Abstract: An actuator comprises first and second structures each with a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between a main electrode layer and an opposed electrode layer, which structures are formed on two substrates, respectively. A first main electrode layer and a first opposed electrode layer are provided with layer two projections, and a second opposed electrode layer is provided with one layer projection. Connection wiring is arranged for establishing connection, with the above two structures bonded to each other, between the layer projection of the first main electrode layer and the second main electrode layer, and between the layer projection of the first opposed electrode layer and the layer projection of the second opposed electrode layer. Thus, it is possible to provide an actuator which may assure highly accurate position control.

Abstract: The invention provides a disk drive suspension. The suspension has a load beam and a flexure having a frame and a tongue portion having a base and a tongue. The flexure mounts one or more microactuators in opposed or offset relation for shifting the base of the flexure tongue portion relative to the flexure frame and thus positionally adjusting the tongue and the slider fixed to the tongue with respect to the disk that is in operating proximity to the slider.

Abstract: A micro-transfer device for fine positioning is employed typically in recording and playback apparatus for recording disks. Voltage is stably supplied to an expandable element which displaces the position of a recording head by applying voltage. An end different from one end connected to a base, where the recording head is mounted, is fixed to a fixing substrate for preventing changes in dimensions of the expandable element. An external electrode connection for supplying voltage to the expandable element is provided in an area on the fixing substrate.

Abstract: A proximal end region of a load beam is provided with a proximal-end widthwise beam extending in the width direction and a pair of proximal-end lengthwise beams respectively extending from the opposite ends of the proximal-end widthwise beam towards a distal end of the load beam, while an intermediate region of the load beam is provided with a pair of intermediate lengthwise beams extending from the distal ends of the pair of proximal-end lengthwise beams towards the distal end of the load beam. The proximal-end lengthwise beams have an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal center axis of the load beam greater than the angle of inclination of the intermediate lengthwise beams relative to the longitudinal center axis of the load beam.

Abstract: The supersonic cleaning of a magnetic head apparatus is executed while the control conductive pattern and the conductive leaf spring are electrically connected by means of soldering, and the conductive leaf spring is grounded. This makes it possible to prevent the accumulation of electrostatic charges in the piezoelectric elements on the magnetic head apparatus, thereby preventing the development of surge current or reducing the intensity thereof, and reducing the damage to the reproducing elements and the recording element mounted on the slider of the magnetic head apparatus.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed employing a primary actuator for rotating an actuator arm about a pivot in coarse movements, and first and second secondary actuators coupled to the actuator arm for actuating first and second heads in fine movements. A servo control system generates a first control signal applied to the first secondary actuator to position the first head over the first disk surface in fine movements while accessing the first disk surface. The servo control system phase shifts the first control signal by a predetermined phase to generate a second control signal applied to the second secondary actuator to attenuate excitation of at least one arm vibration mode.

Abstract: An actuator is coupled between a head and a flexure, the actuator providing submicron positioning of the head while reducing undesirable vibrations of the flexure. The actuator includes a stator and a rotor, with a plurality of deformable elements coupled between the stator and the rotor. In one aspect the rotor, stator and deformable elements are constructed so that the rotor has a substantially fixed axis of rotation relative to the stator, and the actuation of a transducer in the head is magnified. In another aspect the rotor is coupled to the head so that the axis of rotation is substantially aligned with the center of mass of the head and rotor, increasing the frequency at which the actuator can move the head and reducing vibrations in the flexure caused by actuation of the head.

Abstract: A precise positioning actuator to be fixed with a head slider with at least one head element and with a support, for precisely positioning the at least one head element, including a pair of movable arms capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator The head slider is caught in a space between the movable arms.

Abstract: A micro-actuator is comprised of a piezoelectric motor mounted on a flexure tongue with offsetting hinges, to perform a fine positioning of the magnetic read/write head. The substantial gain in the frequency response greatly improves the performance and accuracy of the track-follow control for fine positioning. The simplicity of the enhanced micro-actuator design results in a manufacturing efficiency that enables a high-volume, low-cost production. The micro-actuator is interposed between a flexure tongue and a slider to perform an active control of the fly height of the magnetic read/write head. The induced slider crown and camber are used to compensate for thermal expansion of the magnetic read/write head, which causes the slider to be displaced at an unintended fly height position relative to the surface of the magnetic recording disk. The enhanced micro-actuator design results in reduced altitude sensitivity, ABS tolerances, and reduced stiction.

Abstract: A system and method using a connection plate to electrically couple a magnetic read/write head to a printed circuit assembly. The connection plate has a set of contact pads to control reads and a set of contact pads to control. The printed circuit assembly also allows control of the micro-actuator arms. The connection plate can be attached to a framing assembly of the micro-actuator by laser welding or by using an ultraviolet cured epoxy.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a head and a slider for carrying the head, the head being caused to track by main driver, wherein the head support mechanism further includes sub-driving device including a thin film and causing the head to have a micro-movement; and the sub-driving device causes the head to have a micro-movement by utilizing flexural deformation of the thin film.

