IP Library Granted Patent US 7,855,857
Granted Patent B2
US 7,855,857 · App. 11/823,216 · Granted Dec 21, 2010

Disk drive apparatus and head assembly used for the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,855,857
App. No.
11/823,216
Granted
Dec 21, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention restrain the head position accuracy from degrading due to torsional vibration of a head supporting unit. According to an embodiment of the invention, an actuator has a twisted carriage arm. A suspension is tilted in accordance with the twist of the carriage arm. When the carriage arm and the suspension torsionally vibrate, the vibration direction tilts against the normal direction of a recording surface in accordance with the twist. This technique decreases a peak value of off-track displacement that is caused by a head slider and is dependent on relationship between a skew angle and a torsional vibration direction.

Claims (37)

1. A disk drive apparatus comprising:

a motor that rotates a disk for storing data;

a head that accesses a rotating disk; and

a head supporting unit that supports the head and moves the head above a recording surface of the disk,

wherein the head supporting unit has a torsional vibration mode and torsionally vibrates at least at part of positions above the recording surface in a tilting direction along a radial direction of the disk against a normal line for the recording surface so as to reduce a vibrational component of the head along a radial direction of the disk at least.

2. The disk drive apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the head supporting unit torsionally vibrates at least at part of positions in a region outside a middle of the recording surface in a tilting direction along a radial direction of the disk against a normal line for the recording surface so as to reduce a vibrational component of the head along a radial direction of the disk.

3. The disk drive apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the head supporting unit turns around a turning shaft;

wherein a skew angle varies toward an outermost track from an innermost track on the recording surface; and

wherein a torsional direction apart from the recording surface tilts toward an outside periphery from the normal line and a torsional direction close to the recording surface tilts toward an inside periphery from the normal line.

4. The disk drive apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the head supporting unit turns around a turning shaft and twists toward the head from the turning shaft.

5. The disk drive apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein a skew angle varies toward an outermost track from an innermost track on the recording surface; and

wherein the head supporting unit twists so as to tilt toward an outside periphery.

6. The disk drive apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein the head supporting unit includes:

a suspension for supporting the head; and

a carriage arm that connects the suspension with the turning shaft and twists along a direction from the turning shaft to the head.

7. The disk drive apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein an angle of the torsional direction against the normal line ranges between 0.05° and 0.51°.

8. A disk drive apparatus comprising:

a head that accesses a rotating disk; and

a head supporting unit that supports the head, turns around a turning shaft, and moves the head above a recording surface of the disk,

wherein the head supporting unit twists along a direction from the turning shaft to the head and torsionally vibrates in a tilting direction along a radial direction of the disk against a normal line for the recording surface.

9. The disk drive apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein a skew angle varies toward an outermost track from an innermost track on the recording surface; and

wherein the head supporting unit includes:

a suspension for supporting the head; and

a carriage arm that connects the suspension with the turning shaft and twists along a direction from the turning shaft to the head so that the carriage arm tilts toward an outside periphery.

10. The disk drive apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein an angle of the torsional direction against the normal line ranges between 0.05° and 0.51°.

11. A head assembly comprising:

a head that accesses a disk for storing data; and

a head supporting unit that supports the head, turns around a turning shaft, and moves the head above a recording surface of the disk,

wherein the head supporting unit has a torsional vibration mode and torsionally vibrates at least at part of positions above the recording surface in a tilting direction along a radial direction of the disk against a turning shaft direction for the recording surface so as to reduce a vibrational component of the head along a radial direction of the disk at least.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052915 FRAME 0566 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 059127/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2020
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 052915/0566 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2016
From: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040821/0550 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 25, 2012
From: HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS B.V.
To: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 029341/0777 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2007
From: HAYAKAWA, SATOSHI; CHAWANYA, TAKESHI; SASAKI, MASAKAZU; SUZUKI, KENJI
To: HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 019948/0605 →