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
  • G11B5/4806—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 specially adapted for disk drive assemblies, e.g. assembly prior to operation, hard or flexible disk drives
  • G11B5/4826—Mounting, aligning or attachment of the transducer head relative to the arm assembly, e.g. slider holding members, gimbals, adhesive
• • 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
  • G11B5/4806—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 specially adapted for disk drive assemblies, e.g. assembly prior to operation, hard or flexible disk drives
  • G11B5/4833—Structure of the arm assembly, e.g. load beams, flexures, parts of the arm adapted for controlling vertical force on the head

Definitions

• This disclosure relates to the field of suspensions for hard disk drives. More particularly, this disclosure relates to the field of gimbal assemblies for a suspension.
• Disk storage devices typically include a frame to provide attachment points and orientation for other components, and a spindle motor mounted to the frame for rotating the disk.
• a head slider includes a read/write head for writing and reading data to and from the disk surface.
• the head slider is supported and properly oriented in relationship to the disk by a suspension that provides both the force and compliance necessary for proper head slider operation. As the disk in the storage device rotates beneath the head slider and head suspension, the air above the disk also rotates, thus creating an air bearing which acts with an aerodynamic design of the suspension to create a lift force.
• Suspensions for disk drives include a load beam and a flexure.
• the load beam typically includes a mounting region for mounting the suspension to an actuator of the disk drive, a rigid region, and a spring region between the mounting region and the rigid region.
• the spring region provides a spring force to counteract the aerodynamic lift force generated on the suspension during the drive operation as described above.
• the flexure typically includes a gimbal region having a slider mounting surface where the head slider is mounted. The gimbal region is resiliently moveable with respect to the remainder of the flexure in response to the aerodynamic forces generated by the air bearing. The gimbal region permits the head slider to move in pitch and roll directions and to follow disk surface fluctuations.
• Disk drive manufacturers continue to develop smaller yet higher storage capacity drives. Storage capacity increases are achieved in part by increasing the density of the information tracks on the disks (i.e., by using narrower and/or more closely spaced tracks). As track density increases, however, it becomes increasingly difficult for the motor and servo control system to quickly and accurately position the read/write head over the desired track. Attempts to improve this situation have included the provision of a another or secondary actuator or actuators, such as a piezoelectric, electrostatic or electromagnetic actuator or fine tracking motor, mounted on the head suspension itself. These types of actuators are also known as microactuation devices and may be located at the base plate, the load beam or on the flexure.
• the trace gimbal includes outer struts including a front outrigger at a distal end of the trace gimbal and a rear outrigger at a proximal end of the trace gimbal.
• the front outrigger includes a distal front outrigger and a proximal front outrigger
• the rear outrigger includes a distal rear outrigger and a proximal rear outrigger.
• the trace gimbal further includes a middle strut extending in a width direction of the trace gimbal and adjoining the proximal front outrigger to the rear outrigger, and an inner strut connecting the middle strut to a slider tongue.
• the inner strut and the middle strut adjoin the outer gimbal struts to the slider tongue.
• the trace gimbal further comprises at least one microactuator mounted on the slider tongue, wherein the inner strut supports the slider tongue.
• the proximal front outrigger includes a first cross-section and distal front outrigger includes a second cross-section, wherein a width of the second cross-section width is about a same dimension as the first cross-section of the proximal front outrigger.
• the first cross-section and the second cross-section of the front outrigger is between 0.05 millimeters (“mm”) and 0.10 mm.
• the distal rear outrigger includes a first cross-section and the proximal rear outrigger includes a second cross-section larger than the first cross-section.
• the first cross-section of the distal rear outrigger is between 0.10 mm and 0.20 mm.
• the inner strut includes a distal end and a proximal end, a distal end of the middle strut connects to the distal end of the inner strut, and the proximal end of the inner strut connects to the slider tongue.
• the inner strut generally extends from the distal end of the middle strut toward a proximal end of the trace gimbal to connect to the slider tongue.
• the front outrigger and the middle strut generally form a C-shape or U-shape.
• a cross section of the middle strut is about the same as the first and second cross-sections of the front outrigger.
• a suspension comprising the trace gimbal according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is also provided.
• the trace gimbal further comprises at least one microactuator mounted on the slider tongue, wherein the inner strut supports the slider tongue.
• the proximal front outrigger includes a first cross-section and distal front outrigger includes a second cross-section, wherein a width of the second cross-section width is about a same dimension as the first cross-section of the proximal front outrigger.
