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:
Jan. 27, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 08, 2000
Wayne A. Bonin, North Oaks, MN (US);
Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Vadnais Heights, MN (US);
Roger L. Hipwell, Jr., Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Barry D. Wissman, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Lee Walter, Plymouth, MN (US);
Barbara J. Ihlow-Mahrer, Crystal, MN (US);
Seagate Technology LLC, Scotts Valley, CA (US);
Abstract
A microactuator is built at the slider level to achieve high resolution positioning of a transducing head with respect to a track of a rotatable disc having a plurality of concentric tracks in a disc drive system. The slider includes a main body carried by a flexure. A stator portion extends from the main body, and a plurality of beams extend from the stator portion, the beams being flexible in a lateral direction. A rotor portion is connected to the stator portion by the plurality of beams, forming a gap between the stator portion and the rotor portion. The rotor portion carries the transducing head. A plurality of stator electrodes are formed on the stator portion, and a plurality of rotor electrodes are formed on the rotor portion to confront the stator electrodes across the gap. Control circuitry applies selected voltages to the stator electrodes and the rotor electrodes to create a force in the lateral direction for moving the rotor portion with respect to the stator portion of the slider, thereby finely positioning the transducing head.