezoelectric unit with two piezoelectric elements. A method of forming a micro-actuator is also disclosed, which method comprising forming a piezoelectric unit having two piezoelectric elements; forming a support base having a base, a moving plate, and a leading beam to connect with the base and the moving plate; and bonding the piezoelectric unit to one side of the support base. Also disclosed is a method of forming a slider, a suspension and a micro-actuator.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for selectively applying a voltage to one major surface of a pair of piezoelectric motors (PZTs) on a disk drive head suspension with a primary plane of a load beam of the head suspension parallel to the major surfaces of the PZT elements electrically insulated from the load beam. Electrical connections to the PZTs are made via wires, solder, conductive epoxy or electro-mechanical attachment of a plated surface of the PZT with a bond pad on an electrically isolated substrate. Lead extensions or separate pieces may be used to connect to the PZTs. The PZTs may be located on a major surface of the load beam, or may be assembled in a pre-fabricated motor assembly before being installed in the head suspension. Apertures in the load beam and other layers permit physical installation of the PZT motors and enable electrical connection to the PZTs.

Abstract: Read-write head flying height controlled through micro-actuator assembly. Flying height controlled using DC line and ground line. Lateral position controlled using them and AC line. Micro-actuator assembly operates through three terminals coupled with these lines. Head gimbal assembly contains micro-actuator assembly mechanically coupling to slider with read-write head. Actuator arm includes at least one head gimbal assembly. Actuator arm assembly includes at least one actuator arm. Voice coil actuator includes actuator assembly. Hard disk drive containing voice coil actuator. Electrical interface circuit includes ground port, DC port, and AC port, for micro-actuator assembly. Servo controller drives micro-actuator assembly to control flying height and lateral position, preferably including electrical interface circuit. Manufacturing head gimbal assembly, actuator arm, actuator assembly, voice coil actuator, and hard disk drive, and products of these manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting an actuator to a suspension element is disclosed. The actuator is electrically coupled using a silver paste. The silver paste is further covered by a coating application to provide structural support. A step, attached to either the actuator base or the suspension tongue, provides further structural support and maintains a gap between the actuator and the suspension element.

Abstract: A head suspension or head suspension component for supporting a head slider over a rigid disk in a dynamic storage device and a method of manufacturing. The head suspension includes a head suspension component and a compliant locating feature formed within the head suspension component. The compliant locating feature includes a plurality of spring beam tabs defined by an aperture and positioned to extend toward an opening. The compliant feature is preferably configured to receive a tapered cylindrical pin through the opening for precisely locating the head suspension component relative to a desired reference while the spring beam tabs are engaged by the tapered pin. The head suspension component may include two or more compliant locating features, and the head suspension may include two or more components that each include one or more compliant locating features.

Abstract: A head slider provided with at least one head element, to be fixed to an actuator for precisely positioning the at least one head element, including adhering sections to be adhered to the actuator, and recesses for receiving an adhesive. At least one of the recesses is positioned at each of the adhering sections.

Abstract: A magnetic head actuator provided with a finely movable tracking device having a piezoelectric element is provided for easy wiring to the piezoelectric element and reducing problems such as wire breakage and continuity defects. In the magnetic head actuator, a portion of an FPC board resin base is removed to expose a portion of the feeding line that extends onto a voltage impressing electrode. An electrical and mechanical connection is made between the electrode and the exposed portion of the feeding line by ultrasonic bonding, Au ball bonding, or stud bumping.

Abstract: A micro-actuator that reduces suspension tongue stiffness and a method of manufacturing the micro-actuator are disclosed. In one embodiment, the micro-actuator has a base piece with two arms extending from the base piece. The electric contact pads for the arms are situated on the exterior of the arms at the end opposite the base piece. In one embodiment, the electric contact pads are electrically coupled to the same connection plate that the magnetic read/write head is coupled to, reducing the number of connection traces.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the pitch static attitude of a slider in an integrated lead suspension head gimbal assembly. The integrated lead suspension includes a load beam, a mount plate, a hinge and a flexure made out of a multi-layer material. Localized heating is applied to the outrigger leads during the process of forming flexure legs to set a stable pitch static attitude, which does not change, by subsequent thermal exposures.

