Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head mounting – Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
1994-11-14
2003-07-29
Tupper, Robert S. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head mounting
Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
active
06600631
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electromagnetic read/write, information storage and retrieval systems, and in particular, to the structural merging in such systems of electrical and mechanical functionality, and to ancillary matters that surface as structural, organizational opportunities as a result of such merging. Recognizing that the various features of the invention can have important applicability in a wide range of kinds of such systems (e.g., rigid-disk, floppy-disk, drum, tape, etc. systems), the description which follows herein focuses attention on rigid-disk systems—an arena which is most central in today's commercial applications. Accordingly, specification and claim references made herein to rigid disks should be read to include these other-kinds-of-media systems.
Given the merged-functionality aspect of the present invention, many features thereof, accordingly, focus upon improvements in mechanical load-bearing and in motion-articulating characteristics of transducers, and of flexures which carry such transducers, that are used in these kinds of systems. In this context, the field of the invention encompasses systems wherein (a) a read/write transducer flies over a media recording surface, (b) such a transducer is intended for contact-capable operation, and operates with intermittent media-surface contact, and (c) such a transducer is intended for contact-capable operation, and operates in substantially continuous contact with a media recording surface.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the march of progress which has characterized ongoing development of disk-drive, electromagnetic read/write systems, the quests for enlargement of a real recording density, and for improved-quality read/write signal communication between a disk's recording surface and a transducer, have been high on the list of technical interest and relentless pursuit. This situation has been reflected, inter alia, in significant reductions in components' sizes and masses, by reductions in the “effective masses” of those components which react dynamically during read/write operations, and in dramatic reduction in the separation which exists between the working read/write zone of a transducer and a disk's recording surface. These advances include, according to an important line of development by the Censtor Corporation of San Jose, Cali., system embodiments in which a read/write transducer operates in substantially continuous sliding contact with such a recording surface. The latter line of advancement in the art of disk-drive recording is well illustrated and expressed in the parent patent and patent applications which have been set forth hereinabove.
Pausing for a moment at this point to focus upon prior art efforts by others to bring about size reductions, it is important to bear in mind that these prior art changes have, by and large, been accomplished with what might be thought of as a segregated rather than a merged focus upon the three core functionalities—electrical, mechanical and magnetic—of read/write transducers and supporting flexures. In other words, prior art thinking has looked upon the respective components in this environment which offer each of the individual functionalities as being essentially independent of the other-functionality components. As a consequence, there has been somewhat of a naturally perceived limit in how far one can go to bring about significant size reduction—a limit dictated by functional performance constraints, and even more appreciably, probably, by manufacturing-costs and manufacturing-capabilities constraints.
Specifically, and looking for a moment just at the issue of mechanical load bearing, prior art thinking has been based upon the notion that once necessary mechanical load-bearing requirements are known, all of that structure which has been looked upon in the past as being the sole constituent attending to that functionality can only be reduced in size just so much if it is to remain practically manufacturable. However, beginning with the work of Hal Hamilton as such is expressed in the above-referred-to '932 patent, a new kind of thinking has entered this art, whereby “merger of functionality” is viewed as providing an opportunity for retaining all necessary electrical, mechanical and magnetic capability, while at the same time allowing for substantial shrinking of overall size, and actual improvement in practical manufacturability. More particularly, in the Hamilton '932 disclosure, there surfaces a recognition that electrical current-carrying structure can be utilized significantly to carry mechanical load, and conversely, that mechanical load-bearing structure can be utilized significantly to carry electrical current. In other words, what might be thought of as singular-character structure, or material, functions in multiple ways. Not only does this unique way of thinking about merged-functionality yield surprising size- and mass-reduction opportunities, but also it tends to lead toward structures which are inherently simpler in form and in construction, and less complex and costly to fabricate.
It is this “merged-functionality” view which underlies key contributions made to the art by the present invention.
Continuing, and directing attention to other matters upon which this invention is focussed, in the ever more intimate environment of the interface between a disk's recording surface and a read/write transducer, and in addition to the size, mass, effective mass and spacing issues just generally expressed, many other considerations sit as important participants at the table of key technical concerns. For example, tight control over, and maintenance of, a very precise XYZ spacial location of a transducer in relation to a disk surface is critical, as is the ability of the transducer and supporting flexure structure to respond rapidly and fluidly to disk-surface topographical features, and/or to other things and events which require speedy, accommodating, operating-attitude adjustment. This kind of adjustment must take place in a manner minimizing as much as possible any occasions of signal-communication drop-out, and in a manner free of disruptive resonance vibrations. Attention also must be addressed to damping and shock-absorbing issues.
All of these considerations need to be taken into account as well (a) in systems where a transducer flies over a disk's recording surface, (b) in systems where contact operation occurs (intermittently or continuously), and (c) in systems which, on the one hand, have gimbaled transducer structures, and on the other hand, non-gimbaled transducer structures.
In the gimbaled transducer setting, the merged functionality focus aspect of the invention opens the door to the fabrication and use of a load-bearing transducer chip which has a substantially planar body, with plural, projecting disk-surface contact feet, or pads, and which can operate, relative to a disk's recording surface, with substantially a zero-angle-of-attack, and with the read/write portion of the transducer in intimate contact with that surface. This, in turn, offers the opportunity for electromagnetic design which occupies space in the plane of the body, and which allows for placement of the read/write zone anywhere relative to that body.
Given the above remarks and comments, it is an important object of the present invention to offer transducer/flexure improvements along the lines just suggested —focused on the notion of structural merging, for example, of electrical and mechanical functionality.
A related object of the invention is to provide such improvements which lead toward simple, low-cost, low-mass structures that offer the opportunity for appreciable enlargement in areal density of recorded information, with reliable and improved signal-communication characteristics.
Thus, an important object is to provide a head/flexure structure which includes load-bearing (merged-functionality) conductors.
A related object is to provide a head/flexure structure in which th
Baldwinson Michael A.
Berding Keith R.
Hamilton Harold J.
Martin Timothy W.
Censtor Corp.
Kolisch & Hartwell, P.C.
Tupper Robert S.
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