Patent ID: 7082670
Filing Date: 2006-08-01
Classification: G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of making a disk drive suspension assembly, comprising the steps of: preparing a load beam having a distal end, an actuator arm mounting region on a proximal end, a rigid region, and a spring region between the rigid region and actuator arm mounting region; preparing a compliant region in the load beam; preparing a head mounting region on the distal end of the load beam adapted to receive a transducer head; providing at least one multi-layered piezoelectric actuator having at least two piezoelectric layers and at least on intermediate electrode layer therebetween attached to each other along common surfaces; and attaching first and second ends of the piezoelectric actuator to first and second attachment locations on a major surface of the load beam and on opposite sides of the compliant region on the load beam so that a portion of the piezoelectric actuator between the first and second ends remains unattached to the load beam, the piezoelectric actuator supporting a portion of a gram load in an unactuated state, and the unattached portion of the piezoelectric actuator acts against a portion of the major surface of the load beam in the actuated state to generate a force generally normal to the major surface of the load beam.