Abstract: A microactuator device for effecting fine positioning of a transducing head with respect to a selected track on a disk having: an S-shaped piezoelectric element with three or more legs having opposite ends, wherein either; 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, or both ends of the element affixed to corresponding ends of the slider and the center is affixed to the flexure, for obtaining movement of the head transducer to enable fast and accurate tracking of read/write tracks on a high track density disk. Attachment of the one leg of piezoelectric element to the flexure produces translation movement of the slider and head transducer while attachment of the center leg of the element to the flexure and the two ends legs to the slider produces a rotary movement of the head transducer.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator, the manufacturing method of the same and the head suspension assembly using the same are disclosed, wherein the piezoelectric actuator can be disposed easily without any breakage in mounting and can provide a magnetic head with fine displacements efficiently. A more specifically, a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion are provided to couple the first piezoelectric element unit in parallel with the second piezoelectric element unit without being influenced each other by respective displacements.

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

Abstract: An HGA includes a head slider provided with at least one head element, a load beam, a flexure fixed to the load beam for determining a flying attitude of the head slider, a precise positioning actuator fixed to the head slider and supported by the flexure, for precisely positioning the at least one head element, and a load adjustment mechanism formed with the actuator, for adjusting a load imposed on the head slider.

Abstract: A dual purpose piezoelectric element utilized in a disk drive for fine positioning of the head assembly relative to the surface of a disk and for sensing shocks and other vibrations. When a shock is sensed by the piezoelectric element that exceeds a predetermined threshold value, write operations are halted to prevent a write operation occurring at an incorrect location on the disk.

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 micro-moving device for fine positioning 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 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 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 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 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, includes 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 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, includes 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 microactuator device for effecting fine positioning of a transducing head with respect to a selected track on a disk, wherein the piezoelectric microactuator element is positioned adjacent to one side of and substantially coextensive with a slider, the slider being attached to the moving end of a flexure, and the two ends of the microactuator element are attached to the moving end and fixed legs of the flexure and provide rotary motion.

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 suspension-level piezoelectric microactuator for the fine positioning of a head-arm assembly of a disk drive. The microactuator is manufactured from a generally flat metal sheet structure having a central beam and two tabs extending from opposite sides of the beam. At least one layer of piezoelectric material is bonded onto each of the two tabs. Each of the two tabs is bent, with the piezoelectric layers bonded thereto, to a position substantially normal to the central beam. The structure is then joined to the distal end of a suspension member of the head-arm assembly. A recording head is connected to the central beam of the microactuator. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric materials, deflection of the microactuator occurs, thereby positioning the recording head.

Abstract: A head suspension supporting a head at the tip end is allowed to swing at the tip end of a carriage in a recording disk drive. A microactuator is interposed between the head suspension and the carriage. A resistor is connected to the microactuator in serial. The microactuator is allowed to function as a capacitance. A combination of the microactuator and the resistor enables establishment of a so-called low pass filter. A high frequency noise involuntarily introduced in the driving voltage for the microactuator can be eliminated or removed from the driving voltage. Elimination of the high frequency noise enables a reliable prevention of the mechanical or physical resonance or vibration in the head suspension. A tracking action of the head related to a target recording track can reliably be stabilized.

Abstract: An actuator of the present invention includes a shape maintaining sheet, a piezoelectric member provided integrally on the shape maintaining sheet, and a pair of electrodes formed to sandwich the piezoelectric member, wherein the shape maintaining sheet is formed of synthetic resin. Since the piezoelectric member is thin, the stiffness is increased by the shape maintaining sheet made of synthetic resin, and thus resonance frequency can be adjusted.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical device formed by a body of semiconductor material having a thickness and defining a mobile part and a fixed part. The mobile part is formed by a mobile platform, supporting arms extending from the mobile platform to the fixed part, and by mobile electrodes fixed to the mobile platform. The fixed part has fixed electrodes facing the mobile electrodes, a first biasing region fixed to the fixed electrodes, a second biasing region fixed to the supporting arms, and an insulation region of insulating material extending through the entire thickness of the body. The insulation region insulates electrically at least one between the first and the second biasing regions from the rest of the fixed part.

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: There are disclosed a piezoelectric actuator which can obtain large displacement at low voltage, which is small-sized and lightweight, and whose manufacture cost is low, and a small-sized lightweight information storage apparatus in which the piezoelectric actuator is incorporated, and which is provided with a small inertia moment during head driving and a high recording density. A piezoelectric actuator 200 includes a center body 200a and two spiral arms 200b, and two arms 200b are entirely in rotation symmetry and nonlinear symmetry.

Abstract: A suspension for a disk drive includes a mount plate adapted to mount to a primary actuator, a functional end portion adapted to carry a slider, and a hinge disposed between the mount plate and the functional end portion. A mounting configuration is provided on the mount plate for mounting the suspension to the primary actuator. A pair of secondary actuators are mounted in longitudinally overlapping relationship with the mounting configuration so as to minimize the impact of the secondary actuators on suspension length. The secondary actuators are operatively connected to the hinge for producing sway displacement of the slider.

