Suspension Assembly with Thin Branching Portion for Magnetic Head Stroke
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing suspension assemblies for disk devices, particularly those using piezoelectric elements, face challenges in accurately controlling the displacement of magnetic heads due to curvature of the piezoelectric elements, leading to reduced stroke and difficulty in aligning the displacement with the intended movement.
Innovation Solution
A suspension assembly design featuring a multilayered trace member with a branching portion that includes a thin portion, where the second bridge portion is formed thinner than other parts, allowing for increased rigidity reduction and improved stroke without altering the drive element's characteristics, enabling more precise and extensive control of the magnetic head's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a piezoelectric element is mounted in the vicinity of the gimbal portion to minutely displace the magnetic head, then the magnetic head displacement control is improved, but the piezoelectric element curves in the thickness direction causing reduced stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a thin portion specifically at the branching portion of the trace member where the piezoelectric element is mounted. This localized thinning reduces the rigidity only in the critical area where the piezoelectric element operates, allowing the element to expand and contract more effectively in the thickness direction without curving excessively, thereby maintaining both displacement control precision and stroke length.
2Ease of operation
If the piezoelectric element expands or contracts by voltage application, then the magnetic head is minutely displaced, but part of expansion or contraction escapes in the curving direction decreasing the displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the trace member by creating a thin portion at the branching portion. This parameter change reduces the local rigidity and allows the trace member to better accommodate the piezoelectric element's expansion and contraction in the thickness direction. As a result, more of the piezoelectric element's dimensional change is effectively transferred to the magnetic head displacement rather than being lost to curving, improving the efficiency of voltage-controlled displacement.
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
This design enhances the stroke of the magnetic head by approximately 3% compared to standard configurations, allowing for more accurate and wider-range positioning without modifying the piezoelectric element's size or characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element (PZT element) as a drive element is mounted in the vicinity of the gimbal portion of the trace member, and thus the magnetic head is minutely displaced in a seek direction by expansion/contraction of the piezoelectric element
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a suspension assembly includes a support plate, a trace member on the support plate and a drive element mounted on the trace member. The trace member includes a metal plate, and a multilayered member on the metal plate. The multilayered member includes a first insulating layer, a conductive layer stacked on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer stacked on the conductive layer. The multilayered member includes a mount portion on which the drive element is mounted, and a branching portion arranged along the mount portion with a gap therebetween. At least one portion of the branching portion is formed into a thin portion having a thickness less than other portions of the multilayered member.