Load beam fine actuator protection feature
By designing an enhanced opening structure on the load beam of the hard disk drive to prevent the flexural portion from contacting the load beam, the problem of damage to the PZT element of the precision actuator under non-operational shocks is solved, improving the reliability and dynamic performance of the PZT.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-24
AI Technical Summary
In existing hard disk drives, the precision actuator PZT element is easily damaged under non-operational shocks, resulting in a decline in mechanical integrity and functional performance. Furthermore, the narrow-width load beam design is impractical in HAMR load beams.
A reinforced opening structure is designed on the load beam to prevent the flexure from contacting the load beam during an impact event, providing mechanical clearance between the flexure and the load beam to protect the integrity of the precision actuator PZT element.
It improves the reliability and lifespan of the precision actuator PZT, enhances its actuation and dynamic performance, avoids contact damage between the load beam and the flexural part, and improves the survivability of the HGA under non-operational impacts.
Smart Images
Figure CN121725832A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention may relate generally to hard disk drives, and more specifically to the clearance characteristics of a load beam universal joint for protection against impact stress in fine actuators. Background Technology
[0002] A hard disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile storage device that is housed in a protective casing and stores digitally encoded data on one or more circular disks with magnetic surfaces. When an HDD is in operation, each magnetic recording disk is rapidly rotated by a spindle system. Read / write heads (or "transducers") positioned above specific locations on the disk by actuators read data from and write data to the magnetic recording disks. The read / write heads use magnetic fields to write data onto and read data from the surface of the magnetic recording disks. The write head operates by utilizing the current flowing through its coils, thereby generating a magnetic field. Electrical pulses are sent to the write head in different modes of positive and negative current. The current in the coils of the write head generates a localized magnetic field in the gap between the head and the disk, which in turn magnetizes a small area on the recording medium.
[0003] HDDs include at least one head gimbal assembly (HGA) and a suspension, the HGA typically including a slider housing a read / write transducer (or "head"). Each slider is attached to a free end of the suspension, which in turn extends from a rigid arm cantilever of an actuator. Several actuator arms can be combined to form a single movable unit, typically with a rotary pivot bearing system, known as a head stack assembly (HSA). The suspension of a conventional HDD typically includes a relatively rigid load beam with a mounting plate at its base end, which is attached to an actuator arm, and a flexure (at least a portion of which may be referred to as a "gimbal" or "gimbal flexure") mounted at the free end of the actuator arm, which carries the slider and the read / write head of that slider. Positioned between the mounting plate and the functional end of the load beam is essentially a compliant "hinge" in the vertical bending direction (perpendicular to the disk surface). This hinge allows the load beam to suspend and load the slider and read / write head toward the rotating disk surface. Therefore, the function of the flexure is to provide universal support for the slider, allowing it to pitch and roll to adjust its orientation. However, customer specifications and / or common design and operational constraints include operational shock (or “op shock”) and non-operational shock (or “non-op shock”) requirements, which typically relate to the HDD’s resistance or tolerance to mechanical shock events during operation and when not in operation, respectively.
[0004] Any method that may be described in this section is a feasible method, but not necessarily a method that has been previously conceived or implemented. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, no method described in this section should be considered prior art simply because it is included in this section. Attached Figure Description
[0005] The embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings by way of example rather than limitation, in which the same reference numerals refer to similar elements and wherein:
[0006] Figure 1 This is a floor plan of a hard disk drive according to an implementation scheme;
[0007] Figure 2A This is a slider-side plan view illustrating the head universal joint assembly (HGA);
[0008] Figure 2B This is a perspective view illustrating heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) HGA;
[0009] Figure 2C This is an example Figure 2B Side plan view of the load beam of HAMR HGA;
[0010] Figure 3 It is related to the non-operational impact deflection conditions. Figures 2B to 2C The sectional view corresponding to the HGA;
[0011] Figure 4 This is an example of a load beam side plan view of an HGA according to the implementation scheme;
[0012] Figure 5 It is based on the implementation plan and under non-operational impact deflection conditions. Figure 4 The sectional view corresponding to the HGA;
[0013] Figure 6 This is an example of the implementation plan and Figure 2C HGA and Figure 4 A plan view of the load beam opening corresponding to the HGA; and
[0014] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing a magnetic head universal joint assembly according to an implementation scheme. Detailed Implementation
[0015] Generally, a method for describing the universal joint clearance characteristics of a load beam for shock stress protection of a fine actuator in a hard disk drive (HDD) is described. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth for purposes of explanation in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention described herein. However, it will be apparent, however, that the embodiments of the invention described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices may be shown in block diagram form to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments of the invention described herein.