• the first cross-section and the second cross-section of the front outrigger is between 0.01 mm and 0.10 mm.
• the distal rear outrigger includes a first cross-section and the proximal rear outrigger includes a second cross-section larger than the first cross-section.
• the first cross-section of the distal rear outrigger is between 0.01 mm and 0.10 mm.
• the inner strut includes a distal end and a proximal end, a distal end of the middle strut connects to the distal end of the inner strut, and the proximal end of the inner strut connects to the slider tongue.
• the inner strut generally extends from the distal end of the middle strut toward a proximal end of the trace gimbal to connect to the slider tongue.
• the front outrigger and the middle strut generally form a C-shape or U-shape.
• a cross section of the middle strut is about the same as the first and second cross-sections of the front outrigger.
• Figure 1 illustrates a gimbal assembly of a suspension according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 2 illustrates roll stiffness and torsional frequencies of a gimbal according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 3A illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary mode shape of a first gimbal torsion according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 3B illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary mode shape of a second gimbal torsion according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
• Figure 3C illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary mode shape of a third gimbal torsion according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
• the improved trace gimbal is part of suspension for a magnetic or optical disk drive unit.
• the disk drive unit includes a spinning magnetic or optical disk, which contains a pattern of magnetic ones and zeroes on it that constitutes the data stored on the disk drive.
• the disk is driven by a drive motor.
• the disk drive unit includes a suspension with a load beam, a base plate, and a trace gimbal to which a head slider is mounted proximate the distal end of the trace gimbal.
• the proximal end of a suspension or load beam is the end that is supported, i.e., the end nearest to a base plate which is swaged or otherwise mounted to an actuator arm.
• the distal end of a suspension or load beam is the end that is opposite the proximal end, i.e., the distal end is the cantilevered end.
• the trace gimbal is coupled to a base plate, which in turn is coupled to a voice coil motor.
• the voice coil motor is configured to move the suspension arcuately in order to position the head slider over the correct data track on the magnetic disk.
• the head slider is carried on a gimbal, which allows the slider to pitch and roll so that it follows the proper data track on the spinning disk, allowing for such variations without degraded performance. Such variations typically include vibrations of the disk, inertial events such as bumping, and irregularities in the disk's surface.
• the trace gimbal described herein is part of a dual stage actuation (DSA), tri-stage, or other type of actuated suspension.
• the suspension can include a base plate and a load beam.
• the load beam includes a trace gimbal.
• the trace gimbal can include mounted actuators and a gimbal assembly. The actuators are operable to act directly on the gimbaled assembly of the suspension that is configured to include the read/write head slider.
• the trace gimbal can include at least one actuator joint configured to receive an actuator.
• the trace gimbal includes two actuator joints, located on opposing sides of the trace gimbal. Each actuator joint includes actuator mounting shelves.
• each actuator spans the respective gap in the actuator joint.
• the actuators are affixed to the slider tongue by an adhesive.
• the adhesive can include conductive or non-conductive epoxy strategically applied at each end of the actuators.
• the positive and negative electrical connections can be made from the actuators to the trace gimbal by a variety of techniques. When the actuator is activated, it expands or contracts producing movements of the read/write head that is mounted at the distal end of suspension thereby changing the length of the gap between the mounting ends.
• the suspension can be configured as a single-stage actuation suspension, a dual-stage actuation device, a tri-stage actuation device or other configurations.
• the tri-stage actuation suspension includes actuators respectively located at the mount plate region and on the trace gimbal at the same time. Conceivably, any variation of actuators can be incorporated onto the suspension for the purposes of the examples disclosed herein. In other words, the suspension may include more or less components than those shown without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The components shown, however, are sufficient to disclose an illustrative example for practicing the disclosed principles.
• Figure 1 illustrates a trace gimbal 100, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
• the trace gimbal 100 includes at least one microactuator 450 mounted on a slider tongue 130.
• the trace gimbal 100 includes outer gimbal struts.
• the outer gimbal struts include a front outrigger 110 at a distal end of the trace gimbal 100.
• the front outrigger includes a proximal front outrigger 114 and a distal front outrigger 112.
• the distal front outrigger 112 and the proximal front outrigger 114 are defined by a bend or non-linear feature of the front outrigger 110.
• the distal front outrigger 112 and the proximal front outrigger 114 are non-distinguishable, and may be adjoined at a linear feature that does not physically separate the two features.