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 precise positioning actuator for precisely positioning at least one head element is provided with a base and a pair of movable arms capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator. The pair of movable arms extend from the base for catching a head slider with at least one head element in a space between the pair of movable arms. Each of the pair of movable arms includes an arm member made of an elastic sintered ceramic and having substantially the same cross sectional shape from a root thereof to a top end thereof, a piezoelectric element formed on a side surface of the arm member and a protrusion additionally formed on an inside surface of the arm member near its top end section. The protrusion has tapered surfaces. Side surfaces of the head slider are adhered to the inside surfaces of the arm members at the protrusions and within regions between the protrusions and top ends of the arm members.

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 microactuator used for selectively altering a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disc having a plurality of concentric tracks. The microactuator is of the type comprising a piezoelectric element. A polymer coating encapsulates all exposed surfaces of the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a slider equipped with a magnetic head to read/write information from/to a magnetic disk, a load beam to provide the slider with an appropriate load, the load beam being flexible in a direction substantially perpendicular to the disk, and a microactuator mounting portion equipped with a microactuator. A first actuator fixing portion, which connects the microactuator mounting portion to a carriage, and a second actuator fixing portion on the magnetic head side of the microactuator mounting portion, which connects the microactuator mounting portion to the load beam, are coupled by two arm portions of the microactuator mounting portion. The microactuator is mounted on the microactuator mounting portion so that the microactuator does not come into contact with the microactuator mounting portion between the first actuator fixing portion and the second actuator fixing portion.

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 microactuator suspension assembly has a load beam structure with at least three layers of material in certain portions of the proximal area between the baseplate area and the spring area, the first and third layers comprising substantially inextensible metal, the second layer comprising extensible plastic, the plastic layer operating in shear when driven by an electrodynamically variable microactuator to make a microadjustment of the suspension.

Abstract: An HGA includes a head slider with at least one head element, a support and a precise positioning actuator fixed with the head slider and with the support for precisely positioning the at least one head element. The actuator includes a pair of movable arms capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator, for catching the head slider in a space between the movable arms. Each of the movable arms includes an arm member being made of an elastic sintered ceramic and having substantially the same cross sectional shape from a root thereof to a top end thereof, and a piezoelectric element formed on a side surface of the arm member. A spacing between base ends of the arm members is larger than a spacing between top ends of the arm members.

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 junctioned 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: The present invention provides a tuning mechanism for flying pickup heads in data storage devices. The pickup device includes a coil, a pivot, a suspension, and a piezoelectric bender. The piezoelectric bender made by a bi-layer or a multi-layer piezoelectric material is formed on one end of the suspension, and proper voltages applied to the piezoelectric bender via wires enable the piezoelectric bender to undergo both neutral axis displacement and bending deflection. A pickup head is attached to the free end of the piezoelectric bender opposite to the coil, and via the piezoelectric bender, focusing and tracking motion of the pickup head can be tuned at the same time. Furthermore, since the characteristic of the piezoelectric bender is similar to bimetallic elements, the bender can undergo large bending deflection to compensate large deformation of rotating optical disks, so that the flying height of the pickup head can be tuned to maintain a constant focusing distance in reading/writing data.

Abstract: A system and method for improving piezoelectric micro-actuator operation by preventing undesired micro-actuator motion hindrance and by preventing micro-actuator misalignment during manufacture. A shim element is interposed between an electric circuit assembly and a lower portion of an actuator frame. The electric circuit assembly has a generally ‘O’-shaped portion configured so that an upper portion of said actuator frame is able to protrude through the ‘O’-shaped portion. The shim element is coupled between the electric circuit assembly and the lower portion of the actuator frame.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a compact and lightweight piezoelectric actuator, a driving method involving the piezoelectric actuator that can provide a large displacement at a low voltage, and a compact and lightweight information storage device with a high recording density that incorporates such a piezoelectric actuator and has a small moment of inertia of a head when the head is driven. The piezoelectric actuator according to the present invention has four rod-shaped driving sections. Of the four rod-shaped driving sections, a voltage is applied to the two driving sections located along a diagonal line at a time, and the voltage is applied to the two driving sections located along the other diagonal line at a different time from the time for the first two driving sections, whereby two central sections are rotationally driven relative to two end sections.