[0016] introduction
[0017] the term
[0018] References to "implementation," "an embodiment," etc., herein are intended to mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. However, instances of such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
[0019] The term "substantially" should be understood as describing features that are mostly or nearly structured, constructed, or sized, but in practice, manufacturing tolerances and other factors may cause the structure, configuration, dimensions, etc., to not always or necessarily be as precise as described. For example, describing a structure as "substantially vertical" would give the term its general meaning, implying that the structure is vertical for all practical purposes, but may not always be precisely at 90 degrees.
[0020] While terms such as “optimal,” “minimum,” “maximum,” “maximize” may not have certain values associated with them, if used herein, it is intended that those skilled in the art will understand such terms to include values, parameters, measures, etc., that influence in a beneficial direction consistent with the whole of this disclosure. For example, describing the value of something as “minimum” does not require that the value is actually equal to some theoretical minimum (e.g., zero), but should be understood in a practical sense as the corresponding objective being to move that value toward the theoretical minimum in a beneficial direction.
[0021] Context
[0022] In addition to primary voice coil motor (VCM) actuators that provide relatively coarse positioning, the ever-increasing areal density (a measure of the amount of information bits that can be stored on a given area of the disk surface) has led to the necessity of developing and implementing secondary and even tertiary actuators (often referred to as “fine actuators”) to improve head positioning through relatively fine positioning. Some HDDs employ milli-actuator or micro-actuator designs to provide second and / or third-stage actuation of the recording head, enabling more precise head positioning relative to the recording tracks. Milli-actuators can be broadly classified as actuators that move the entire front end of the suspension (e.g., load beam, flexure, and slider) and are typically used as second-stage actuators. Micro-actuators (or “micro-actuators”) can be broadly classified as actuators that only move (e.g., rotate) the slider, thereby moving the slider relative to the suspension and load beam, or only moving the read / write element relative to the slider body. Microactuators can be used alone in conjunction with a first-stage actuator (e.g., a VCM), or in conjunction with a first-stage actuator and a second-stage actuator (e.g., a milliactuator) for more precise head positioning. Unless otherwise specified, the terms “microactuator,” “milliactuator,” “secondary actuator,” “tertiary actuator,” “two-stage actuator,” “fine actuator,” etc., as used herein generally refer to a relatively fine-positioning actuator (e.g., technically secondary or tertiary) used in conjunction with a primary actuator for relatively coarse-tuning positioning, such as a VCM actuator in an HDD context. Piezoelectric (PZT) based transducers and capacitively micromachined transducers are two types of fine actuators developed for use with HDD sliders.
[0023] Another method to increase areal density involves the use of heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). With HAMR, a laser source (e.g., a laser diode) is integrated into the magnetic recording head slider. Laser diodes are fragile and generally unsuitable for direct mechanical attachment to the head slider. Therefore, a base assembly can be used to mount the laser diode to the slider body. By adding such HAMR components to the otherwise conventional head slider, additional mechanical tolerances and constraints, as well as different structural dynamics, are also introduced into the slider-suspension design.
[0024] Recall that the function of the flexure is to provide universal support for the slider, allowing it to pitch and roll to adjust its orientation. Further recall, customer specifications and / or common design and operational constraints include non-operating shock (“non-op shock”) requirements, which typically relate to the HDD’s resistance or tolerance to mechanical shock events. Figure 2A This is a side plan view of the slider of an example head universal joint assembly (HGA). Figure 2B This is a perspective view illustrating heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) HGA, and Figure 2C This is an example Figure 2BA side plan view of the load beam of the HAMR HGA. The head universal joint assembly (HGA) 200 includes a suspension assembly that includes a flexure 202 movably coupled to the load beam 203. A slider 204 is mounted on the flexure 202 (e.g., on a "flexure tongue" portion or a "universal joint tongue" portion), and although the flexure 202 is securely coupled to the load beam 203 via at least one weld, the HGA 200 is designed and configured such that the flexure 202 with the slider 204 can rotate universally (e.g., pitch and roll) about a recess 203d. Here, the slider 204 is depicted as an HAMR slider that includes a base 204h to which the laser is coupled, and the load beam 203 also includes a distal opening 203o-2 passing through it, the distal opening being positioned to cover the base 204h.
