Hutchinson Technology Corporation

Jason R Heffelfinger

Jeffry S Bennin

Dennis A Boismier

Brett L Haugen

Scott C Giere

Tony S Peterson

Jason S Griesbach

Dennis M Ingle

Wade A Linnertz

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.

Apparatus for insulating and electronically connecting piezoelectric motor in dual stage actuator suspension from the same side of the suspension

Apparatus for insulating and electrically connecting piezoelectric motor in dual stage actuator suspension

A microactuated head suspension including a mounting region for attachment of the head suspension to a source of primary actuation, a pair of generally arcuate ring springs and a connecting member. The ring springs at spaced locations extending from the mounting region with at least one aperture interposed between the pair of ring springs. Each ring spring having concave sides that are substantially free from linear sections and are oriented away from a longitudinal centerline of the head suspension. The connection member is located opposite the mounting region and is spaced from the mounting region by the at least one aperture. The connection member joins ends of the pair of ring springs. In addition, the head suspension may include at least one microactuator for secondary actuation of the head suspension. The microactuator is operationally mounted relative to the pair of ring springs.

Microactuated head suspension with ring springs

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.

Method for actively controlling the gram load on a disk drive suspension assembly

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. The disk drive suspension that uses a piezoelectric actuator having two or more layers. Each layer of the multi-layer piezoelectric actuator is poled in such a fashion that when energized, some piezoelectric layers contract while others expand, resulting in a curling motion. 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.

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Arden Hills, MN, United States of America

Jason R Heffelfinger