• the proximal front outrigger 114 includes a first cross-section and distal front outrigger 112 includes a second cross-section, wherein a width of the second cross- section width is about a same dimension as the first cross-section of the proximal front outrigger.
• the first cross-section and the second cross-section of the front outrigger is between 0.01 mm and 0.10 mm.
• the outer struts also include a rear outrigger 140 at a proximal end of the trace gimbal 100.
• the rear outrigger 140 includes a proximal rear outrigger 144 and a distal rear outrigger 142.
• a length direction of the trace gimbal 100 is defined as the direction extending from the proximal end and distal end of the trace gimbal 100.
• the distal rear outrigger 142 and the proximal rear outrigger 144 are defined by a bend or non-linear feature of the rear outrigger 140.
• the rear outrigger 140 is a linear feature.
• the distal rear outrigger 142 and the proximal rear outrigger 144 are non-distinguishable, and may be adjoined at a linear feature that does not physically separate the two features.
• the distal rear outrigger 142 includes a first cross-section and the proximal rear outrigger 144 includes a second cross-section larger than the first cross-section.
• the first cross-section of the distal rear outrigger is between 0.01 mm and 0.10 mm. In some embodiments, the first cross-section of the distal rear outrigger is about the same as the first and second cross-sections of the front outrigger.
• the trace gimbal 100 also includes a middle strut 120 extending in a width direction of the trace gimbal 100 (essentially in a direction orthogonal to the length direction of the trace gimbal 100 for some embodiments) and connecting the front outrigger 110 to the rear outrigger 140.
• the front outrigger 110 and the rear outrigger 140 adjoin at the proximal end of the middle strut 120.
• the front outrigger 110 and the middle strut 120 generally form approximately a C-shape or U-shape.
• a cross-section of the middle strut 120 is between 0.01 mm and 0.10 mm.
• the cross-section of the middle strut 120 is about the same as the first and second cross-sections of the front outrigger.
• the trace gimbal 100 also includes an inner strut 150 extending from the slider tongue 130 and connecting the middle strut 120 to the slider tongue 130.
• the inner strut 150 (as well as the middle strut 120) supports the slider tongue 130 onto which a read/write head is assembled.
• the inner strut 150 includes a distal end 152 and a proximal end 154.
• the distal end of the middle strut 120 connects to the distal end 152 of the inner strut 150 and the proximal end 154 of the inner strut 150 connects to the slider tongue 130.
• the inner strut 150 generally extends from the distal end of the middle strut 120 toward a proximal end of the trace gimbal 100 to connect to the slider tongue 130.
• a width of a cross-section in a central portion of the inner strut 150 is larger than the width of the cross-sections of the proximal front outrigger 114, the distal front outrigger 112, and the middle strut 120.
• the first cross-section and the second cross-section of the front outrigger is between 0.01 mm and 0.10 mm.
• the first cross-section of the distal rear outrigger is between 0.01 mm and 0.10 mm.
• a cross-section of the middle strut 120 is between 0.01 mm and 0.10 mm.
• the width of the cross-section of the central portion of the inner strut is between 0.10 mm and 0.25 mm.
• the gimbal torsion frequency can be related to the mass and stiffness of the gimbal configuration, e.g., the outrigger and middle and inner struts.
• a stiffer gimbal structure can provide a higher gimbal torsion frequency in general, but high stiffness is undesirable as it reduces the flexibility of the gimbal tongue to pitch and roll freely.
• the shorter and narrower front outrigger in a section where there is more movement at the gimbal torsion frequencies, enables the gimbal torsion frequencies to be increased while the roll stiffness can be maintained.
• a more narrow width can lower the mass of the outrigger and help to increase the gimbal torsion frequencies.
• the more narrow width can also help to maintain the gimbal roll stiffness in a reasonable range.
• the middle strut connecting the outrigger can increase the rigidity of the gimbal, increase the gimbal torsion frequencies, and maintain the gimbal roll stiffness.
• a gimbal As shown in Figure 2, a gimbal according to some embodiments of the present disclosure demonstrate improved gimbal torsional frequencies; specifically, the first gimbal torsion is 14.1 kilohertz (“kHz”) (a 1.5 kHz increase relative to the gimbal torsion of present gimbal configurations), the second gimbal torsion is 17.0 kHz (a 1.5 kHz increase relative to the second gimbal torsion of present gimbal configurations), and the third gimbal torsion is 28.6 kHz (a 4.3 kHz increase relative to the third gimbal torsion of present gimbal configurations).
• kHz kilohertz
• Figures 3A-C demonstrate exemplary mode shapes of the first gimbal torsion, second gimbal torsion, and third gimbal torsion.

Landscapes

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

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=83363626

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (4)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (49)

• 2022
  • 2022-03-24 US US17/703,827 patent/US11715490B2/en active Active
  • 2022-03-25 PH PH1/2022/551161A patent/PH12022551161A1/en unknown
  • 2022-03-25 WO PCT/US2022/022056 patent/WO2022204577A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2022-03-25 JP JP2023558887A patent/JP2024511185A/ja active Pending
• 2023
  • 2023-06-09 US US18/207,764 patent/US12300281B2/en active Active

Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events