Abstract:
Method and apparatus for a head gimbal assembly (HGA) which incorporates a microactuator. In accordance with various embodiments, a gimbal assembly has a gimbal island disposed within an aperture of a gimbal plate, which is mechanically decoupled from the gimbal island. At least one microactuator element is attached between the gimbal island and the gimbal plate to allow rotation of the gimbal island independent of the gimbal plate. The gimbal assembly is suspended from a dimple which extends from the gimbal island.
Abstract:
An improved microactuator suspension is provided for use with high density storage media. The number of microactuator elements is reduced to one and placed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the suspension arm to maximize the windage and resonance performance and minimize the microactuator's contribution to bending stiffness and the off track bending component. An improved electrical connection eliminates the requirement for a jumper. These improvements reduce cost by reducing part count and assembly complexity.
Abstract:
A system for poling piezoelectric devices comprises a plurality of thin-film components, a plurality of piezoelectric devices, a poling pad for poling the piezoelectric devices, a plurality of traces, and a plurality of current-limiting elements. The thin-film components are separated by dice lanes to form an array, and the piezoelectric devices are formed on the thin-film components. The traces connect the piezoelectric devices across the dice lanes in parallel to the poling pad. Each current-limiting element is connected in series with one of the piezoelectric devices, in order to limit current to individual piezoelectric devices that experience current-related failure.
Abstract:
A head or slider having a sensor element to detect changes in head-media spacing is disclosed. In illustrated embodiments the sensor element includes a piezoelectric sensor layer or similar layer that provides acoustic emission or vibration responsive to changes in head-media spacing. In illustrated embodiments, the sensor element is located proximate to the close point of the head and slider. In embodiments described in the specification, output from the sensor element is utilized to energize a heating element or microactuator to control pole tip protrusion or actuation of transducer elements responsive to changes in head-media spacing.
Abstract:
A process for fabricating piezoelectric elements each having a wrap-around electrode to be used in a differential actuator design where electrical connection is made to the bottom electrode of the element from the top surface of the element. The wrap-around electrode is formed during the creation of the elements instead of on an element by element basis.
Abstract:
A channel senses head-to-disc contact vibrations in a vibrational noise spectrum produced in a mass storage device. The channel includes a suspension system with a suspension modal resonance. The channel includes a vibration sensor that senses head-to-disc contact vibrations through the suspension system. The vibration sensor has a sensor modal resonance that overlaps the suspension modal resonance.
Abstract:
A system for poling piezoelectric devices comprises a plurality of thin-film components, a plurality of piezoelectric devices, a poling pad for poling the piezoelectric devices, a plurality of traces, and a plurality of current-limiting elements. The thin-film components are separated by dice lanes to form an array, and the piezoelectric devices are formed on the thin-film components. The traces connect the piezoelectric devices across the dice lanes in parallel to the poling pad. Each current-limiting element is connected in series with one of the piezoelectric devices, in order to limit current to individual piezoelectric devices that experience current-related failure.
Abstract:
An improved microactuator suspension is provided for use with high density storage media. The number of microactuator elements is reduced to one and placed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the suspension arm to maximize the windage and resonance performance and minimize the microactuator's contribution to bending stiffness and the off track bending component. An improved electrical connection eliminates the requirement for a jumper. These improvements reduce cost by reducing part count and assembly complexity.
Abstract:
Tapered elements fabricated from a substrate of a size many times that of a single element are disclosed. Such tapered elements may be used as piezoelectric microactuators such as in-plane piezoelectric bimorph microactuators. A unique method of fabricating such tapered elements is provided. According to the method, cutting directions are first defined, the substrate is then cut a plurality of times in each cutting direction with adjacent cuts in each cutting direction indexed by proper indexing distances which are determined based on the dimensions of the final tapered elements. In one embodiment of the method, a plurality of optically detectable marks are used to define the cutting directions and cutting means is accordingly optically aligned with the cutting directions.
Abstract:
A disc testing system includes a base, a disc rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. A ramp assembly includes a set of ramps for loading and unloading the sliders and transducing elements carried by the sliders to and from the disc attached to the base. A load spring is attached to the arm of the actuator. A slider is attached to the load spring. The slider further includes a leading edge and a trailing edge. A piezoelectric sensor and a pyroelectric sensor is carried by the trailing edge of the slider. The piezoelectric sensor and the pyroelectric sensor are made from the same material which has both piezoelectric properties and pyroelectric properties. The piezoelectric sensor and the pyroelectric sensor are formed by the same process. The two sensors can also be formed substantially simultaneously. A conductive layer is placed on the trailing edge of the slider followed by a strip of thick film material. Epoxy may be added to the sensors to form a composite of epoxy and lead titanate zirconate.