The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 31, 1995
Filed:
Apr. 05, 1990
John R Yaeger, Santa Clara County, CA (US);
Seagate Technology, Inc., Scotts Valley, CA (US);
Abstract
A slider lifter for a disc drive is disclosed which utilizes a shape memory element to lift a slider away from the surface of a disc. The slider is supported adjacent the surface of the disc by a flexure which has a lifting wire attached thereto. The lift wire extends past the edge of the rotating disc through a hole in a leaf spring cantilevered adjacent the disc's edge and terminates in a crimped portion or stopper. The stopper is separated from the rear surface of the leaf spring by an unload space. A shape memory metal wire is attached to the leaf spring at a point spaced apart from the lift wire and extends back to a fixed support wall. Energization of the shape memory wire causes a phase change in the shape memory wire which restores the wire to its original length. The shortening of the shape memory wire pulls the leaf spring across the unload space so as to pick up the crimped portion of the lift wire. Further shortening then draws the lift wire such that it lifts the slider off of the surface of the disc. When power is removed, the shape memory allow element again changes phase, thereby releasing the leaf spring which allows the slider to rest on the surface of the disc.