Motor Stiffeners for Dual Stage Actuation Flexures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual stage actuation (DSA) disk drive suspensions face challenges in achieving enhanced performance capabilities, including efficient manufacturing and minimizing bending and twisting of motors during actuation, which affects stroke efficiency and resonance performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual stage actuation flexure design with a stiffener mounted on the motor, which limits bending and twisting by balancing the stiffness of the gimbal and motor, and using adhesive with varying elastic moduli to enhance stroke performance and reduce resonance issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If motors are made more compliant to reduce twisting during actuation, then resonance performance improves, but stroke efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the stiffness characteristics of the motor assembly through the addition of stiffeners. By adjusting the stiffness parameter of the motor assembly to match the stiffness of the gimbal, the system achieves optimal balance between resonance performance and stroke efficiency. This is accomplished by changing the physical parameters of the motor assembly rather than the motor compliance itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffener acts as an intermediary element between the motor and the gimbal assembly. It mediates the mechanical interaction by providing structural support to the motor assembly, thereby preventing excessive twisting during actuation while maintaining the desired compliance for resonance performance. The stiffener transfers and distributes the actuation forces more effectively.
2Ease of manufacture
If single-layer PZT motors are used to reduce complexity and cost, then manufacturing simplicity improves, but stroke performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the reduced stroke capability of single-layer PZT motors by changing the mechanical parameters of the surrounding structure. The stiffener modifies the mechanical advantage and force transmission characteristics of the actuation system, allowing single-layer motors to achieve the required stroke performance that would otherwise require more complex multi-layer motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a composite structure combining the PZT motor with the stiffener element. This composite motor assembly leverages the piezoelectric properties of the PZT material while the stiffener provides structural reinforcement, creating a hybrid system that achieves both manufacturing simplicity and adequate stroke performance.
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 solution increases the stroke efficiency of the DSA structure by over 70% and minimizes twisting, thereby improving resonance performance and allowing for the use of single-layer PZT motors, reducing costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The motor is a PZT motor, which has a first end and a second end opposite the first end
Implementation Method 2
a pair of stiffeners respectively mounted on the motors, and a slider mounting. Electrical activation of the motors bends the pair of linkages to move the slider mounting about a tracking axis while the stiffeners limit the degree of bending of the motors during the electrical activation
Implementation Method 3
using adhesive with varying elastic moduli to enhance stroke performance and reduce resonance issues
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments concern a dual stage actuation flexure. The dual stage actuation flexure comprises a flexure having a gimbal. The gimbal comprising a pair of spring arms, a tongue between the spring arms, and a pair of linkages respectively connecting the pair of spring arms to the tongue. The dual stage actuation flexure further comprises a pair of motors mounted on the gimbal and a pair of stiffeners respectively mounted on the motors. The dual stage actuation flexure further comprises a slider mounting. Electrical activation of the motors bends the pair of linkages to move the slider mounting about a tracking axis while the stiffeners limit the degree of bending of the motors during the electrical activation.