Abstract: A head assembly includes a suspension coupled to an end portion of an actuator arm located on a base to rotate around a pivot shaft, a head slider installed at the suspension and having a head to record and/or read information on and/or from a recording medium, and a variable device located between the suspension and the head slider, wherein one side of the variable device is coupled to the suspension to adjust a flying height of the head slider by adjusting inclination of the head slider with respect to the suspension. The head assembly can be applied to a magnetic head assembly by using a magnetic head and a magnetic disk as the head and the recording medium, respectively. Thus, since the variable device can be fixedly coupled to the suspension during the assembly process of the head assembly or the manufacture of the suspension, the process of manufacture is considerably simplified compared to the conventional magnetic head assembly.

Abstract: Head stack fixtures for securing head stack assemblies to spin stand testing systems, and spin stand testing systems incorporating such fixtures, are disclosed. Exemplary head stack fixtures comprise a base supporting a piezoelectric actuator. The base includes an attachment mechanism for securing the HSA in such a way that the HSA will pivot relative to the base. When the HSA is secured to the base, the piezoelectric actuator engages the HSA. The piezoelectric actuator is therefore able to pivot the HSA relative to the base for fine positioning of a head of the HSA.

Abstract: The present invention includes a micro-actuator assembly. The micro-actuator assembly includes a planar micro-actuator and a vertical micro-actuator. The planar micro-actuator provides at least one planar micro-actuator arm for coupling to a slider. The vertical micro-actuator couples with the planar micro-actuator arm. The planar micro-actuator arm supports moving the slider in a planar direction. The vertical micro-actuator supports moving the slider, through the micro-actuator arm, in a vertical direction. The planar micro-actuator may include two planar micro-actuator arms. It is preferred that at least one of the micro-actuators include a piezoelectric device. The vertical micro-actuator preferably includes a bulk piezoelectric device for cost reasons. The vertical micro-actuator may include a thermoelectric device supporting vertical slider movement. The invention includes manufacturing head gimbal assemblies, actuator arms, voice coil actuator assemblies, and hard disk drives.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a head to write/read information, and a head support member to support the head. The head support member has parts delimiting an opening at a portion thereof in which opposing parts which delimit the opening in a width direction of the head support member are elastically deformable. Protrusions are formed on edges of the opening, and piezoelectric elements are mounted on the protrusions to enable deforming of the head support member in a direction of positioning of the head.

Abstract: The actuator in accordance with the present invention is provided with a pair of arms and a connecting part for connecting them to each other. The arms and connecting part are integrally formed from single-crystal silicon. Respective piezoelectric devices are attached to the arms.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetic disk drive in which a flying-height fluctuation produced by the operation of a fine actuator is decreased, the reliability is high, and recording density is high. For this purpose, the magnetic disk drive is configured as described below. The magnetic disk drive has a suspension including a base plate connected to a carriage, a load beam fitted with a slider, and a fine actuator which is provided on the base plate and finely moves the load beam. The configuration is such that the shortest track travel time using the fine actuator is larger than the inverse number of the local maximum of a flying-height fluctuation frequency of the suspension by the fine actuator. Also, the configuration is such that the shortest track travel time using the fine actuator is larger than the inverse number of the natural frequency of first torsion mode of the suspension by the fine actuator.

Abstract: A load beam is attached to an actuator arm that is allowed to rock around a pivotal axis by a voice coil motor, etc., as a slider supporting member, the base end of a flexure is attached to the load beam with the free end thereof being left, a slider supporting member is attached to the top portion of the flexure, a slider on which a recording/reproduction head is installed is secured to the slider supporting member, and the slider supporting member is supported by a protrusion placed on the free end side of the load beam so as to be freely pivot thereon. Portions of the flexure corresponding to both of the sides of this protrusion are constituted by elastic hinge portions, each having a necked shape. A pair of thin-film piezoelectric elements are bonded to the flexure as displacement members.

Abstract: An HGA includes a head slider with at least one head element, a precise positioning actuator fixed to the head slider for precisely positioning the at least one head element, and a support for supporting the actuator. The actuator has a pair of movable arms capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator. The head slider is mounted between the pair of movable arms. The head slider and the actuator are adhered by at least one adhesive film.

