Piezoelectric microactuator suspension assembly with improved stroke length
First Claim
1. A microactuator for selectively altering a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disc having a plurality of concentric tracks, the disc drive system having a base for attachment to an actuator arm and a head suspension for supporting the slider over the rotatable disc, the microactuator comprising:
- a first and a second microactuation hinge attached between the base and the head suspension, the first and the second microactuation hinges being flexible to permit movement of the head suspension with respect to the base about a virtual pivot; and
means for selectively altering a position of the slider with respect to the rotatable disc by causing rotation of the head suspension about the virtual pivot, including an electroactive element attached between the base and the head suspension such that a length between attachment points exceeds a length between the virtual pivot and either the first or the second microactuation hinge, the electroactive element being deformable in response to an electrical control signal applied thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microactuation system is disclosed for selectively altering a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disk having a plurality of concentric tracks. The disc drive system includes a load beam having a base for attachment to an actuator arm and a head suspension for supporting the slider over the rotatable disc. A microactuation system includes a piezoelectric element attached between the base and the head suspension of the load beam and beams or hinges connecting the head suspension to the base. The piezoelectric element is deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto. The beams are sufficiently compliant to permit movement of the head suspension with respect to the base upon deformation of the piezoelectric elements.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A microactuator for selectively altering a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disc having a plurality of concentric tracks, the disc drive system having a base for attachment to an actuator arm and a head suspension for supporting the slider over the rotatable disc, the microactuator comprising:
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a first and a second microactuation hinge attached between the base and the head suspension, the first and the second microactuation hinges being flexible to permit movement of the head suspension with respect to the base about a virtual pivot; and
means for selectively altering a position of the slider with respect to the rotatable disc by causing rotation of the head suspension about the virtual pivot, including an electroactive element attached between the base and the head suspension such that a length between attachment points exceeds a length between the virtual pivot and either the first or the second microactuation hinge, the electroactive element being deformable in response to an electrical control signal applied thereto.
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2. A microactuator for selectively altering a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disc having a plurality of concentric tracks, the disc drive system having a base for attachment to an actuator arm and a head suspension for supporting the slider over the rotatable disc, the microactuator comprising:
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a first electroactive element attached between the base and the head suspension disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the base and extending across the longitudinal center line, the first electroactive element being deformable in response to an electrical control signal applied thereto; and
a first beam attached between the base and the bead suspension, the first beam being flexible to permit movement of the head suspension with respect to the base upon deformation of the first electroactive element. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A microactuator for selectively altering a position of a transducing head carried by a slider in a disc drive system with respect to a track of a rotatable disc having a plurality of concentric tracks, the disc drive system having a base for attachment to an actuator arm and a head suspension for supporting the slider over the rotatable disc, the microactuator comprising:
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a first electroactive element, disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the base, attached between the base and the head suspension and extending into a cutout window of the head suspension, the first electroactive element being deformable in response to an electrical control signal applied thereto; and
a first beam attached between the base and the head suspension, the first beam being flexible to permit movement of the head suspension with respect to the base. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification