Patent ID: 8189301

Claim:
A microactuated suspension comprising: a stainless steel substrate; a load beam formed from the substrate; a microactuator unit mounted to the suspension, the microactuator unit comprising: a piezoelectric element having a positive electrode at a first surface thereof and a negative electrode at a second surface thereof; a first stainless steel lead affixed to the piezoelectric element first surface and in electrical communication with the positive electrode without a wire therebetween, said first stainless steel lead having a weld location thereon; second and third stainless steel leads affixed to the piezoelectric element second surface and in electrical communication with the negative electrode without a wire therebetween, said second and third stainless steel leads having respective weld locations thereon; a first weld at said first stainless steel lead weld location, the first weld defining a mechanical and electrical connection to a conductor carrying a microactuator driving voltage; and second and third welds at said second and third stainless steel lead weld locations, respectively, the second and third welds defining respective mechanical and electrical connections to the suspension substrate; and wherein the second and third stainless steel leads extend beyond a periphery of the piezoelectric element, the second and third stainless steal lead weld locations being located at respective positions that are beyond said piezoelectric element periphery; and the first stainless steel lead extends beyond the piezoelectric element periphery, the first stainless steel lead weld location being located at a position that is beyond said piezoelectric element periphery.