DSA suspension with microactuators extending to gimbal through flexible connectors

摘要

A dual stage actuated (DSA) suspension includes two PZT microactuators that are attached at their first ends to a non-gimbaled portion of the suspension such as the portion of the flexure that is rigidly attached to the load beam, and are attached at their second ends to the gimbaled portion of the suspension such as the gimbal tongue through flexible connectors that can be formed integrally with the suspension's flexure. The flexible connectors are flexible enough so as not to interfere with the suspension's gimballing action. The flexible connectors transmit force from the PZTs to the gimbal as the PZTs expand and contract in order to rotate the gimbal and thus effect fine movements of the head slider.

主权项

1. A dual stage actuator (DSA) type suspension for a disk drive, the suspension comprising:
a load beam; a gimbaled portion including a head slider, the gimbaled portion being attached in gimbaled fashion to the load beam so that the head slider pitches and rolls freely in response to surface irregularities in a surface of a data disk as the data disk travels underneath the head slider; a linear microactuator having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the linear microactuator being attached at its first end to a non-gimbaled portion of the suspension; and a flexible stainless steel connector having a first end and a second end, the first end of the flexible stainless steel connector being attached to the second end of the microactuator, and the second end of the flexible stainless steel connector being attached to the gimbaled portion of the suspension; wherein when the linear microactuator contracts, it pulls the flexible connector which in turn pulls the gimbaled portion thereby rotating the gimbaled portion to effect fine movements of the head slider, the flexible stainless steel connector being sufficiently flexible to allow the gimbaled portion to rotate.