Abstract: In a magnetic head device, recording conductive patterns are formed between a control conductive pattern and reproducing conductive patterns. Accordingly, the capacitive coupling between the control conductive pattern, in which surge current flows, and the recording conductive patterns decreases. This can prevent a current from flowing in the reproducing conductive patterns and can reduce damage to a reproducing device having a low current durability.

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 formed by a metal plate. These movable arms are capable of displacing in response to a drive signal applied to the actuator along a direction crossing a plate plane of the movable arms, and catch the head slider in a space between them.

Abstract: A system and method using a framing assembly to provide support for a micro-actuator and allow the micro-actuator to be connected to a suspension assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, the framing assembly consists of a base with two arms attached. In a further embodiment a crosspiece connects the two arms. In a further embodiment, the framing assembly is metal and have strips of piezoelectric material attached to the arms.

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 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 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 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 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 second portion coupled by one or more flexible hinges. An electroactive element is attached to the first portion of the head suspension at one end and the second portion of the load beam at the other end. The electroactive element bends in response to a control signal applied thereto. The hinge is sufficiently compliant to permit movement of the first portion with respect to the second portion of the head suspension.

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.

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 coupling section. Each movable arm is formed by a 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 plate. The coupling section is connected between the top end sections of the pair of movable arms and formed by a metal plate to be substantially in parallel with a first surface of the head slider. This first surface is opposite to an air bearing surface (ABS) of the head slider. The first surface of the head slider is to be fixed to the coupling section.

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 moving-coil magnetic microactuator is formed by using a dual silicon wafer structure and thin film technologies such as deep trench reactive ion etching, reactive ion etching, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and metallo-organinc chemical vapor deposition. Several bottom structures are formed from a bottom wafer, each bottom structure having a coil and wires embedded in the surface of the bottom structure. Several top structures are formed from a top wafer, each top structure having a magnet and mechanical stand-offs. The top structures are bonded to the bottom structures so that the magnet is above the embedded coil, separated by an air gap created by the mechanical stand-offs.

Abstract: A suspension for disc drive comprises a load beam fitted with a flexure, an actuator base including a base plate, a hinge member thinner than the base plate, and a pair of piezoelectric ceramic elements. The piezoelectric ceramic elements displace the distal end portion of the load beam in a sway direction when supplied with voltage. Each piezoelectric ceramic element is stored in an opening portion in the actuator base. A covering material such as an adhesive agent that fills the space between the peripheral edge portion of the piezoelectric ceramic element and the actuator base forms a cover portion that covers the opposite end faces and the opposite side faces of the ceramic element.

Abstract: A suspension comprises a load beam fitted with a flexure, an actuator base including a base plate, a hinge member thinner than the base plate, and a pair of piezoelectric ceramic elements. The piezoelectric ceramic elements displace the distal end portion of the load beam in a sway direction when supplied with voltage. Each piezoelectric ceramic element is stored in an opening portion in the actuator base. An electrical insulating cover film is pasted on each piezoelectric ceramic element. The cover film covers the opposite side faces of each piezoelectric ceramic element. The opposite end faces of each piezoelectric ceramic element are covered with an adhesive agent that fixes the element to the actuator base.

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: A piezoelectric actuator is disclosed including an annular piezoelectric element and a base. There is a gap along the radial direction of the annular piezoelectric element. One of the two ends, i.e., the fixed end of the said annular element, is connected to the base, while the other end is free. The base is made of piezoelectric materials. Furthermore, the annular element is divided into two or more annular parts along the direction of its circumference by the electrode patterns applied on its two opposite surface and/or its polarization directions. When driving voltages are applied, the actuator can generate roughly a rotary motion around the center of the annular piezoelectric element. The annular rotary actuator could be either a single plate or with multilayer structure.

Abstract: In a method of producing a micro-actuator, a first adhesive is applied to a movable plate, and a movable electrode is placed on the first adhesive. The movable plate and the movable electrode are clamped between a first stage and a first head, followed by heating for a first predetermined period of time while exerting a first predetermined press load onto the first head to semi-cure the first adhesive. A second adhesive is applied to the movable electrode, and a piezoelectric element is placed on the second adhesive. The movable plate, the movable electrode and the piezoelectric element are clamped between the first stage and a second head, followed by heating for a second predetermined period of time while exerting a second predetermined press load onto the second head to semi-cure the second adhesive. Next, a third adhesive is applied to an actuator base, a base electrode is placed on the third adhesive, and the third adhesive is semi-cured in the same manner as above.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microactuator comprising a movable structure having a symmetric axis about which the movable structure are divided into two parts which can produce the same movement but in opposite directions; two active arms built with piezoelectric material; two stationary structures to connect the two active arms at their two ends, respectively. The invention also relates to a disk drive suspension which is incorporated with the microactuator.