[0025] When the HDD and by extension the HGA 200 are subjected to non-op shocks, the precision actuator PZT element 208 (or simply "PZT 208") is subjected to shock vibration stress, which may cause the PZT to develop hairline cracks or completely break. This is particularly possible for universal joint-based PZT actuator suspension designs, as the universal joint portion of the flexure 202 is designed for the flight capability of the read / write head (e.g., slider 204), and therefore the universal joint can pivot and bounce in response to contact with the load beam 203 during a non-op shock event. For example, see reference... Figure 2C The flexural portion 202, shown as the leading edge (LE) portion 202le passing through the clearance opening 203o-1, can contact the load beam 203 during such an event.
[0026] Figure 3 It is related to the non-operational impact deflection conditions. Figures 2B to 2C The corresponding sectional view of the HGA. Note that slider 204 is depicted facing upwards, not like... Figures 2B to 2C It faces downwards as shown in the middle. It should also be noted that the flexural portion 202 is a fairly thin component and is constructed to be structurally flexible. Recall that the flexural portion 202 is constructed such that it interacts with the recess 203d of the load beam 203 (here depicted in simplified form as a membrane). Figures 2B to 2CUpon contact, the flexure rotates in all directions. Crucially, the flexure 202 is significantly flexible / elastic, and therefore its response to impact events is complex, i.e., significant. As depicted, a portion of the flexure 202 (including the flexure portion LE 202le, specifically together with the slider 204) flexes downward at some point in response to an impact event. Here, the flexure portion LE 202le is shown as about to contact the load beam 203 at marked area 205 as part of the downward flexing response. Additionally, the PZT 208 is depicted here as slightly bending in response to the impact event and the subsequent response of the flexure 202. This bending stress, combined with the significant stress induced further on the PZT 208 in response to the actual contact between the flexure 202 and the load beam 203, can compromise the structural integrity of the fine actuator PZT 208.
[0027] Therefore, protecting and ensuring the mechanical integrity of the precision actuator PZT (e.g., PZT 208) is a goal associated with maintaining its functional performance and reliability, as any failure of the PZT could be catastrophic for the HDD. One approach could involve increasing the thickness of the PZT to make it more resistant to impact stresses. However, this would result in an increase in the universal joint mass, which could degrade the actuation and dynamic performance of the universal joint. Another approach could involve implementing a narrow-width load beam design, which is not necessarily practical in the context of HAMR load beams due to the typical laser diode attachment opening (e.g., opening 203o-2 in load beam 203). Therefore, protecting the integrity of the precision actuator PZT elements, such as in response to non-op impact events, regarding the universal joint clearance relative to the deflection of the load beam remains a challenge.
[0028] Load-bearing beam with openings to avoid contact
[0029] Figure 4 This is an example of a load-bearing beam side plan view of an HGA according to an implementation scheme. It is similar in some respects to... Figures 2A to 2C The HGA 200, with its head universal joint assembly (HGA) 400, includes a suspension assembly comprising a flexure 402 movably coupled to a load beam 403. A slider 204 is mounted on the flexure 402 (e.g., on a "flexure tongue" portion or a "universal joint tongue" portion), and although the flexure 402 is securely coupled to the load beam 403 via at least one weld, the HGA 400 is designed and configured such that the flexure 402 with the slider 204 can rotate universally (e.g., pitch and roll) about a recess 403d. According to an embodiment, the slider 204 is configured as a HAMR slider, which includes a base 204h (…). Figure 4The laser is connected to the base, and the load beam 403 also includes a distal opening 403o-2 passing through it, which is positioned to cover the base 204h.
