Dynamic information storage or retrieval – Detail of optical slider per se
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-18
2004-12-14
Letscher, George J. (Department: 2653)
Dynamic information storage or retrieval
Detail of optical slider per se
C310S366000, C029S025350
Reexamination Certificate
active
06831889
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a head support mechanism provided in a magnetic disk apparatus for use in a computer storage apparatus and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optimal head support mechanism for high-density data recording, and a thin film piezoelectric actuator suitable for the head support mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the recording density of a magnetic disk provided in a magnetic disk apparatus has been vigorously increased. A magnetic head for use in recording and reproducing data to and from a magnetic disk is typically provided on a slider. The slider carrying the magnetic head is supported on a head support mechanism provided in a magnetic disk apparatus. The head support mechanism has a head actuator arm to which the slider is attached. The head actuator arm is rotated by a voice coil motor (VCM). The head provided on the slider is placed at an arbitrary position on a magnetic disk by controlling the voice coil motor.
High-density data recording on a magnetic disk requires a high level of precise positioning of the magnetic head. In the case where the positioning of the magnetic head is performed by the VCM rotating the head actuator arm, there is a problem in that the positioning of the magnetic head is less precise. To avoid such a problem, a head support mechanism has already been proposed which achieves high-precision positioning of the magnetic head.
FIG. 45
is a top view illustrating a conventional head support mechanism
400
for use in a magnetic disk apparatus. A head
402
is used to record and reproduce data to and from a rotating magnetic disk (not shown). The head
402
is supported on an end portion of a suspension arm
404
. The other end portion of the suspension arm
404
is supported on a projection portion
408
provided in the tip portion of a carriage
406
in such a manner as to rotate within a small angle range on the projection portion
408
. A base portion of the carriage
406
is supported on an axis member
410
fixed to a housing of the magnetic disk apparatus in such a manner as to rotate on the axis member
410
.
A permanent magnet (not shown) is fixed to the carriage
406
. A drive coil
414
as a part of a magnetic circuit
412
fixed to the housing is controlled by an excitation current flowing therethrough. The carriage
406
is rotated on the axis member
410
by interaction of the permanent magnet and the drive coil
414
. Thereby, the head
402
is moved in a substantially radial direction of a magnetic disk.
A pair of piezoelectric elements
416
are provided between the carriage
406
and the suspension arm
404
. The longitudinal directions of the piezoelectric elements
416
are slightly deviated from the longitudinal direction of the carriage
406
in opposite directions. The suspension arm
404
is rotated within a small angular range on the projection portion
408
and along a surface of the carriage
406
by expansion or contraction along a direction indicated by arrow A
14
of the piezoelectric elements
416
. Thereby, the head
402
attached to the tip portion of the suspension arm
404
is moved along a surface of a magnetic disk within a small range so that the head
402
can be precisely placed at a desired position on the magnetic disk.
In the conventional head support mechanism
400
of
FIG. 45
, each piezoelectric element
416
is interposed between the suspension arm
404
and the carriage
406
. Side portions in the longitudinal direction of each piezoelectric element
416
contact the suspension arm
404
and the carriage
406
. Deformation of each piezoelectric element
416
causes the suspension arm
404
to be rotated so that the head
402
is slightly displaced. In other words, a voltage is applied to each piezoelectric element
416
to cause the rotation of the suspension arm
404
, resulting in a small displacement of the head
402
. However, the head
402
does not always follow the voltage applied to each piezoelectric element
416
with great precision. It is thus unlikely that the head
402
is precisely placed at a desired position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, a head support mechanism includes: a slider for carrying a head at least for performing reproduction of data from a disk; and a holding portion for holding the slider. The holding portion includes: a first portion including a first piezoelectric element; a second portion including a second piezoelectric element; a third portion connected to the first and second portions, the slider being provided on the third portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the first and second portions. At least one of the first and second piezoelectric elements is contracted and expanded in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the disk, in the presence of an applied voltage so that the slider provided on the third portion is rotated around a predetermined center of rotation.
In one embodiment of this invention, the head support mechanism further includes a load beam provided at a side of the holding portion opposite to the slider. The load beam includes a dimple projecting toward the slider in such a manner as to apply a load to the slider. The holding portion further includes a first joining portion for joining the first and third portions, and a second joining portion for joining the second and third portions. The dimple is provided at a substantially middle point between the first and second joining portions.
In one embodiment of this invention, the first and second joining portions include first and second elastic hinges, respectively, each having a width sufficient to reduce a load required for rotation of the slider.
In one embodiment of this invention, the first and second portions include first and second conductor patterns provided along the first and second elastic hinges, respectively. The first and second elastic hinges each have a minimum width required for providing the first and second conductor patterns, respectively.
In one embodiment of this invention, the head support mechanism further includes: a load beam provided at a side of the holding portion opposite to the slider; and a slider holding plate provided between the third portion included in the holding portion and the load beam. The load beam includes a dimple projecting toward the slider in such a manner as to press the third portion via the slider holding plate. The slider holding plate has such a shape that the center of gravity of a combination of the slider holding plate and the slider substantially corresponds to the predetermined center of rotation.
In one embodiment of this invention, the load beam includes a regulation portion for regulating the slider holding plate.
In one embodiment of this invention, the dimple contacts a point of the slider holding plate to support the slider holding plate pressing the third portion in such a manner that the third portion can be rotated in all directions including a pitch direction, a roll direction, and a yaw direction.
In one embodiment of this invention, the head support mechanism further includes: a load beam provided at a side of the holding portion opposite to the slider; and a slider holding plate provided between the third portion included in the holding portion and the load beam. The load beam includes a dimple projecting toward the slider in such a manner as to press the third portion via the slider holding plate. The slider provided on the third portion is rotated on the dimple acting as the predetermined center of rotation.
In one embodiment of this invention, the second portion is provided in such a manner that a distance between the second portion and the surface of the disk is substantially equal to a distance between the first portion and the surface of the disk.
In one embodiment of this invention, the first portion includes a first electrode for applying a voltage to the first piezoelectric element; and the second portion includes a second electrod
Kuwajima Hideki
Matsuoka Kaoru
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