HGA Suspension Outriggers with Spring Beams for Shock Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disk drive devices face challenges in achieving quick and accurate positional control of read/write heads due to inherent tolerances, leading to deformation and dimple separation issues during manufacturing and shock events, which affect the shock and dynamic performance of the head gimbal assembly (HGA).
Innovation Solution
A suspension design for the HGA featuring a flexure with a tongue region and an outrigger, comprising rigid and spring beams, which provides flexibility in the X-Y plane and stiffness in the Z-axis direction, preventing deformation and dimple separation, and enhancing shock performance and static/dynamic stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional suspension structure with traces is used to support the slider and PZT elements, then the device can be manufactured, but the suspension deforms during manufacturing, handling, or shock events
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension is divided into functional modules: a load beam with dimple for supporting the slider, a flexure with traces for flexible coupling, and an outrigger with rigid beams and spring beams for additional support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity and preventing deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension combines different material properties: the flexure uses soft polymer material for flexibility and shock absorption, while the load beam and outrigger use rigid materials for structural stability. This composite approach allows the suspension to withstand manufacturing stresses and shock events without deforming.
2Ease of operation
If the slider is partially mounted on the slider support with bump supporting the center of the back surface, then the slider can be positioned, but the static attitude (PSA/RSA) is difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical support system is enhanced with a load beam that provides precise geometric constraints through its dimple structure. This mechanical constraint system replaces the insufficient bump support, enabling precise control of the slider's static attitude (PSA/RSA) while maintaining ease of positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the flexure traces are thin (10-20 um) and made of soft polymer material, then the suspension is flexible, but it easily distorts during manufacturing and shock events
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension separates the flexible function (traces in flexure) from the structural support function (load beam and outrigger). The thin polymer traces maintain flexibility for shock absorption, while the rigid load beam and outrigger structure provides strength to resist distortion during manufacturing and handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension uses composite construction combining soft polymer material for the flexure traces (providing flexibility) with rigid materials for the load beam and outrigger (providing structural strength). This composite approach allows the suspension to be both flexible and resistant to distortion.
4Manufacturing precision
If additional actuators like PZT micro-actuator are introduced to correct slider displacement, then positional control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the slider, provides flexible coupling through flexure traces, offers structural rigidity through the outrigger, and enables precise positional control through the integrated PZT micro-actuator. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, managing complexity while achieving high precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The improved suspension structure allows for better control of pitch and roll static attitudes, enhances the HGA's shock performance, and maintains stability during manufacturing, handling, and operation, ensuring accurate data reading and writing.
Implementation Method 1
when a voltage is input to the two thin film PZT elements (107) of the PZT micro-actuator, one of the PZT elements may contract as shown by arrow D while the other may expand as shown by arrow E
Implementation Method 2
The pair of spring beams each has one end (733a-1, 733a-2) connected to a free end of the corresponding rigid beam (733b-1, 733b-2) and the other end (733a-1, 733a-2) extending to a middle region (736) of the slider setting portion (731) of the flexure (730) so as to support the slider (310)
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension for a HGA includes a flexure having a tongue region and an outrigger. The outrigger has a pair of rigid beams and a pair of spring beams. The pair of spring beams enables the flexure to possess favorable flexibility and assists a slider to have enough displacement. The pair of rigid beams provides the flexure enough stiffness which not only successfully prevents the HGA with the outrigger from suspension deformation and dimple separation, but also assists to improve shock performance of the HGA. Furthermore, such configuration of the suspension provides the slider a good static performance and thus improves dynamic performance of the HGA. The present invention also discloses a HGA with the suspension, a manufacturing method of the HGA, and a drive unit with such an HGA.