[0030] Generally, this also applies when the HDD and by extension the HGA 400 are subjected to non-op impacts, the fine actuator PZT element 208 is subjected to impact vibration stress, which may damage the PZT. However, given the reinforced openings 403o-1 of the load beam 403, the leading edge (LE) portion 402le of the flexure 402, shown as passing through one or more openings 403o-1, is prohibited from contacting the load beam 403 during such an event. This is because each opening 403o-1 of the load beam 403 is shaped and positioned to cover the corresponding corner portion of the LE portion 402le of the flexure 402 (e.g., the LE portion of the tongue portion) to avoid contact between the load beam 403 and the corner portion of the LE portion 402le in response to an impact event. Figure 5 It is based on the implementation plan and under non-operational impact deflection conditions. Figure 4 The corresponding sectional view of the HGA. Note that slider 204 is depicted facing upwards, not like... Figure 4 Facing downwards as depicted. As shown, a portion of the flexure 402 (including the flexure LE portion 402le, specifically together with the slider 204) can still flex downwards at some point in response to an impact event. Here, the flexure LE portion 402le is depicted to indicate that this flexure LE portion will not be part of the downward flexure response. Figure 3 The load beam 403 (described here in simplified form as a membrane) contacts region 205. Therefore, some degree of stress (e.g., impact stress) induced in the PZT 208 in response to the contact between the deflection 402 and the load beam 403 is avoided, and thus damage to the fine actuator PZT 208 is also avoided / prevented. Studies have shown that, compared to, for example, for HGA 200 ( Figures 2A to 3 Compared to the configurations of PZT 208 described and described in the previous section, PZT 208 exhibits significantly improved survivability under non-op impacts for the configurations described and described for HGA 400.
[0031] Figure 6 This is an example of the implementation plan and Figure 2C HGA and Figure 4 A plan view of the load beam opening corresponding to the HGA. Opening 403o-1 of HGA 400 is shown superimposed on opening 203o-1 of HGA 200. This comparison illustrates that opening 403o-1 is typically longer and wider than opening 203o-1 near the end, thus providing the desired clearance with the flexural portion 402. Figures 4 to 5According to the embodiment, each opening 403o-1 of the load beam 403 includes: a distal edge 403o-1a; a proximal edge 403o-1b, which is opposite to the distal edge 403o-1a and has a length greater than that of the distal edge 403o-1a; an inner edge 403o-1c, which connects the distal edge 403o-1a and the proximal edge 403o-1b; and an outer edge 403o-1d, which is opposite to the inner edge 403o-1c and includes a distal portion 403o-1d-1, which extends from the distal edge 403o-1a to the proximal portion 403o-1d-2 at an angle greater than 90 degrees for most of the distance between the distal edge 403o-1a and the proximal edge 403o-1b. This shape or similar shape of the opening 403o-1 provides the desired physical / mechanical clearance between the flexural portion 402 and the load beam 403 in the context of an impact event.
[0032] Method for assembling the head universal joint assembly
[0033] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing a magnetic head universal joint assembly according to an implementation scheme. Figure 7 The head joint assembly (HGA) assembled, manufactured, and produced by this method is designed and constructed to be implemented in a hard disk drive (HDD) (see example...). Figure 1 ).
[0034] At frame 702, a load beam is formed, which includes a plurality of proximal openings passing through it. For example, load beam 403 is formed to have a plurality of proximal openings 403o-1 passing through it.
[0035] At frame 704, a flexure is connected to the slider side of the load beam, wherein the flexure includes a universal joint portion to which a plurality of piezoelectric actuator elements are connected, and the universal joint portion includes a leading edge corner portion near the piezoelectric actuator elements, and wherein each opening in the load beam is shaped and positioned to cover each corresponding corner portion of the flexure to avoid contact between the load beam and the corner portion in response to an impact event. For example, a flexure 402 is coupled to the slider side of a load beam 403, wherein the flexure 402 includes a universal joint (or tongue) portion to which a plurality of piezoelectric (PZT) actuator elements 208 are coupled, and the universal joint portion includes a leading edge corner portion 402le near the PZT 208, and wherein each opening in the openings 403o-1 of the load beam 403 is shaped and positioned to cover each corresponding corner portion 402le of the flexure 402 to avoid contact between the load beam 403 and the corner portion 402le in response to an impact event.
[0036] Therefore, given the implementation scheme described herein, for example in response to non-op impact events, a flexural universal joint clearance relative to the load beam is provided / implemented to protect the integrity of the fine actuator PZT element. This enhances PZT reliability and lifespan, and enables the use of thinner / lighter PZTs, which improves the actuation and dynamic performance of the PZT.
[0037] Physical description of illustrative operational scenarios
[0038] The implementation scheme can be used in contexts such as digital data storage devices (DSDs) like hard disk drives (HDDs). Therefore, according to the implementation scheme, Figure 1 A floor plan of a typical HDD 100 is shown to help illustrate how a typical HDD usually operates.
