Laminated suspension for a negative pressure slider in a data recording

Abstract

A data recording disk file uses a laminated suspension for supporting a negative pressure slider in a manner which prevents the read/write transducer on the slider from contacting the disk surface and which eliminates the effect of stiction. The laminated suspension is a flat, flexible sheet of material bonded on both sides to patterned metal layers. The suspension comprises an arm portion for attachment to the actuator support arm, a slider portion to which the slider is attached, and a link portion interconnecting the arm and slider portions. The first metal layer is preferably stainless steel and the second metal layer is preferably copper. The arm and link portions of the stainless steel layer are spaced apart to form a hinge of flexible material. The portion of either the copper or stainless steel near the hinge region is prestressed or bent so that the link portion of the laminated suspension is biased toward the disk surface. A second similar hinge region is located between the link and slider portions of the laminated suspension and the copper or stainless steel near that hinge region is similarly bent so that only one edge of the slider contacts the disk surface when the disk is not rotating. When the disk file is turned on and the disk is at sufficient speed, the static pressure differential between opposite sides of the suspension and the slider overcome the spring forces in the two hinge regions and pull the slider into its air-bearing operational relationship with the disk surface.