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:
Mar. 22, 2005
Filed:
Aug. 26, 2003
Jeffrey E. Thomsen, Cosmos, MN (US);
Jeffrey E. Thomsen, Cosmos, MN (US);
Hutchinson Technology Incorporated, Hutchinson, MN (US);
Abstract
Method and apparatus for detecting failure in a piezoelectric element on a head suspension for a disk drive by clamping one end of the suspension, mechanically displacing and rapidly releasing the other end of the suspension, monitoring the electrical output of a piezoelectric element on the suspension and comparing the output with a predetermined output, using a clamp, motion actuator, and signal processor. The comparison may be with a predetermined voltage, and the output may be a natural frequency having a fundamental frequency corresponding to individual failure modes including adhesive fracture, piezoelectric element fracture, poling failure or a broken electrical connection.