Patent ID: 6421206
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A vertical force and stiffness enhanced disk drive suspension comprising a longitudinally extended flexure having a rigid portion, a spring portion and a base portion, said base portion being adapted for mount plate-mounting of said flexure to an actuator arm, said flexure having a front face and a rear face, said flexure comprising a self-supporting laminate of a spring metal, plural electrically conductive traces, and locally between said conductive traces and said spring metal in spacing relation a plastic insulative film, said flexure defining at its distal end a flexure tongue arranged and adapted to carry a slider at the front face of said laminate in operating proximity to a disk, said laminate providing a predetermined vertical force less than that needed for effective operation of said slider, and a secondary spring structure having a face opposing said laminate rear face, said secondary spring structure opposing face being at all points equidistant from said laminate rear face, said secondary spring structure being fixed to said laminate rear face in laminate-stiffening and laminate vertical force increasing relation sufficient for effective operation of said slider.