Abstract: A head slider includes a front rail having an air bearing surface and a step surface lower than the air bearing surface, provided on a disk faced surface in the vicinity of an air inflow end, a transducer provided in the vicinity of an air outflow end, and a groove for generating a negative pressure by expanding air once compressed by the front rail. The head slider further includes a piezoelectric actuator mounted on a head slider back surface on the opposite side of the disk faced surface excluding the vicinity of the air outflow end. By the piezoelectric actuator, the front rail and the neighboring portion are deformed in the direction toward the recording medium or away from the recording medium, and the positive pressure generated at the air bearing surface is regulated, whereby the floating amount of the head slider can be regulated.

Abstract: A microactuation system selectively alters a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disk having a plurality of concentric tracks. The microactuation system includes a head suspension having a first portion and a flexure for supporting the slider. A flexible beam extends from the first portion of the head suspension at one end to the flexure at the other end. An electroactive element is attached to the beam. The electroactive element bends in response to a control signal applied thereto. The beam is sufficiently compliant to permit movement of the first portion of the head suspension with respect to the flexure.

Abstract: A disc drive having a recording disc rotatable about an axis, a slider supporting a transducing head for transducing data with the disc, and a dual-stage actuation assembly supporting the slider to position the transducing head adjacent a select radial track of the disc. The dual-stage actuation assembly includes a movable actuator arm, a suspension assembly supported by the actuator arm including the flexure, a slider bonding pad supporting the slider and a microactuator. The microactuator includes a rotor attached to the slider bonding pad and a stator attached to the flexure. A beam structure operatively connects the rotor to the stator so as to permit movement of the rotor with respect to the stator. The beam structure includes a first beam pair element and a second beam pair element.

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 from the slider fixing portion.

Abstract: A precise positioning actuator to be fixed to a head slider provided with at least one head element and to a support, for precisely positioning the at least one head element includes a pair of movable arms and a base section. Each movable arm is formed by a plate member including a first metal plate to be substantially in parallel with a side surface of the head slider. Top end sections of the pair of movable arms are capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator along a direction crossing planes of the metal plates. The base section is connected between rear end sections of the pair of movable arms and formed by a plate member including a second metal plate. The base section and the pair of movable arms are formed by adhering the first metal plates and the second metal plate that are individually formed.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical device comprises a moveable mass, a frame for supporting the mass, and a flexure extending between the mass and the frame. The flexure includes an integral actuator for moving the mass member with respect to the frame.

Abstract: An actuator is coupled between a head and flexure and gimbal elements, the actuator providing submicron positioning of the head while reducing undesirable vibrations of the flexure and gimbal elements. Such an actuator may have a frame that surrounds a cavity, the frame having an opening disposed adjacent to the head and a wall disposed on an opposite side of the frame from the opening. One or more active elements are disposed in the cavity and attached to the frame, the active element separated from the wall and having a dimension that varies in size in response to a control signal, with a moveable element coupled to the active element and to the head.

Abstract: A slider is used in an actuation system and carries a transducing head for transducing data to and from a rotatable recording disc. The slider includes a slider body having a leading edge and a trailing edge and a transducing head positioned proximate the trailing edge of the slider body. An encapsulant comprised of a self assembled monolayer covers exposed surfaces the slider body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tuning mechanism for flying pickup heads in data storage devices. The pickup device includes a coil, a pivot, a suspension, and a piezoelectric bender. The piezoelectric bender made by a bi-layer or a multi-layer piezoelectric material is formed on one end of the suspension, and proper voltages applied to the piezoelectric bender via wires enable the piezoelectric bender to undergo both neutral axis displacement and bending deflection. A pickup head is attached to the free end of the piezoelectric bender opposite to the coil, and via the piezoelectric bender, focusing and tracking motion of the pickup head can be tuned at the same time. Furthermore, since the characteristic of the piezoelectric bender is similar to bimetallic elements, the bender can undergo large bending deflection to compensate large deformation of rotating optical disks, so that the flying height of the pickup head can be tuned to maintain a constant focusing distance in reading/writing data.

Abstract: A microactuator used for selectively altering a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disc having a plurality of concentric tracks. The microactuator is of the type comprising a piezoelectric element. A polymer coating encapsulates all exposed surfaces of the piezoelectric element.

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 flexure for a micro-electro-mechanical device includes a longitudinal beam. An actuator integral to the beam acts to flex the beam when activated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head device exhibiting a good bonded state of a piezoelectric element and a load beam, and excellent reliability. The magnetic head device includes a slider provided with a reproducing element for detecting a magnetic signal recorded on a recording medium, and a recording element for recording a magnetic signal on the recording medium, an elastic supporting member for supporting the slider, and piezoelectric elements mounted on the elastic supporting member, for distorting the elastic supporting member to change the position of the slider. The piezoelectric element and the elastic supporting member are bonded together with a photo-curing and thermosetting epoxy adhesive resin having a Young's modulus of 1 GPa or more at 25° C., and a glass transition temperature of 90° C. or more.

