Magnetic disk device having piezoelectric element

Inventor: Yasuo Suzuki (Fujisawa Kanagawa, JP)

Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation

G11B5/6058 G11B5/4886

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12711986
App. No.: 18/829,897
Granted: Aug 18, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk, a gimbal, and a controller. The magnetic disk rotates around a first axis. The gimbal includes a magnetic head and a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element is deformed in accordance with an applied drive voltage to move the magnetic head. The controller applies a polarization voltage to the piezoelectric element to give spontaneous polarization to the piezoelectric element. The polarization voltage satisfies a relationship of ΔV=( 2 πf)A·ΔT<ΔVmax, where “ΔV” is a voltage change amount of the polarization voltage per unit time, “f” is a frequency of the polarization voltage, “A” is an amplitude of the polarization voltage, “ΔT” is a time resolution of the polarization voltage, and “ΔVmax” is a voltage change amount per unit time that excites resonance of the gimbal in application to the piezoelectric element.

Claims (23)

1 . A magnetic disk device comprising:

a magnetic disk configured to rotate around a first axis;

a gimbal that includes a magnetic head configured to perform recording and reproducing of data with respect to the magnetic disk, and a piezoelectric element configured to be deformed in accordance with an applied drive voltage to move the magnetic head;

a controller configured to apply a polarization voltage to the piezoelectric element to give spontaneous polarization to the piezoelectric element;

an actuator configured to rotate around a second axis to move the magnetic head with respect to the magnetic disk;

a ramp distant from the first axis in a first direction around the second axis, and configured to hold the actuator; and

a stopper configured to be brought into contact with the actuator to restrict the actuator from rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction,

wherein the polarization voltage satisfies a relationship of ΔV=(2πf)A·ΔT<ΔVmax, where “ΔV” is a voltage change amount of the polarization voltage per unit time, “f” is a frequency of the polarization voltage, “A” is an amplitude of the polarization voltage, “ΔT” is a time resolution of the polarization voltage, and “ΔVmax” is a voltage change amount per unit time that excites resonance of the gimbal in application to the piezoelectric element, and

the controller is configured to apply the polarization voltage to the piezoelectric element when the actuator is in contact with the stopper.

2 . The magnetic disk device according to claim 1 , wherein the polarization voltage satisfies a relationship of T=N/f<Tmax, where “T” is a time in which the polarization voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element, “N” is a number of cycles with which the polarization voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element, and “Tmax” is a start-up time.

3 . The magnetic disk device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to bring the actuator into contact with the stopper and apply the polarization voltage to the piezoelectric element, when static electricity is applied to the piezoelectric element.

4 . The magnetic disk device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to bring the actuator into contact with the stopper and apply the polarization voltage to the piezoelectric element, at constant time intervals.

5 . The magnetic disk device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to bring the actuator into contact with the stopper and apply the polarization voltage to the piezoelectric element, when the actuator is moved from the ramp in the second direction.

6 . The magnetic disk device according to claim 1 , wherein the polarization voltage has a DC bias voltage, or a voltage formed of a DC bias voltage superimposed with an AC voltage.

7 . The magnetic disk device according to claim 1 , wherein the polarization voltage is higher than the drive voltage.

8 . The magnetic disk device according to claim 1 , wherein the polarization voltage is equal to or greater than an absolute value of a voltage that causes spontaneous polarization of the piezoelectric element to disappear.

9 . A magnetic disk device comprising:

a magnetic disk configured to rotate around a first axis;

an actuator configured to rotate around a second axis to move the magnetic head with respect to the magnetic disk;

a ramp distant from the first axis in a first direction around the second axis, and configured to hold the actuator;

a stopper configured to be brought into contact with the actuator to restrict the actuator from rotating in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and

a controller configured to apply a polarization voltage to the piezoelectric element to give spontaneous polarization to the piezoelectric element, when the actuator is brought into contact with the stopper.