[0039] Figure 1 The functional arrangement of components of an HDD 100, including a slider 110b, is illustrated. The slider includes a magnetic read / write head 110a. The slider 110b and head 110a are collectively referred to as the head slider. The HDD 100 includes at least one head gimbal assembly (HGA) 110 with the head slider, a lead suspension 110c typically attached to the head slider via a flexure, and a load beam 110d attached to the lead suspension 110c. The HDD 100 also includes at least one recording medium 120 rotatably mounted on a spindle 124 and a drive motor (not visible) attached to the spindle 124 for rotating the medium 120. The read / write head 110a (also referred to as a transducer) includes a write element and a read element for writing and reading information stored on the medium 120 of the HDD 100, respectively. The medium 120 or multiple disk media can be attached to the spindle 124 using a disk clip 128.
[0040] HDD 100 also includes an arm 132, a carriage 134, and a voice coil motor (VCM) attached to HGA 110. The VCM includes an armature 136 containing a voice coil 140 attached to the carriage 134 and a stator 144 containing a voice coil magnet (not visible). The armature 136 of the VCM is attached to the carriage 134 and configured to move the arm 132 and HGA 110 to access the media 120, and they are collectively mounted on a pivot shaft 148 having an inserted pivot bearing assembly 152. In the case of an HDD with multiple disks, the carriage 134 may be referred to as an "E-block" or comb because the carriage is arranged to carry a linked array of arms, thus giving it a comb-like appearance.
[0041] An assembly including a head universal joint assembly (e.g., HGA 110) with a flexure to which the head slider is coupled, an actuator arm (e.g., arm 132) and / or load beam to which the flexure is coupled, and an actuator (e.g., VCM) to which the actuator arm is coupled, can be collectively referred to as a head stack assembly (HSA). However, an HSA may include more or fewer components than those described. For example, an HSA may refer to an assembly that also includes electrical interconnect components. Generally, an HSA is an assembly configured to move the head slider to access a portion of the medium 120 for read and write operations.
[0042] Further reference Figure 1 Electrical signals, including those written to and read from the magnetic head 110a (e.g., current to the voice coil 140 of the VCM), are transmitted via a flexible cable assembly (FCA) 156 (or “flexible cable”, or “flexible printed circuit” (FPC)). The interconnect between the flexible cable 156 and the magnetic head 110a may include an arm electronics (AE) module 160, which may have an onboard preamplifier for the read signal and other read and write channel electronics. The AE module 160 may be attached to a carriage 134, as shown. The flexible cable 156 may be coupled to an electrical connector block 164, which in some configurations provides electrical communication via an electrical feedthrough provided by the HDD housing 168. The HDD housing 168 (or “housing base”, “substrate”, or simply “base”) together with the HDD cover provides a semi-sealed (or hermetically sealed, in some configurations) protective enclosure for the information storage components of the HDD 100.
[0043] Other electronic components, including the disk controller and servo electronics including a digital signal processor (DSP), provide electrical signals to the drive motor, the voice coil 140 of the VCM, and the magnetic head 110a of the HGA 110. The electrical signals provided to the drive motor enable it to rotate, thereby providing torque to the spindle 124, which is then transmitted to the medium 120 attached to the spindle 124. The medium 120 thus rotates in direction 172. The rotating medium 120 forms an air cushion that acts as an air bearing on which the air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider 110b is mounted, allowing the slider 110b to fly above the surface of the medium 120 without contacting the thin magnetic recording layer on which information is recorded. Similarly, in HDDs utilizing gases lighter than air (such as helium used in a non-limiting example), the rotating medium 120 forms an air cushion that acts as a gas or fluid bearing on which the slider 110b is mounted.
[0044] The electrical signal supplied to the voice coil 140 of the VCM enables the head 110a of the HGA 110 to access the track 176 on which information is recorded. Therefore, the armature 136 of the VCM swings through an arc 180, allowing the head 110a of the HGA 110 to access the individual tracks on the medium 120. Information is stored in multiple radially nested tracks on the medium 120, which are arranged in sectors (such as sector 184) on the medium 120. Accordingly, each track is composed of multiple sectorized track portions (or “track sectors”) such as sectorized track portions 188. Each sectorized track portion 188 may include recorded information and a data header containing error correction code information and a servo burst signal pattern, such as the ABCD-servo burst signal pattern (which is information identifying track 176). When accessing track 176, the read element of the head 110a of the HGA 110 reads a servo burst signal pattern, which provides a positioning error signal (PES) to the servo electronics. This controls the electrical signal supplied to the voice coil 140 of the VCM, enabling the head 110a to follow track 176. Upon locating track 176 and identifying a specific sectored track portion 188, the head 110a either reads information from track 176 or writes information to track 176 according to instructions received by the disk controller from an external agent (e.g., the microprocessor of a computer system).
