Design scheme to increase the gain of strain based sensors in hard disk drive actuators

摘要

An actuator arm assembly has an actuator arm and an actuator for moving the actuator arm whereby the arm assembly experiences vibrations. The actuator has a body with a recess formed therein, and a strain sensor is fitted essentially inside the recess such that the sensor generates signals correlated to the vibrations. This arrangement produces a high gain boost from the strain based sensor, making an amplifier circuit unnecessary. The sensor signals are used to damp the vibrations.