WO1995015554A1 - Bras flexible pour tete d'enregistrement verticale - Google Patents

Bras flexible pour tete d'enregistrement verticale Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1995015554A1
WO1995015554A1 PCT/US1994/013864 US9413864W WO9515554A1 WO 1995015554 A1 WO1995015554 A1 WO 1995015554A1 US 9413864 W US9413864 W US 9413864W WO 9515554 A1 WO9515554 A1 WO 9515554A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
flexbeam
head
recited
disk drive
assembly
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1994/013864
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Harold J. Beecroft
Original Assignee
Maxtor Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Maxtor Corporation filed Critical Maxtor Corporation
Priority to AU13977/95A priority Critical patent/AU1397795A/en
Publication of WO1995015554A1 publication Critical patent/WO1995015554A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/48—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a flexbeam for a hard disk drive.
  • Hard disk drives contain a disk which rotates relative to a magnetic transducer that is integrated into a head.
  • the transducer can magnetize and sense the magnetic field of the disk.
  • the magnetic head is typically mounted to the end of a flexbeam that is coupled to a voice coil motor.
  • the voice coil motor can move the head relative to the surface of the disk, to read or write data onto different disk tracks.
  • Magnetic transducers have a slider portion which creates an air bearing between the disk surface and the transducer when the disk is rotated.
  • the air bearing separates the head from the disk to prevent wear between the two members.
  • the flexbeam of the disk drive must be flexible enough to allow the transducer to become separated from the disk, but rigid enough to prevent the head from striking the disk surface when the disk drive is subjected to a shock or vibrational load. The impact of the head striking the disk may damage the transducer and/or the disk surface.
  • PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card International Association
  • the PCMCIA cards are essentially the size of a credit card and can be plugged into the slot of any system that conforms with the PCMCIA standard.
  • Hard disk drives have been developed which comply with the PCMCIA standards.
  • PCMCIA cards Because of the small size and the ability to be readily plugged into a system, PCMCIA cards will be carried by the user much like a floppy disk. PCMCIA cards which are carried and handled may be dropped by the end user. Dropping the card will subject the disk drive to a shock load, which may cause the transducer to strike the disk and damage one or both components. Additionally, the shock load may deflect and yield the flexbeam, thereby permanently altering the physical relationship between the head and the disk. It would be desirable to have a flexbeam which is small enough to be incorporated into a hard disk drive which meets the PCMCIA standards but rugged enough to withstand excessive shock loads.
  • the present invention is a flexbeam for a hard disk drive that complies with the PCMCIA specifications.
  • the flexbeam has a magnetic head mounted at a first end and a second end coupled to a voice coil motor assembly. Extending from each side of the flexbeam is a wall which runs along a portion of the beam. The walls increase the stiffness of the flexbeam, so that the beam is not damaged when the disk drive is subjected to a shock load.
  • the portion of the flexbeam that does not have the walls is flexible enough to allow the beam to deflect when an air bearing is formed between the magnetic head and a rotating disk.
  • the flexbeam also has a C shaped slot that allows the head to pivot about the beam.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hard disk drive
  • Figure 2 is a top cross-sectional view of the disk drive
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of a flexbeam of the present invention.
  • Figure 1 shows a hard disk drive card assembly 10 that can be plugged into a computer (not shown) .
  • the assembly 10 includes a housing 12 and a connector 14.
  • the housing has the dimensions of 85.6 x 54.0 x 5.0 millimeters.
  • the dimensions conform with the specifications issued by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) for a type II electronic card.
  • PCMCIA is an association that has promulgated a specification which list dimensions and other requirements for a standard electronic card.
  • Each computer that conforms with the PCMCIA specification will contain slots that can receive a standardized card. With such a standard, electronic cards of one computer can be readily plugged into another computer, regardless of the model or make of the computers.
  • the PCMCIA standard includes three types of cards which each have varying thicknesses.
  • a type I card is approximately 3.3 millimeters thick
  • a type II card is approximately 5.0 millimeters thick
  • a type III card is approximately 10.5 millimeters thick.
  • the computer has a plurality of adjacent slots that are wide enough to receive a type II card. Both the type I and II cards occupy a single slot, while the type III card occupies two slots.
  • Each computer slot contains a 68 pin connector that is typically mounted to a motherboard to provide an interconnect to the computer system.
  • the connector 14 of the card assembly 10 has 68 pins that correspond to the pins of the host connector, so that the card can be plugged into the computer.
  • the card unit 10 contains a magnetic disk 16 which is rotated by a spin motor 18.
  • the magnetic disk 16 rotates relative to an actuator arm assembly 20 which contains a head(s) 22.
  • the head 22 has a transducer that can magnetize and sense the magnetic field of the disk 16.
  • the actuator arm assembly 20 and spin motor 18 are coupled to a printed circuit board 24 located at one end of the card assembly 10.
  • the printed circuit board 24 supports a plurality of electrical components 26 that control the operation of the disk drive 10.
  • the actuator arm assembly 20 includes a voice coil motor 28 which can move the head 22 relative to the disk 16. Coupled to the voice coil motor 28 is a flexbeam 30.
  • the actuator assembly 20 typically has a flexbeam 30 and an accompanying head 22 for each surface of the disk 16.
  • the flexbeam 30 has a first end 32 and an opposite second end 34.
  • the beam 30 also has a first side 36, an opposite second side 38, a first surface 40 and an opposite second surface 42.
  • On each side of the beam 30 is a wall 44 that extends from the first surface 40.
  • the walls 44 only extend along a portion of the beam 30.
  • the walls 44 provide longitudinal stiffness to the flexbeam 30, so that the beam 30 does not yield when subjected to shock or vibrational loads.
  • the non-wall portion of the flexbeam 30 allows the beam 30 to deflect so that the head 22 can be separated from the disk surface by an air bearing.
  • the combination of walled and non-walled portions of the beam 30 provides a flexbeam which is rugged enough to withstand shock loads but flexible enough to allow displacement of the head 22.
  • the flexbeam 30 is constructed from either titanium or 304 stainless steel.
  • the beam is preferably 0.500 inches wide long, 0.020 inches wide along the first end 32 and 0.092 inches wide along the second end 34.
  • the wall 44 is preferably 0.248 inches long and the unwalled portion of the beam 70 has dimensions of approximately 0.210 inches.
  • the head 22 is mounted to the first end 32 of the flexbeam 30.
  • the head 22 is bonded to the tip of the beam 30 and supported by a dimple 46 in the first end 32.
  • the load of the head 22 is transmitted to the beam primarily through the dimple 46.
  • the flexbeam 30 also has a C shaped slot 48 in the first end 32.
  • the C shaped slot 48 creates flexibility in the first end 32 and allows the head 22 to pivot about the beam 30.
  • the dimple 46 separates the head 22 from the first surface 40 so that the beam 30 does not interface with the pivotal movement of the head 22.
  • a flexible circuit board 50 Extending along the first surface 40 of the beam 30 is a flexible circuit board 50 which has a pair of conductive traces 52 that couple the head 22 to the electronics 26 on the printed circuit board 24.
  • the flexible circuit board 50 has a pair of leads (not shown) that are connected to the head 22 and a pair of surface pads 54 located at the second end 34 of the beam 30.
  • a pair of wires are soldered to the surface pads 54 and printed circuit board 24, to couple the head 22 to the electronics 26.