[0045] The electronic architecture of an HDD includes multiple electronic components for performing their respective HDD operating functions, such as a hard disk controller (“HDC”), an interface controller, an arm electronics module, a data channel, a motor driver, a servo processor, a buffer memory, etc. Two or more of these components may be combined on a single integrated circuit board called a “system-on-a-chip” (“SOC”). Several (if not all) of these electronic components are typically arranged on a printed circuit board that is attached to the bottom side of the HDD, such as to the HDD housing 168.
[0046] This article references hard drives, such as references Figure 1The illustrated and described HDD 100 may include information storage devices sometimes referred to as “hybrid drives.” A hybrid drive generally refers to a storage device that combines the functionality of a conventional HDD (see, for example, HDD 100) with a solid-state storage device (SSD) that uses non-volatile memory (such as flash memory or other solid-state (e.g., integrated circuit) memory) that is electrically erasable and programmable. Because the operation, management, and control of different types of storage media are typically different, the solid-state portion of a hybrid drive may include its own corresponding controller functionality, which may be integrated with the HDD functionality into a single controller. Hybrid drives can be built and configured to operate and utilize the solid-state portion in a variety of ways, such as, by way of non-limiting example, using the solid-state memory as cache memory for storing frequently accessed data, for storing I / O (input / output) intensive data, etc. Additionally, hybrid drives can be built and configured essentially as two storage devices, namely a conventional HDD and an SSD, in a single housing, with one or more interfaces for host connectivity.
[0047] Expansion and Replacement
[0048] In the foregoing description, embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to numerous specific details, which may vary depending on the specific implementation. Therefore, various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the embodiments. Accordingly, the invention, and the applicant's intended sole and exclusive indicator of the invention, is the set of claims in the specific form issued by this patent application, including any subsequent amendments. Any definitions of terms expressly set forth herein that are included in these claims shall determine the meaning of those terms as used in the claims. Therefore, any limitations, elements, properties, features, advantages, or attributes not expressly cited in the claims shall not in any way limit the scope of these claims. Therefore, this specification and the accompanying drawings are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
[0049] Furthermore, in this description, certain process steps may be shown in a specific order, and alphanumeric labels may be used to identify certain steps. Unless explicitly stated in the specification, the implementation is not necessarily limited to any particular order in which such steps are performed. Specifically, these labels are for convenience of identification only and are not intended to specify or require a particular order in which such steps are performed.
Claims
1. A head universal joint assembly (HGA), the head universal joint assembly (HGA) comprising: A load-bearing beam, the load-bearing beam including a proximal opening therethrough; and A flexural portion, which is connected to the load-bearing beam, comprises: The tongue portion has a fine actuator connected to it, and the tongue portion includes a corner portion near the fine actuator. The opening of the load beam is shaped and positioned to cover the corner portion of the tongue portion of the flexure to avoid contact between the load beam and the corner portion in response to an impact event.
2. The HGA of claim 1, wherein the opening in the load beam further covers at least a portion of the fine actuator.
3. The HGA of claim 1, wherein the fine actuator comprises a pair of piezoelectric elements.
4. The HGA of claim 1, wherein the opening of the load beam comprises more than four edges.
5. The HGA of claim 1, wherein the opening in the load beam comprises: distal edge; The proximal edge is opposite to the distal edge and has a length greater than that of the distal edge; Inner edge, the inner edge connecting the distal edge and the proximal edge; and An outer edge, which is opposite to the inner edge and includes a distal portion, wherein for most of the distance between the distal edge and the proximal edge, the distal portion extends from the distal edge to the proximal portion at an angle greater than 90 degrees, and the proximal portion extends from the distal portion to the proximal edge.
6. The HGA according to claim 1, wherein: The proximal opening through the load-bearing beam is a first lateral opening; The load beam also includes a second lateral opening that is opposite to the first lateral opening around the centerline of the load beam; The corner portion of the tongue portion of the flexure is a first lateral corner portion; The tongue portion of the flexure also includes a second lateral corner portion that is opposite to the first lateral corner portion and surrounds the center line of the flexure; and The second lateral opening of the load beam is shaped and positioned to cover the second lateral corner portion of the tongue portion of the flexure to avoid contact between the load beam and the second lateral corner portion in response to an impact event.