Abstract: A magnetic head device including a slider, a resilient supporting member which supports the slider, and piezoelectric elements which are mounted on the resilient supporting member. The piezoelectric elements each include a piezoelectric layer and a pair of electrode layers, a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The surface of each second electrode layer and a stationary base end portion and a sliding portion are joined together through an electrically conductive adhesive resin, and both end portions of each piezoelectric element and the stationary base end portion and the sliding portion are joined together through a nonconductive adhesive resin.

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: 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: An HGA includes a head slider provided with at least one head element, a precise positioning actuator fixed to the head slider for precisely positioning the at least one head element, a flexure made of a metal plate member for supporting the actuator and a load beam fixed to and for supporting the flexure. The actuator includes a pair of movable arms each formed by a metal plate that is substantially in parallel with a side surface of the head slider. Top end sections of the pair of movable arms are capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator along a direction crossing planes of the metal plate. The flexure and the actuator are unitarily formed.

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 having lowered their resistance by doping with impurities 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 milliactuated disk drive suspension assembly includes a mount plate, a functional end for supporting a transducer-carrying slider, a hinge disposed between the mount plate and the functional end, and a sway compliant region on the mount plate adapted to facilitate displacement of the functional end in a trackwise sway direction relative to the mount plate. A pair of milliactuators can be mounted to span the compliant region in a closely spaced arrangement to develop maximum mechanical advantage between a milliactuator actuating stroke and a transducer sway stroke. The mount plate is free of swage mounting features and is mounted to a disk drive actuator arm using a swageless interconnection that allows the milliactuators to be closely spaced so as to improve their mechanical advantage.

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: Disclosed are a piezoelectric actuator with reinforced bending mode to suppress bending resonance caused by extension/contraction movements of the piezoelectric actuator and a disk drive using the same. A flexible substrate is separated by a slit. The first piezoelectric element unit and the second piezoelectric element unit, both show extension/contraction displacement, are disposed on one of the slit-separated flexible substrates respectively. A coupling portion is provided to couple said separated flexible substrates across the slit, wherein the coupling portion is provided at a position corresponding to an antinode of primary bending mode of the first and second piezoelectric element units being fixed in respective both ends.

Abstract: A method and system for positionally displacing a transducer, or multiple transducers, over a location on a data storage medium is disclosed. An actuator assembly containing at least one actuator arm supporting at least one transducer is used to access a desired location on the data storage medium. The actuator arm contains an intrinsically excitable element, such as piezoelectric material, responsive to a control signal to produce an excitement. The excitement in the element generates a movement of the element that is magnified by a flexure to positionally displace the transducer, which is attached to the flexure. The transducer is displaced from a current, or origination, location to the desired location.

Abstract: A microactuator comprised of a piezoelectric motor mounted on a flexure tongue with offsetting hinges, to perform a fine positioning of the magnetic read/write head. The substantial gain in the frequency response greatly improves the performance and accuracy of the track-follow control for fine positioning. The simplicity of the enhanced microactuator design results in a manufacturing efficiency that enables a high-volume, low-cost production.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device comprises an integral body of piezoelectric material having a length and width greater than its thickness; wherein the device further includes, in contact with the body, respective pairs of electrodes, wherein the electrodes of each pair are opposed in the thickness direction, wherein the body deflects along said transverse direction when a voltage is applied to the electrode pair. The present invention further provisdes a disk drive suspension and a head gimbal assembly.

Abstract: A method (and apparatus) for operating a disk drive apparatus. The method includes moving a movable member about a fixed position to move a read/write head coupled to a slider to a selected track on a disk. The selected track is at least one of a plurality of tracks. The method includes adjusting a position of the read/write head using an actuating device coupled between the read/write head and the slider. The actuating step moves the read/write head relative in a manner normal to the track on the magnetic disk to align the read/write head on the track using a finer and faster alignment of the read/write head than the moveable support member.

Abstract: A method (and apparatus) for operating a disk drive apparatus. The method includes moving a movable member about a fixed position to move a read/write head coupled to a slider to a selected track on a disk. The selected track is at least one of a plurality of tracks. The method includes adjusting a position of the read/write head using an actuating device integrated on the gimbal. The actuating step moves the read/write head relative in a manner normal to the track on the magnetic disk to align the read/write head on the track using a finer and faster alignment of the read/write head than the moveable support member.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a small, light-weight, impact-resistant, high-accuracy, and low-cost piezoelectric actuator which can achieve a large displacement at a low drive voltage as well as an information storage device which incorporates the piezoelectric actuator and has high recording density. The piezoelectric actuator according to the present invention is equipped with a hinge plate 220 which has a central portion 221, two lateral portions 222 extending point-symmetrically from both ends of the central portion 221, and two limbs 223 extending point-symmetrically and non-linear symmetrically from both ends of the central portion 221 as well as with a piezoelectric element 210 which brings the two limbs 223 toward and away from each other.