Disk drive head suspension assembly having a DLC coating between dimple and tongue
View Patent ↗A suspension assembly for a head gimbal assembly of a disk drive includes a laminated flexure that includes a tongue for attachment of a read head. The suspension assembly includes a load beam that, in a first aspect of the present invention has a protruding dimple that contacts the tongue. In this aspect of the invention, a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating is disposed between and contacting the dimple and the tongue. For example, the DLC may be disposed on the tongue at the location of contact with the load beam dimple. Alternatively, in a second aspect of the present invention, the tongue may have a protruding dimple that contacts the load beam. In this aspect of the invention, a DLC coating is disposed between and contacting the dimple and the load beam.
1. A disk drive comprising:
a disk drive base;
a disk rotably mounted to the disk drive base;
an actuator pivotably mounted to the disk drive base; and
a head gimbal assembly attached to the actuator, the head gimbal assembly comprising
a read head; and
a suspension assembly that comprises
a load beam that includes a protruding dimple;
a laminated flexure that includes a tongue to which the read head is attached; and
a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating disposed between and contacting the dimple and the tongue;
wherein the DLC coating has a DLC thickness in the range 3 nm to 50 nm.
2. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the DLC thickness is no greater than 10 nm.
3. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the load beam comprises stainless steel, and wherein the laminated flexure comprises a stainless steel structural layer, a polyimide dielectric layer, and a copper conductive layer, and the tongue includes at least part of the stainless steel structural layer.
4. The disk drive of claim 3 wherein the DLC coating is adhered to the stainless steel structural layer of the tongue of the laminated flexure.
5. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the protruding dimple has a convex dome shape with a substantially circular base.
6. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the DLC coating is adhered to the protruding dimple of the load beam.
7. A disk drive comprising:
a disk drive base;
a disk rotably mounted to the disk drive base;
an actuator pivotably mounted to the disk drive base; and
a head gimbal assembly attached to the actuator, the head gimbal assembly comprising
a read head; and
a suspension assembly that comprises
a load beam that includes a protruding dimple;
a laminated flexure that includes a tongue to which the read head is attached; and
a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating disposed between and
contacting the dimple and the tongue;
wherein the DLC coating is adhered to the stainless steel structural layer of the tongue of the laminated flexure by a seed layer having a seed layer thickness in the range 0.5 nm to 10 nm, the seed layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, silicon, and silicon nitride.
8. A head gimbal assembly (HGA) for a disk drive, the HGA comprising:
a read head; and
a suspension assembly that comprises
a load beam;
a laminated flexure that includes a tongue to which the read head is attached, the tongue including a protruding dimple; and
a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating disposed between and contacting the dimple and the load beam;
wherein the DLC coating has a DLC thickness in the range 3 nm to 50 nm.
9. The HGA of claim 8 wherein the DLC thickness is no greater than 10 nm.
10. The HGA of claim 8 wherein the load beam comprises stainless steel, and wherein the laminated flexure comprises a stainless steel structural layer, a polyimide dielectric layer, and a copper conductive layer, and the tongue includes at least part of the stainless steel structural layer, the dimple being formed in the stainless steel structural layer at the tongue.
11. The HGA of claim 10 wherein the DLC coating is adhered to the stainless steel structural layer of the tongue of the laminated flexure.
12. The HGA of claim 8 wherein the protruding dimple has a convex dome shape with a substantially circular base.
13. The HGA of claim 8 wherein the DLC coating is adhered to the load beam.
14. A head gimbal assembly (HGA) for a disk drive, the HGA comprising:
a read head; and
a suspension assembly that comprises
a load beam;
a laminated flexure that includes a tongue to which the read head is attached, the tongue including a protruding dimple; and
a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating disposed between and contacting the dimple and the load beam;
wherein the load beam comprises stainless steel, and wherein the laminated flexure comprises a stainless steel structural layer, a polyimide dielectric layer, and a copper conductive layer, and the tongue includes at least part of the stainless steel structural layer, the dimple being formed in the stainless steel structural layer at the tongue;
wherein the DLC coating is adhered to the stainless steel structural layer of the tongue of the laminated flexure; and
wherein the DLC coating is adhered to the stainless steel structural layer of the tongue of the laminated flexure by a seed layer having a seed layer thickness in the range 0.5 nm to 10 nm, the seed layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, silicon, and silicon nitride.
15. A head suspension assembly for a disk drive, the head suspension assembly comprising:
a load beam that includes a protruding dimple;
a laminated flexure that includes a head mounting tongue; and
a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating disposed between and contacting the dimple and the head mounting tongue;
wherein the DLC coating has a DLC thickness in the range 3 nm to 50 nm.
16. The head suspension assembly of claim 15 wherein the DLC thickness is no greater than 10 nm.
17. The head suspension assembly of claim 15 wherein the DLC coating is adhered to the head mounting tongue of the laminated flexure.
18. The head suspension assembly of claim 15 wherein the DLC coating is adhered to the protruding dimple of the load beam.