Head support mechanism and thin film piezoelectric actuator
View Patent ↗A head support mechanism includes a slider for carrying a head at least for performing reproduction of data from a disk, and a holding portion for holding the slider. The holding portion includes: a first portion including a first piezoelectric element; a second portion including a second piezoelectric element; a third portion connected to the first and second portions, the slider being provided on the third portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the first and second portions. At least one of the first and second piezoelectric elements is contracted and expanded in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the disk, in the presence of an applied voltage so that the slider provided on the third portion is rotated around a predetermined center of rotation.
1. A disk apparatus comprising:
a head for performing recording and/or reproduction of data to and from a disk, and
a head support mechanism including,
a slider having the head attached thereto,
a slider holding plate for holding the slider, a pair of substrates each having a piezoelectric element attached thereto,
a pair of elastic hinges for connecting the slider holding plate and the pair of substrates, and
a dimple for supporting the slider holding plate such that the slider holding plate is rotated in a pitch direction, a roll direction, and a yaw direction,
wherein the slider is rotated around the dimple in the yaw direction by the contraction and/or expansion of at least one of the piezoelectric elements; and
wherein the position of the dimple either coincides with a center of gravity of a portion including the slider holding plate and the slider which is rotatable around the dimple as a rotating axis, or is located between the center of gravity of the portion and the head.
2. A disk apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of piezoelectric elements is stacked on the corresponding substrate, and at least one of the pair of substrates is bent by a bimorph effect accompanying the contraction and expansion of at least one of the piezoelectric elements, so as to rotate the slider holding plate.
3. A disk apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the load beam includes a pair of regulation portions for regulating the rotation of the slider holding plate.
4. A disk apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the dimple is provided in a tip portion of a load beam for supporting the slider holding plate.
5. A disk apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein root portions of the pair of substrates are integrally formed.
6. A disk apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of substrates and the elastic hinges are formed of an identical material.
7. A disk apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the slider has an air bearing surface so as to face the disk,
the air bearing surface forms an air lubricating film between the disk and the slider while the disk is rotating, and
the slider is rotated around a center position of the air bearing surface by the contraction and/or expansion of at least one of the piezoelectric elements.
8. A disk apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of substrates and the piezoelectric elements are coated with resin so as to be integrated together.
9. A disk apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of substrates and the elastic hinges have a conductor pattern for transferring a recording signal and a reproduction signal to and from the head attached thereto.
10. A disk apparatus comprising;
a head for performing recording and/or reproduction of data to and from a disk, and
a head support mechanism including,
a slider having the head attached thereto, a substrate having a slider support portion, a pair of transformation operation portions, and a pair of elastic hinge portions for connecting respectively the pair of transformation operation portions with the slider support portion,
a slider holding plate for holding the slider through the slider support portion of the substrate,
a pair of piezoelectric elements each respectively mounted on a pair of transformation operation portions of the substrate, and
a load beam for supporting the slider holding plate by a dimple provided in the tip portion of the load beam, such that the slider holding plate is rotated in a pitch direction, a roll direction, and a yaw direction,
wherein the slider is rotated around the dimple in the yaw direction by the contraction and/or expansion of at least one of the piezoelectric elements; and
wherein the position of the dimple either coincides with a center of gravity of a portion including the slider holding plate and the slider which is rotatable around the dimple as a rotating axis, or is located between the center of gravity of the portion and the head.
11. A disk apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein each of the pair of piezoelectric elements is stacked on the corresponding transformation operation portion of the substrate, and at least one of the pair of transformation operation portions is bent by a bimorph effect accompanying the contraction and/or expansion of at least one of the piezoelectric elements, so as to rotate the slider holding plate.
12. A disk apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein root portions of the pair of transformation operation portions of the substrate are integrally formed.
13. A head support mechanism according to claim 10 , wherein,
the slider has an air bearing surface so as to face the disk, the air bearing surface forms an air lubricating film between the disk and the slider while the disk is rotating, and
the slider is rotated around a center position of the air bearing surface by the contraction and/or expansion of at least one of the piezoelectric elements.
14. A disk apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the load beam includes a pair of regulation portions for regulating the rotation of the slider holding plate.
15. A disk apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the pair of transformation operation portions of the substrate and the piezoelectric elements are coated with resin so as to be integrated together.
16. A disk apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the pair of transformation operation portions and the pair of elastic hinge portions have a conductor pattern for transferring a recording signal and a reproduction signal to and from the head attached thereto.