Remote-operated integrated microactuator, in particular for a read/write transducer of hard disks

• US 6,809,907 B1
• Filed: 07/20/1999
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Menescardi, Carlo, Zerbini, Sarah, Vigna, Benedetto, Sassolini, Simone
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brian E.
• Application Number:
  US09/357,442
• Time in Patent Office: 1,925 Days
• Field of Search: 360/294--29, 360/264.5, 360/246.7, 360/78.05
• US Class Current: 360/294.3
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 21/02 Driving or moving of heads
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 1/006 of the gap-closing type H02N1/004 takes precedence

Abstract

A microactuator comprises a motor element including a stator and a rotor capacitively coupled to the stator; an actuator element having a circular structure; and a transmission structure interposed between the motor element and the actuator element to transmit a rotary movement of the motor element into a corresponding rotary movement of the actuator element. In particular, the transmission structure comprises a pair of transmission arms identical to each other, arranged symmetrically with respect to a symmetry axis of the microactuator. The transmission arms extend between two approximately diametrically opposed regions of the rotor to diametrically opposed regions of the actuator element.

Claims

1. An integrated microactuator, comprising:

a motor including a stator element and a rotor element coupled reciprocally thereto, the rotor element including a fixed support structure and plural rotor arms movably connected to the support structure and movable in a plane;

a separate actuator element spaced laterally from the motor; and

a transmission structure extending outwardly from said motor to said actuator element to transmit a movement of said motor into a corresponding movement of said actuator element.

2. The microactuator according to claim 1 wherein said actuator element is arranged adjacently to said motor and wherein said transmission structure comprises at least one connection element extending between said motor and said actuator element.

3. The microactuator according to claim 1 wherein said motor and said actuator element have a circular structure and wherein said transmission structure comprises first and second transmission arms extending between said motor and said actuator element and arranged on opposite sides with respect to a symmetry axis of said microactuator.

4. The microactuator according to claim 3 wherein said first and second transmission arms are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides with respect to said axis.

5. The microactuator according to claim 3 wherein said first and second transmission arms connect approximately diametrically opposed portions of a peripheral region of said rotor element substantially diametrically opposed regions of said actuator element.

6. The microactuator according to claim 1 wherein said motor element and said actuator element have a circular structure and wherein said transmission structure comprises:

a transmission arm extending between said motor element and said actuator element in an inclined direction with respect to a symmetry axis of said microactuator.

7. The microactuator according to claim 1 wherein said actuator element has a circular structure and said motor element is of a linear type, wherein said rotor element comprises a suspended mass of a substantially elongated shape, and wherein said transmission structure comprises a transmission arm extending between said suspended mass and said actuator element in a direction transverse to said suspended mass.

8. The microactuator according to claim 7 wherein said transmission arm extends between a central zone of said suspended mass and a peripheral zone of said actuator element in a direction perpendicular to said suspended mass.

9. The microactuator according to claim 1 wherein said motor element and said actuator element have a circular structure and wherein said transmission structure comprises first and second transmission arms extending in a mutually aligned manner along a symmetry axis and joined by a hinge portion, wherein the hinge portion is connected to a fixed region of said microactuator through two sections substantially perpendicular to said first and second transmission arms.

10. An integrated microactuator, comprising:

a motor element including a stator element and a rotor element coupled reciprocally thereto;

a separate actuator element;

a transmission structure interposed between said motor element and said actuator element to transmit a movement of said motor element into a corresponding movement of said actuator element;

wherein said motor element and said actuator element have a circular structure and wherein said transmission structure comprises;

first and second transmission arms extending towards said actuator element from said motor element and arranged on opposite sides with respect to a symmetry axis of said microactuator; and

a third transmission arm having a T-shape and interposed between said first and second transmission arms and said actuator element.

11. The microactuator according to claim 10 wherein said first and second transmission arms are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides with respect to said symmetry axis, are parallel to each other, and extend from adjacent sections of a peripheral region of said rotor element.

12. The microactuator according to claim 10 wherein said third arm comprises:

a first portion extending at right angles between said first and second transmission arms; and

a second portion parallel to said first and second transmission arms, coaxial to said symmetry axis, and connecting said first portion to a peripheral zone of said actuator element.

13. A read/write system for a hard disk, the system comprising:

a suspension device positionable over a region of the hard disk;

an integrated microactuator connected to the suspension device, the microactuator comprising;

a motor having a stator element capacitively coupled to a rotor element, wherein the rotor element moves with respect to the stator element if a voltage is applied to the motor, and the rotor element including a fixed support structure and plural rotor arms movably connected to the support structure and movable in a plane;

an separate actuator element spaced laterally from the motor;

a transmission structure extending outwardly from said motor to said actuator element to transmit a movement of the rotor element into a corresponding movement of the actuator element; and

a read/write transducer operatively coupled to the actuator element, wherein the transducer moves over the region of the hard disk in response to the corresponding movement of the actuator element.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the actuator element is arranged adjacently to the motor and wherein the transmission structure comprises a transmission arm connected to a peripheral region of the rotor element and to the actuator element.

15. The microactuator according to claim 13 wherein said motor and said actuator element have a circular structure and wherein said transmission structure comprises first and second transmission arms extending between said motor and said actuator element and arranged on opposite sides with respect to a symmetry axis of said microactuator.

16. The microactuator according to claim 15 wherein said first and second transmission arms are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides with respect to said axis.

17. The microactuator according to claim 15 wherein said first and second transmission arms connect approximately diametrically opposed portions of a peripheral region of said rotor element to substantially diametrically opposed regions of said actuator element.

18. The microactuator according to claim 13 wherein said motor and said actuator element have a circular structure and wherein said transmission structure comprises:

first and second transmission arms extending towards said actuator element from said motor and arranged on opposite sides with respect to a symmetry axis of said microactuator; and

a third transmission arm having a T-shape and interposed between said first and second transmission arms and said actuator element.

19. The microactuator according to claim 18 wherein said first and second transmission arms are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides with respect to said symmetry axis, are parallel to each other, and extend from adjacent sections of a peripheral region of said rotor element.

20. The microactuator according to claim 18 wherein said third arm comprises:

a first portion extending at right angles between said first and second transmission arms; and

a second portion parallel to said first and second transmission arms, coaxial to said symmetry axis, and connecting said first portion to a peripheral zone of said actuator element.

21. A method of providing an integrated microactuator for a read/write transducer of a hard disk, the method comprising:

providing a motor having a rotor element and a stator element;

capacitively coupling the rotor element to the stator element, wherein the rotor element includes a fixed support structure and plural rotor arms movable connected to the support structure and movable in a plane;

positioning an separate actuator element spaced laterally from the motor;

connecting a transmission structure extending outwardly from said motor to said actuator element to transmit a movement of said motor into a corresponding movement of said actuator element; and

using the transmission structure to transmit a movement of the rotor element into a corresponding movement of the actuator element.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the connecting the transmission structure includes providing a transmission arm extending between the motor and the actuator element.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

mounting the integrated microactuator to a suspension; and

connecting the transducer to the actuator element.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the connecting the transmission structure includes providing a pair of transmission arms extending between the motor and the actuator element and arranged on opposite sides with respect to a symmetry axis of the microactuator.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the connecting the transmission structure includes connecting the transmission structure to a peripheral region of the rotor element.

26. The method of claim 21 further comprising applying a voltage to the motor to move the rotor element with respect to the stator element.