Abstract: Thermal pole tip protrusion is caused by materials in and around head slider expanding during write operations till they protrude, leading to contact with the rotating disk surface, altering the flying height and often wearing down part of the disk surface. While well known that read-write heads expand during writing, the inventors who recognized this situation's significance, particularly as flying height decreases and data rates increase, both required for high areal density disk drives. The inventors realized that they could detect the problem at the spin stand level by testing head gimbal assemblies to reliably, and inexpensively, predict the tendency for thermal pole tip protrusion. This leads to selection of head gimbal assemblies, which do not have the thermal pole tip protrusion tendency. The selected head gimbal assemblies have better reliability, as do actuators and disk drives made with the selected head gimbal assemblies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for actively controlling the gram load on a disk drive suspension assembly and to a disk drive using the present disk drive suspension assembly. The gram load can be actively changed by changing the applied voltage to one or more multi-layer piezoelectric actuators attached to the head suspension. The active gram control system allows the gram load to be changed on a non-permanent basis and to control the gram load to a much finer scale than can be accomplished using conventional techniques. By attaching the first and second ends of the piezoelectric actuator to discrete locations on the load beam, while the portion of the piezoelectric actuator between the first and second ends remains unattached to the load beam, a force non-parallel to the load beam can be applied to the head suspension.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a slider for carrying a head at least for performing reproduction of data from a disk, and a holding portion for holding the slider. The holding portion includes: a first portion including a first piezoelectric element; a second portion including a second piezoelectric element; a third portion connected to the first and second portions, the slider being provided on the third portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the first and second portions. At least one of the first and second piezoelectric elements is contracted and expanded in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the disk, in the presence of an applied voltage so that the slider provided on the third portion is rotated around a predetermined center of rotation.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a slider for carrying a head at least for performing reproduction of data from a disk, and a holding portion for holding the slider. The holding portion includes: a first portion including a first piezoelectric element; a second portion including a second piezoelectric element; a third portion connected to the first and second portions, the slider being provided on the third portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the first and second portions. At least one of the first and second piezoelectric elements is contracted and expanded in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the disk, in the presence of an applied voltage so that the slider provided on the third portion is rotated around a predetermined center of rotation.

Abstract: A disc drive actuation system for precisely positioning a read/write head over a selected track of a rotatable disc. The actuation system comprises a flexure, a slider, and a read/write head firmly attached to the slider. A first drive unit is used to pivot the flexure to position the read/write head approximately over a selected track. A microactuator is mounted to the flexure and the slider is mounted to the microactuator. The microactuator comprises an inner inactive region, a first outer inactive region, a second outer inactive region, a first piezoelectric section mounted between the first outer inactive region and the inner inactive region, and a second piezoelectric section mounted between the second outer inactive region and the inner inactive region. The inner inactive region is firmly attached to either the flexure or the slider and both of the outer inactive regions are firmly attached to the other of the flexure or the slider.

Abstract: A method for preventing operational and manufacturing imperfections in piezoelectric micro-actuators by physically and electrically isolating conductive layers of the piezoelectric material. At least one layer of electrically-conductive material and at least one layer of electrically-insulative material are applied to an actuator finger. The conductive material and the insulative material are applied one layer upon another in an alternating manner. The layer of insulative material is larger in area than the layer of conductive material. An insulative layer, applied to the actuator finger and sandwiching a conductive layer between the insulative layer and the actuator finger, at least partially encloses and electrically isolates the conductive layer by covering the conductive material on at least three sides.

Abstract: A first counter electrode and a second counter electrode, for electrically coupling a first piezoelectric element unit and a second piezoelectric element unit, for composing a thin film piezoelectric element are common floating electrodes. A first principal electrode film and a second principal electrode film of each piezoelectric element unit are connected, and a voltage is applied between the two piezoelectric element units. As a result, by the wiring of two terminals only without using grounding electrode wiring, the first piezoelectric element unit and second piezoelectric element unit can be driven, so that the wiring process may be substantially simplified.

Abstract: Two piezoelectric thin films each sandwiched between a main electrode layer and an opposite electrode layer are laminated in pairs so as to form a thin film piezoelectric element. An electrode leading area has a region in which the main electrode layer partially projects from the piezoelectric thin film, and another region in which only an insulating layer is formed on a part of the opposite electrode layer. At least one of a first opening formed through the insulating layer in the former region and a second opening formed through the insulating layer in the latter region is provided. A connection wiring for connecting to the opposite electrode layer or the main electrode layer and leading to the surface layer is formed via the opening.