Abstract: A microactuator device for effecting fine positioning of a transducing head with respect to a selected track on a disk having: an S-shaped piezoelectric element with three or more legs having opposite ends, wherein either; 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, or both ends of element affixed to corresponding ends of slider and center affixed to flexure, for obtaining movement of the head transducer to enable fast and accurate tracking of read/write track on a high track density disk. Attachment of the one leg of piezoelectric element to the flexure produces translation movement of the slider and head transducer while attachment of the center leg of the element to flexure and two ends legs to the slider produces a rotary movement of the head transducer.

Abstract: A microactuator device for effecting fine positioning of a transducing head with respect the selected track on a disk, wherein the piezoelectric microactuator element is positioned adjacent to one side of and substantially coextensive with a slider, the slider being attached to the moving end of a flexure, and the two ends of microactuator element are attached to moving end and fixed legs of the flexure and provide rotary motion.

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: 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: There are disclosed a piezoelectric actuator which can obtain large displacement at low voltage, which is small-sized and lightweight, and whose manufacture cost is low, and a small-sized lightweight information storage apparatus in which the piezoelectric actuator is incorporated, and which is provided with a small inertia moment during head driving and a high recording density. A piezoelectric actuator 200 includes a center body 200a and two spiral arms 200b, and two arms 200b are entirely in rotation symmetry and nonlinear symmetry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microactuator comprising a movable structure having a symmetric axis about which the movable structure are divided into two parts which can produce the same movement but in opposite directions; two active arms built with piezoelectric material; two stationary structures to connect the two active arms at their two ends, respectively. The invention also relates to a disk drive suspension which is incorporated with the microactuator.

Abstract: In a magnetic recording apparatus including a support arm movable with respect to a magnetic recording disk, a first actuator for moving the support arm with respect to the magnetic recording disk, a pair of support members at least one of which holds a magnetic head thereon and each of which is connected to the first actuator through the support arm to be driven by the first actuator through the support arm, and a pair of second actuators for moving respectively the support members with respect to the support arm so that the support members are respectively moved with respect to the magnetic recording disk by the first actuator and the second actuators, the second actuators move simultaneously the support members respectively with respect to the support arm in respective directions opposite to each other.

Abstract: A head stack assembly for use in a disk drive includes a body portion having a bore which defines a pivot axis. The head stack assembly includes an actuator arm body extending from the body portion and defining a longitudinal axis. The actuator arm body rotates about the pivot axis. The head stack assembly includes a load beam extending from the actuator arm body. The head stack assembly includes a head connected to the load beam. The head stack assembly includes a linear actuator connected to the body portion. The linear actuator expands and contracts. The head stack assembly includes an actuation linkage interposed between the actuator arm body and the load beam. The actuation linkage is connected to the linear actuator element. Selective expansion/contraction of the linear actuator moves the actuation linkage which moves the load beam and the head with a transverse component relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A microactuator (30) is provided for positioning a read/write head relative to a mounting region of a head suspension assembly of a magnetic disk drive. The microactuator (30) comprises a substantially C-shaped member (32) having a first end (34) and a second end (38) defining an air gap (42) therebetween. In one embodiment the member (32) is a piezoelectric bimorph expander; in another embodiment the member is a ferromagnetic core. Under an applied electric or magnetic field as appropriate, the size of the air gap (42) may be altered and, because the member (32) is resilient, the original air gap may be restored on removing the applied field. The microactuator may be mounted on the load beam of the head suspension assembly, or between the load beam and head slider supporting the read/write head.

Abstract: A head actuator includes a head slider for carrying a head for recording information to or reproducing information from a recording medium; and a head supporting member for supporting the head slider. The head supporting member includes a substrate and a driving element provided on at least one surface of the substrate for generating an expanding and contracting force in a longitudinal direction in accordance with an external signal, wherein the external signal is applied to the driving element so as to expand or contract the head supporting member in the longitudinal direction and to position the head in a radial direction of the recording medium. The head supporting member includes a first area on which the head slider is provided, a second area on which the driving element is provided, and a third area for connecting the first area and the second area. The driving element has a geometrically central face.

Abstract: In a microactuator device (2) having a cut face formed by cutting or splitting, the cut face is subjected to anti-release treatment for preventing release of particles produced by cutting. The microactuator device may have a multilayer structure including a plurality of piezoelectric elements and a plurality of internal electrodes alternately laminated. In this case, the multilayer structure has the above-mentioned cut face. It is preferable that the microactuator device is mounted between a base plate (3) to be fixed and a support spring (5) for supporting a head (4), and that the microactuator device and portions of the base plate and the support spring which are adjacent to the microactuator device are collectively coated with a coating film.