IP Library Granted Patent US 12688870
Granted Patent B2
US 12688870 · App. 18/897,577 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Disk drive suspension having first and second actuator mounting portions

Inventors: Tatsuhiko Nishida (Yokohama, JP); Masao Hanya (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
G11B5/4833G11B5/4846
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12688870
App. No.
18/897,577
Filed
Sep 26, 2024
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2688
USPC
360/244.2
Abstract

A suspension includes a first actuator arrangement portion and a second actuator arrangement portion. The first actuator arrangement portion includes a load beam frame portion formed of a part of the load beam. Both ends of a first actuator element are supported by the load beam frame portion. The second actuator arrangement portion includes a second load beam frame portion formed of a part of the load beam and a thin plate frame portion formed of a metal base of a flexure. One end of the second actuator element is supported by the second load beam frame portion. The other end of the second actuator element is supported by the thin plate frame portion.

Claims (37)

1 . A disk drive suspension comprising:

a baseplate;

a load beam fixed to the baseplate;

a flexure provided along with the load beam;

a first actuator arrangement portion on which a first actuator element is arranged; and

a second actuator arrangement portion on which a second actuator element is arranged,

wherein:

the flexure comprises a metal base smaller in thickness than the load beam, and a wiring portion arranged along with the metal base,

at least one of the first actuator arrangement portion and the second actuator arrangement portion comprises a thin plate frame portion formed of a part of the metal base of the flexure, the thin plate frame portion being arranged at a position not overlapping with the load beam to support the first actuator element or the second actuator element,

the first actuator arrangement portion includes a first load beam frame portion formed of a part of the load beam and configured to support both ends of the first actuator element, and

the second actuator arrangement portion includes a portion formed of a part of the thin plate frame portion and configured to support a first end of the second actuator element, and a second load beam frame portion formed of a part of the load beam and configured to support a second end of the second actuator element.

2 . The disk drive suspension of claim 1 , wherein:

the first load beam frame portion includes:

a first supporting portion supporting one end of the first actuator element;

a second supporting portion supporting the other end of the first actuator element; and

an opening formed between the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion, and

a terminal line of the wiring portion is arranged in the opening.

3 . The disk drive suspension of claim 2 , wherein the first load beam frame portion includes a connecting portion connecting the first supporting portion with the second supporting portion.

4 . The disk drive suspension of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first slit formed in the first load beam frame portion and enabling the first actuator element to extend and retract; and

a second slit formed between the thin plate frame portion and the second load beam frame portion and enabling the second actuator element to extend and retract.

5 . The disk drive suspension of claim 1 , wherein the first load beam frame portion includes a curved portion enabling the first actuator element to extend and retract.

6 . The disk drive suspension of claim 1 , wherein:

the first load beam frame portion includes:

a first supporting portion supporting one end of the first actuator element;

a second supporting portion supporting the other end of the first actuator element; and

a thin portion smaller in thickness than remaining portions of the first load beam frame portion and formed between the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion, and

a terminal line of the wiring portion is arranged on the thin portion.

7 . The disk drive suspension of claim 6 , wherein the terminal line does not include the metal base.

8 . The disk drive suspension of claim 1 , wherein:

the first load beam frame portion includes a part overlapping with a terminal line of the wiring portion, and

the terminal line does not include the metal base.

9 . The disk drive suspension of claim 1 , wherein:

the flexure includes:

a first terminal provided on one side of the wiring portion and protruding toward one side of the flexure; and

a second terminal provided on the other side of the wiring portion and protruding toward the other side of the flexure, and

the first terminal and the second terminal are arranged at positions different from each other in a longitudinal direction of the flexure.