Landscapes

  • Moving Of Heads (AREA)
  • Supporting Of Heads In Record-Carrier Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Bras flexible (30) pour disque dur (10) satisfaisant aux normes PCMCIA et muni d'une tête magnétique (22) montée à sa première extrémité et couplé à sa seconde extrémité à un moteur à bobine mobile (28). De part et d'autre du bras se trouve un rebord (44) qui s'étend sur une partie de sa longueur et a pour but de le raidir et d'empêcher les dégâts qui pourraient survenir en cas de choc. La partie du bras sans rebord est assez flexible pour qu'il fléchisse sous l'effet du coussin d'air formé entre la tête magnétique et le disque en rotation. Le bras présente par ailleurs une fente en C permettant à la tête de pivoter autour du bras.
PCT/US1994/013864 1993-12-02 1994-12-02 Bras flexible pour tete d'enregistrement verticale WO1995015554A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU13977/95A AU1397795A (en) 1993-12-02 1994-12-02 Flexbeam for vertical recording head

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US16177993A 1993-12-02 1993-12-02
US161,779 1993-12-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1995015554A1 true WO1995015554A1 (fr) 1995-06-08

Family

ID=22582690

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1994/013864 WO1995015554A1 (fr) 1993-12-02 1994-12-02 Bras flexible pour tete d'enregistrement verticale

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU1397795A (fr)
WO (1) WO1995015554A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2193833A (en) * 1986-08-12 1988-02-17 Hutchinson Technology Magnetic head arm assembly
JPS6417276A (en) * 1987-07-10 1989-01-20 Hitachi Ltd Magnetic head supporting body
US5198945A (en) * 1990-11-09 1993-03-30 Hutchinson Technology Incorporated Magnetic head suspension

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2193833A (en) * 1986-08-12 1988-02-17 Hutchinson Technology Magnetic head arm assembly
JPS6417276A (en) * 1987-07-10 1989-01-20 Hitachi Ltd Magnetic head supporting body
US5198945A (en) * 1990-11-09 1993-03-30 Hutchinson Technology Incorporated Magnetic head suspension

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1397795A (en) 1995-06-19

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