IP Library Granted Patent US 11,715,490
Granted Patent B2
US 11,715,490 · App. 17/703,827 · Granted Aug 1, 2023

Hard disk drive gimbal design with high torsion frequencies

Inventors: Kuen Chee Ee (Chino, CA); Ekaratch Pankaew (Wangnoi, TH)
Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
G11B5/4826G11B5/4833
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,715,490
App. No.
17/703,827
Granted
Aug 1, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A trace gimbal is described herein. In some embodiments, the trace gimbal includes outer struts including a front outrigger at a distal end of the trace gimbal and a rear outrigger at a proximal end of the trace gimbal. The front outrigger includes a distal front outrigger and a proximal front outrigger, and the rear outrigger includes a distal rear outrigger and a proximal rear outrigger. The trace gimbal further includes a middle strut extending in a width direction of the trace gimbal and adjoining the proximal front outrigger to the rear outrigger, and an inner strut connecting the middle strut to a slider tongue. The inner strut and the middle strut adjoin the outer gimbal struts to the slider tongue.

Claims (26)

1. A trace gimbal comprising:

outer struts including a front outrigger at a distal end of the trace gimbal and a rear outrigger at a proximal end of the trace gimbal, the front outrigger including a distal front outrigger and a proximal front outrigger, the rear outrigger including a distal rear outrigger and a proximal rear outrigger, wherein a length direction of the trace gimbal is defined as a direction extending from the proximal end to the distal end;

a middle strut extending in a width direction of the trace gimbal orthogonal to the length direction and extending towards a slider tongue, the middle strut including a first end adjoining the proximal front outrigger to the rear outrigger; and

an inner strut connecting the middle strut to the slider tongue such that a second end of the middle strut connects to the inner strut, the inner strut and the middle strut adjoin the outer struts to the slider tongue, wherein a width of a cross-section in a central portion of the inner strut is larger than the width of the cross-sections of the proximal front outrigger, the distal front outrigger, and the middle strut.

2. The trace gimbal of claim 1 , comprising at least one microactuator mounted on the slider tongue, the inner strut supports the slider tongue.

3. The trace gimbal of claim 1 , wherein the proximal front outrigger includes a first cross-section and distal front outrigger includes a second cross-section, and a width of the second cross-section width is about a same dimension as the first cross-section of the proximal front outrigger.

4. The trace gimbal of claim 3 , wherein the first cross-section and the second cross-section of the front outrigger is between 0.01 millimeters and 0.10 millimeters.

5. The trace gimbal of claim 1 , wherein the distal rear outrigger includes a first cross-section and the proximal rear outrigger includes a second cross-section larger than the first cross-section.

6. The trace gimbal of claim 5 , wherein the first cross-section of the distal rear outrigger is between 0.01 millimeters and 0.10 millimeters.

7. The trace gimbal of claim 1 , wherein the inner strut includes a distal end and a proximal end, the middle strut connects to the distal end of the inner strut, and the inner strut connects to the slider tongue.

8. The trace gimbal of claim 7 , wherein the inner strut extends from middle strut toward a proximal end of the trace gimbal to connect to the slider tongue.

9. The trace gimbal of claim 1 , wherein the front outrigger and the middle strut form a C-shape or a U-shape.

10. The trace gimbal of claim 1 , wherein a cross section of the middle strut is the same as the first and second cross-sections of the front outrigger.

11. A suspension comprising:

a trace gimbal including outer struts including a front outrigger at a distal end of the trace gimbal and a rear outrigger at a proximal end of the trace gimbal, the front outrigger including a distal front outrigger and a proximal front outrigger, the rear outrigger including a distal rear outrigger and a proximal rear outrigger, wherein a length direction is defined as a direction extending from the proximal end to the distal end,

a middle strut extending in a width direction orthogonal to the length direction and towards a slider tongue, the middle strut including a first end adjoining the proximal front outrigger to the rear outrigger, and

an inner strut connecting the middle strut to the slider tongue such that a second end of the middle strut connects to the inner strut, the inner strut and the middle strut adjoin the outer struts to the slider tongue, wherein a width of a cross-section in a central portion of the inner strut is larger than the width of the cross-sections of the proximal front outrigger, the distal front outrigger, and the middle strut.

12. The suspension of claim 11 , comprising at least one microactuator mounted on the slider tongue, wherein the inner strut supports the slider tongue.

13. The suspension of claim 11 , wherein the proximal front outrigger includes a first cross-section and distal front outrigger includes a second cross-section, wherein a width of the second cross-section width is a same dimension as the first cross-section of the proximal front outrigger.

14. The suspension of claim 13 , wherein the first cross-section and the second cross-section of the front outrigger is between 0.01 millimeters and 0.10 millimeters.

15. The suspension of claim 11 , wherein the distal rear outrigger includes a first cross-section and the proximal rear outrigger includes a second cross-section larger than the first cross-section.

16. The suspension of claim 15 , wherein the first cross-section of the distal rear outrigger is between 0.01 millimeters and 0.10 millimeters.

17. The suspension of claim 11 , wherein the inner strut includes a distal end and a proximal end, the middle strut connects to the distal end of the inner strut, and the proximal end of the inner strut connects to the slider tongue.

18. The suspension of claim 17 , wherein the inner strut extends from the middle strut toward a proximal end of the trace gimbal to connect to the slider tongue.

19. The suspension of claim 11 , wherein the front outrigger and the middle strut form a C-shape or U-shape.

20. The suspension of claim 11 , wherein a cross section of the middle strut is about the same as the first and second cross-sections of the front outrigger.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2022
From: EE, KUEN CHEE; PANKAEW, EKARATCH
To: MAGNECOMP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060725/0325 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63166415 · Mar 26, 2021
Related Publication 20220310116A1 · Sep 29, 2022
Cited By (3)
US 12,300,281 US 12,367,899 US 12,475,918