Microactuator structure with vibration attenuation properties

• US 6,735,055 B1
• Filed: 05/10/2001
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Boutaghou, Zine-Eddine, Crane, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): OMETZ, DAVID LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/853,061
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 360/294, 360/294.1, 360/294.2, 360/294.3, 360/294.4, 360/294.5, 360/294.6, 360/78.05, 360/245.3, 360/245.4
• US Class Current: 360/294.6
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5552 using fine positioning means for track acquisition separate from the coarse (e.g. track changing) positioning means

Abstract

A microactuator suspension supports a slider. The microactuator suspension has at least a first resilient support extending from a slider attachment pad to a suspension arm attachment pad. The slider attachment pad forms a clip which contacts the slider on side faces of the slider, and the microactuator adds little or nothing to the vertical thickness of the head gimbal assembly. The suspension arm attachment pad attaches to the gimbal with an attachment bridge which is longitudinally balanced relative to the gimbal point and relative to the air bearing centroid of the slider. The resilient supports may be beams having ends which are longitudinally spaced relative to the gimbal point, to the air bearing centroid, and to the attachment bridge to minimize moments and localized stresses on the beams. Dual beam and multiple beam arrangements are provided. The microactuator suspension further provides vibration attenuation at the slider of vibrations experienced by the suspension arm.

Claims

1. A structure for supporting a slider from a suspension arm, the structure comprising:

a microactuator for finely positioning the slider above a surface of a storage medium; and

a microactuator suspension attachable to the suspension arm, the microactuator suspension comprising;

a slider attachment pad;

a first resilient support extending from the slider attachment pad, wherein the first resilient support is flexible and resilient in an x-direction, is comparatively rigid in a z-direction, and damps vibration of the microactuator suspension to provide the microactuator with sufficient stroke to compensate for vibration of the suspension at frequencies up to about 21,000 hertz; and

a suspension arm attachment pad extending from the first resilient support.

2. The structure of claim 1 and further comprising a second resilient support extending from the slider attachment pad, wherein the second resilient support is flexible and resilient in an x-direction, is comparatively rigid in a z-direction, and damps vibration of the microactuator suspension to provide the microactuator with sufficient stroke to compensate for vibration of the suspension at frequencies up to about 21,000 hertz.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the first and second resilient supports comprise flexible beams.

4. The structure of claim 2, wherein the slider attachment pad, first and second resilient supports, and the suspension arm attachment pad are unitarily formed from a metal substrate.

5. A structure for supporting a slider from a suspension arm and minimizing vibration of the slider, the structure comprising:

a slider having a disc-opposing face, a back face opposite the disc-opposing face, and side faces running from the disc-opposing face to the back face; and

a microactuator supporting the slider, the microactuator comprising;

a slider attachment pad attached to the slider;

a first resilient support extending from the slider attachment pad, the first resilient support being flexible and resilient in an x-direction parallel to the disc-opposing face for micro-actuation of the slider and being comparatively rigid in a z-direction perpendicular to the disc-opposing face, wherein the first resilient support damps vibrations at the slider to provide the microactuator with sufficient stroke to compensate for vibration of the slider at frequencies up to about 21,000 hertz; and

a suspension arm attachment pad extending from the first resilient support.

6. The microactuator of claim 5, wherein the microactuator further comprises:

a second resilient support extending from the slider attachment pad to the suspension arm attachment pad, the second resilient support being flexible and resilient in the x-direction for micro-actuation of the slider and being comparatively rigid in the z-direction to dampen vibrations at the slider caused by vibrations of the suspension arm;

wherein the second resilient support damps vibrations at the slider so that the microactuator has sufficient stroke to compensate for vibration of the slider at frequencies up to about 21,000 hertz.

7. The microactuator of claim 5, wherein the first resilient support comprises:

a first beam extending from a leading end to a trailing end and having a first beam length between its leading and trailing ends; and

a second beam extending from a leading end to a trailing end and having a second beam length between its leading and trailing ends;

wherein the first beam length is not equal to the second beam length.

8. The microactuator of claim 5, wherein the first resilient support comprises:

a first beam extending longitudinally from a first beam leading end to a first beam trailing end; and

a second beam extending longitudinally from a second beam leading end to a second beam trailing end, wherein at least one of the second beam leading end and the second beam trailing end is longitudinally offset from a corresponding one of the first beam leading end and first beam trailing end.

9. A slider suspension system in a disc drive for damping vibrations experienced by the slider, the slider suspension system comprising:

an actuator arm for positioning the slider over a selected track of a disc;

a load beam connected to the actuator arm;

a microactuator connected to the load beam for carrying the slider and damping vibrations experienced by the slider, wherein the microactuator comprises a stator and a rotor connected by flexible beam springs, wherein the rotor carries the slider and the flexible beams allow the rotor to move relative to the stator and wherein the microactuator has sufficient stroke to compensate for vibrations of the suspension at frequencies up to about 21,000 hertz.

10. The slider suspension of claim 9 wherein the microactuator comprises flexible beams having a high aspect ratio.

11. The slider suspension of claim 10 wherein a width of the flexible beam is 0.0145 times a length of a length of the beam.

12. The slider suspension of claim 10 wherein the beams are flexible and resilient in the x-direction, but are comparatively rigid in the z-direction.

13. The slider suspension of claim 10 wherein the flexible beams attenuate suspension vibrations occurring at frequencies above the characteristic resonant frequency of the slider suspension.

14. The slider suspension of claim 13 wherein the resonant frequency of the slider suspension occurs at about 1000 hertz.

15. A structure for supporting a slider from a suspension arm, the structure comprising:

a microactuator suspension attachable to the suspension arm, wherein the microactuator suspension comprises;

a slider attachment pad;

a first resilient support extending from the slider attachment pad, wherein the first resilient support is flexible and resilient in an x-direction, is comparatively rigid in a z-direction, and provides the means for damping vibration of the slider; and

a second resilient support extending from the slider attachment pad, wherein the second resilient support is flexible and resilient in an x-direction, is comparatively rigid in a z-direction, and provides the means for clamping vibration of the slider;

wherein the slider attachment pad, first and second resilient supports, and the suspension arm attachment pad are unitarily formed from a metal substrate.

16. A slider suspension system in a disc drive for damping vibrations experienced by the slider, the slider suspension system comprising:

an actuator arm for positioning the slider over a selected track of a disc;

a load beam connected to the actuator arm;

flexible beams having a high aspect ratio connected to the load beam for carrying the slider and damping vibrations experienced by the slider, wherein the flexible beams attenuate suspension vibrations occurring at frequencies above about 1000 hertz, which is about the resonant frequency of the slider suspension.