Arm-suspension-pivot bearing integral design

• US 20030231433A1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Boutaghou, Zine-Eddine, Limmer, Joel David
• Granted Patent: US 7,151,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/264.3
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4833 Structure of the arm assembly, e.g. load beams, flexures, parts of the arm adapted for controlling vertical force on the head G11B5/484 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5521 across disk tracks spiral track following G11B5/596
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/596 for track following on disks G11B5/5526, G11B5/5552, G11B5/5565, G11B5/5582 take precedence

Abstract

A solid-state actuation mechanism for use in a data storage system. The actuation mechanism includes an anchor fixedly attached to a housing of the data storage system, a spring member including a first end coupled to the anchor, a suspension coupled to a second end of the spring member, the suspension supporting a data head above a media surface, the suspension being biased by the spring member toward a first position, and an actuation component coupled to the suspension. The actuation component configured to apply an actuation force to the suspension to move the suspension laterally relative to the media surface.

Claims

1. A solid state actuation mechanism for use in a data storage system, comprising:

an anchor fixedly attached to a housing of the data storage system;

a spring member having a first end coupled to the anchor;

a suspension coupled to a second end of the spring member, the suspension supporting a data head above a media surface, the suspension being biased by the spring member toward a first position; and

an actuator component coupled to the suspension, and configured to apply an actuation force to the suspension to move the suspension laterally relative to the media surface.

2. The actuation mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first end of the spring member is stationary relative to the housing.

3. The actuation mechanism of claim 1 wherein the spring member further comprises two arms extending from the anchor to the suspension, the two arms spaced apart from each other.

4. The actuation mechanism of claim 3 wherein the two arms are configured to bend laterally relative to the media surface in response to the applied actuation force.

5. The actuation mechanism of claim 3 wherein the two arms are configured to expand or contract independently of each other in response to the applied actuation force.

6. The actuation mechanism of claim 3 wherein a portion of each of the two arms extends outside a plane defined by major surfaces of the anchor and the suspension.

7. The actuation mechanism of claim 3 wherein the two arms are coupled to a first end of the suspension, and the data head is disposed at a second end of the suspension.

8. The actuation mechanism of claim 3 wherein the actuator component includes a coil attached to a side of the suspension opposite a side facing the media surface.

9. The actuation mechanism of claim 3 wherein the actuator component includes a magnet attached to a side of the suspension opposite a side facing the media surface.

10. The actuation mechanism of claim 2 wherein the spring member, anchor, and suspension are formed from a unitary piece of material

11. The actuation mechanism of claim 1 wherein the coupling between the spring member and the suspension is at a coupling point on a side of the suspension.

12. The actuation mechanism of claim 11 wherein the coupling point generally defines a pivot axis about which the suspension pivots in response to the applied actuation force.

13. The actuation mechanism of claim 12 wherein the coupling point is located between the actuator component and the data head.

14. The actuation mechanism of claim 13 wherein the actuator component is disposed at a first end of the suspension and the data head is disposed at a second end of the suspension.

15. The actuation mechanism of claim 1 wherein the actuator component is disposed on a portion of the anchor.

16. The actuation mechanism of claim 15 wherein the actuator component comprises a voice coil.

17. The actuation mechanism of claim 16 wherein a portion of the coil supports the suspension over the media surface.

18. The actuation mechanism of claim 15 wherein a portion of the actuation component comprises the spring member.

19. The actuation mechanism of claim 18 wherein the spring member is a coil spring.

20. A solid state actuator comprising:

an anchor;

a spring member having a first end coupled to the anchor;

a suspension coupled to a second end of the spring member, the suspension having a proximal end and a distal end;

an actuation component coupled to the proximal end of the suspension;

wherein the actuation component is configured to apply an actuation force to the suspension to move the suspension laterally relative to a plane defined by the anchor and the suspension; and

wherein the spring member biases the suspension to a first position.

21. The solid state actuator of claim 20 wherein the first end of the spring member is stationary relative to the suspension.

22. The solid state actuator of claim 20 wherein the spring member comprises two arms extending from the anchor to the suspension, the two arms spaced apart from each other.

23. The solid state actuator of claim 22 wherein the actuation component includes a coil attached to the suspension.

24. The solid state actuator of claim 22 wherein the anchor, the spring member, and the suspension are formed from a unitary piece of material.

25. The solid state actuator of claim 20 wherein the coupling between the spring member and the suspension is at a coupling point on a side of the suspension located between the proximal and distal ends of the suspension.

26. The solid state actuator of claim 25 wherein the coupling point generally defines a pivot axis about which the suspension pivots in response to the applied actuation force.

27. The solid state actuator of claim 20 wherein the actuation component is disposed on a portion of the anchor.

28. The solid state actuator of claim 27 wherein the actuation component comprises a voice coil.

29. The solid state actuator of claim 28 wherein a portion of the action component comprises the spring member.