7. A hard disk drive, the hard disk drive comprising the HGA according to claim 1.
8. A hard disk drive (HDD), the hard disk drive (HDD) comprising: A recording disk medium, which is rotatably mounted on a spindle; A means for reading from and writing to the recording disk medium in the recording disk medium; A means for moving multiple head sliders to access portions of the recording disk medium; and A head universal joint assembly (HGA), which is coupled to the device for movement, the HGA comprising: A load-bearing beam, the load-bearing beam including a proximal opening therethrough, and The flexural portion is connected to the load-bearing beam, wherein: The flexural portion includes a tongue section, to which a fine actuator is connected, and The tongue portion includes a corner portion near the fine actuator. The opening of the load beam is shaped and positioned to cover the corner portion of the tongue portion of the flexure to avoid contact between the load beam and the corner portion in response to an impact event.
9. The HDD of claim 8, wherein the opening in the load beam further covers at least a portion of the fine actuator.
10. The HDD of claim 8, wherein the fine actuator comprises a pair of piezoelectric elements.
11. The HDD of claim 8, wherein the opening of the load beam comprises more than four edges.
12. The HDD of claim 8, wherein the opening in the load beam comprises: distal edge; The proximal edge is opposite to the distal edge and has a length greater than that of the distal edge; Inner edge, the inner edge connecting the distal edge and the proximal edge; and An outer edge, which is opposite to the inner edge and includes a distal portion, wherein for most of the distance between the distal edge and the proximal edge, the distal portion extends from the distal edge to the proximal portion at an angle greater than 90 degrees, and the proximal portion extends from the distal portion to the proximal edge.
13. The HDD according to claim 8, wherein: The proximal opening through the load-bearing beam is a first lateral opening; The load beam also includes a second lateral opening that is opposite to the first lateral opening around the centerline of the load beam; The corner portion of the tongue portion of the flexure is a first lateral corner portion; The tongue portion of the flexure also includes a second lateral corner portion that is opposite to the first lateral corner portion and surrounds the center line of the flexure; and The second lateral opening of the load beam is shaped and positioned to cover the second lateral corner portion of the tongue portion of the flexure to avoid contact between the load beam and the second lateral corner portion in response to an impact event.
14. The HDD according to claim 8, wherein: The device for reading and writing includes a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head slider, the HAMR head slider including a base, and a laser coupled to the base; and The load-bearing beam also includes a distal opening therethrough, the distal opening being positioned to cover the base.
15. A method for manufacturing a head universal joint assembly (HGA), the method comprising: A load-bearing beam is formed, the load-bearing beam including at least one proximal opening therethrough; as well as The flexural section is connected to the slider side of the load beam; in: The flexural portion includes a universal joint section, to which at least one piezoelectric actuator element is coupled. The universal joint portion includes at least one leading edge corner portion near the at least one piezoelectric actuator element, and Each opening in the load beam is shaped and positioned to cover each corresponding corner portion of the universal joint portion of the flexure, so as to avoid contact between the load beam and the corner portion in response to an impact event.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein connecting the flexural portion further comprises: The flexural portion is connected such that the opening in the load beam also covers at least a portion of the at least one piezoelectric fine actuator element.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein: Forming the load-bearing beam includes: forming a plurality of proximal openings therethrough; The flexural portion includes the universal joint section, to which multiple piezoelectric precision actuator elements are connected; and The universal joint portion includes multiple leading edge corner portions, wherein each corner portion is proximal to one of the piezoelectric fine actuator elements.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein forming the load beam comprises: Forming the at least one opening, wherein each opening includes: distal edge; The proximal edge is opposite to the distal edge and has a length greater than that of the distal edge; Inner edge, the inner edge connecting the distal edge and the proximal edge; and An outer edge, which is opposite to the inner edge and includes a distal portion, wherein for most of the distance between the distal edge and the proximal edge, the distal portion extends from the distal edge to the proximal portion at an angle greater than 90 degrees, and the proximal portion extends from the distal portion to the proximal edge.
19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head slider is attached to the flexure portion, the HAMR head slider including a base, and a laser connected to the base; and The load-bearing beam also includes a distal opening therethrough, the distal opening being positioned to cover the base.