Head suspension with modified spring region for improved load control

Abstract

A head suspension for use in a rigid disk drive is provided having an improved load control as provided by its spring region for decoupling the effect of loading from torsion resonance performance and for reducing the load loss caused by backbending. The head suspension includes a load beam having an actuator mounting region, a rigid section, a flexure including a slider bond pad, and a spring region between the actuator mounting region and the rigid section, the spring region having a hinge line defined across its transverse width positioned to permit the offset height to varied from its predetermined position without substantially changing the longitudinal profile of the head suspension. The hinge line is preferably provided substantially at an interface of the actuator mounting region and the spring region to provide the decoupling function. The hinge line preferably comprises a trough partially through the thickness of the material of the spring region and extending completely across the spring region is preferred, which independently reduces load loss associated with backbending of the bend within the spring region. One or more additional partial thickness troughs may also be provided within the spring region for defining the loaded profile of the head suspension for optimizing resonance performance and for further reducing load loss.