Abstract: A fine positioning mechanism is provided in a disc drive for driving a head that records data onto and reproduces data from a disc. The mechanism includes a base fixed to an arm and a suspension, the base connecting the suspension to the arm, the arm swinging around a rotary shaft, and the suspension supporting the head. A drive part is located above the base, for deforming the base, the drive part including a shear type piezoelectric element that is polarized in a direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the piezoelectric element, and deforms top and bottom surfaces of the piezoelectric element perpendicular to the thickness direction when voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A microactuator device for effecting fine positioning of a transducing head with respect to a selected track on a disk having: a C-shaped piezoelectric element having opposite ends, wherein one end of the piezoelectric element is affixed or connected to one end of the slider, and the other end is affixed or connected to the flexure member for obtaining rotational movement of the piezoelectric element to enable faster and more accurate tracking of the disk by head transducer. Alternately, the C-shaped piezoelectric element has one end affixed or connected to suspension mount plate and other end affixed or actuator arm to obtain larger head movement for further enhanced track following. The C-shaped element could be multiple layered or be shaped like a horizontal or vertical spiral to further increase the element and head movement and tracking accuracy along with faster seek and travel.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for coupling a replacement micro-actuator to a drive arm suspension after a micro-actuator, such as a defective micro-actuator, has been detached from the suspension.

Abstract: An actuator to which leads are easily attachable, and a method of making the same are provided. In the actuator in accordance with the present invention, a pair of silicon arms have their resistances lowered by being doped with impurities and are connected to each other by way of a glass substrate. A predetermined surface of each silicon arm is formed with a piezoelectric part, whereas a predetermined surface of the piezoelectric part is formed with a thin-film electrode. Therefore, the piezoelectric part is driven when a voltage is applied between a bonding wire attached to the thin-film electrode and a bonding wire attached to the silicon arm. Since the bonding wire can be attached to the silicon arm at any position thereon, wire bonding can be carried out while appropriately selecting positions and surfaces where the bonding wire is easily attachable.

Abstract: A micro-flexure is provided for achieving secondary actuation in an actuator of a disk drive. The micro-flexure is a separate element which attaches to a standard flexure. A slider mounts to the micro-flexure. Piezoelectric elements attach to the micro-flexure to provide the motive force for displacing the micro-flexure during secondary actuation. The secondary actuation is thereby achieved by isolating movement at the slider.

Abstract: A head flexure assembly having a flexure with a built in microactuator is disclosed. The flexure is divided into four portions: a base plate portion for attaching the flexure to an actuator arm; a load beam portion for suspending a transducing head; a parallelogram portion connecting the load beam portion and the base plate portion and allowing for the translational movement of the load beam portion with respect to the base plate portion; and a driving frame portion. The parallelogram portion has two substantially parallel members that attach the base plate portion to the load beam portion. The parallel members limit the movement of the load beam portion relative to the base plate portion to translational movement. The driving frame portion has piezoelectric element that in response to a control signal produces a force, orthogonal to the flexure's longitudinal axis, between the base plate portion and the load beam portion.

Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus comprising at least one of a radiation system and a projection system having at least one of a reflective and a refractive optical member, wherein the optical member is supported by at least one piezoelectric actuator for positioning the optical member. The piezoelectric actuator comprises three parallel plates stacked on top of one another with piezoelectric stacks between the plates.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a slider for carrying a head at least for performing reproduction of date from a disk, and a holding portion for holding the slider. The holding portion includes; a first portion including a first piezoelectric element; a second portion including a second piezoelectric element; a third portion connected to the first and second portions, the slider being provided on the third portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the first and second portions. At least one of the first and second piezoelectric elements is contracted and expanded in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the disk, in the presence of an applied voltage so that the slider provided on the third portion is rotated around a predetermined center of rotation.

Abstract: A precise positioning actuator to be fixed to a head slider provided with at least one head element, for precisely positioning the at least one head element includes a base, and a pair of movable arms extending from the base and having slider fixing portions to be fixed to side surfaces of the head slider at top end sections thereof. Each of the pair of movable arms includes an arm member and an actuator layer formed on a side surface of the arm member, for displacing the arm member in response to a drive signal applied thereto. The actuator layer is terminated on the side surface of the arm member at a frontward position form the slider fixing portion.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the process of attaching a hard disk micro-actuator to a slider device with a bonding agent such as epoxy, the slider having design characteristics to avoid various problems associated with bonding the components with a bonding agent such as epoxy.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a slider for carrying a head at least for performing reproduction of data from a disk, and a holding portion for holding the slider. The holding portion includes: a first portion including a first piezoelectric element; a second portion including a second piezoelectric element; a third portion connected to the first and second portions, the slider being provided on the third portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the first and second portions. At least one of the first and second piezoelectric elements is contracted and expanded in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the disk, in the presence of an applied voltage so that the slider provided on the third portion is rotated around a predetermined center of rotation.