Suspension assembly gimbal load beam stiffener

Details Suspension assembly gimbal load beam stiffener Suspension assembly gimbal load beam stiffener

1998-05-22

2001-04-10

Cao, Allen T. (Department: 2754)

Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval

Head mounting

Disk record

Reexamination Certificate

active

06215627

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to disc drive storage devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved disc drive suspension assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Disc drives are the primary mass data storage devices used in modern computers. Within disc drives, one or more discs store data on their surfaces. Data may be stored magnetically, optically, or through a combination of both methods. The storage discs are rotated while heads, carrying appropriate transducers fly just above the disc surfaces. The heads fly in such close proximity to the disc surfaces that the transducers optically or magnetically couple to the disc surfaces to either read data from or write data to the discs.
In disc drives, the head flight is a very important design characteristic. If the head flies too far away from the disc surface the resolution with which the head couples data to the disc surface will be decreased. Alternatively, if the head flies too close to the disc surface, it may actually crash into the disc surface thereby damaging the disc, the head, or both. To further complicate the issue, disc surfaces are generally not entirely free from defects, and are not always perfectly flat. As a result, the head will be required to pitch and roll with the topography of the rotating disc throughout flight. However, in order to keep the head on track, in-plane deflection must be minimized during flight. Generally, the heads are coupled to an actuator via a load beam and a gimbal. The gimbal allows the heads to pitch and roll with sufficient compliance, but is also designed to be rigid for in-plane deflection.
The market continually presses disc drive manufacturers to provide greater data capacities and higher data access rates at lower costs. Thus, the art is continually in need of improvements which is increase access speed, and durability, without increasing costs significantly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A disc drive includes a spindle motor, a spindle, a disc, control circuitry, an actuator, and an armature. The spindle motor is coupled to the spindle to which the disc is also coupled. The control circuitry is coupled to the actuator and provides the actuator with control signals. The control circuitry is also operably coupled to the head. The armature includes a load beam coupled to the actuator such that energization of the actuator displaces the load beam. The gimbal is coupled to the head and is also coupled to the load beam by a plurality of spaced apart attachment points.


REFERENCES:
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