Assembly having slider and suspension, and disk drive unit

Abstract

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a limiter mechanism that permits the gimbal to be designed more freely than before. The head gimbal assembly (HGA) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a limiter mechanism within the silhouette of the head slider. The limiter mechanism has a limiter tab formed in the gimbal tongue and projection of the load beam. Upon receipt of an external impact, the projection locks the limiter tab, thereby limiting the deformation of the gimbal. The limiter tab is formed by fabricating a part within the silhouette of the head slider. This structure allows for freer design of the gimbal and the load beam.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the entire structure of the hard disk drive according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2( a)-2(b) are plan views showing the entire structure of the head-gimbal assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire structure of the head-gimbal assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4( a)-(b) are schematic diagrams showing the structure of the forward end of the head-gimbal assembly (as viewed from the head slider side) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5( a)-(b) are schematic diagrams showing (in plan and section) the structure of the forward end of the head-gimbal assembly (as viewed from the head slider side) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing the structure of the limiter mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7( a)-(b) are diagrams showing the structure of the limiter mechanism according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An assembly having a slider and a suspension supporting said slider, wherein said suspension has a gimbal and a load beam, said gimbal having a tongue to which said slider is fixed and a limiter tab which limits a displacement of said tongue and said load beam having a locking part which supports said gimbal on a first surface of said locking part and locks said limiter tab, said limiter tab and said locking part being within a region overlapping said slider in a direction perpendicular to said first surface, and said limiter tab is formed by fabricating part of said gimbal within said region overlapping said slider in a direction perpendicular to said first surface.

2. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said limiter tab extends from a front end or a rear end of said tongue.

3. The assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said limiter tab has a lengthwise dimension (projected onto said first surface) which is smaller than one half said lengthwise dimension (projected onto said first surface) of said slider.

4. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said load beam has a pad that comes into contact with said tongue at a rear of said slider, and said limiter tab extends from a front of said tongue.

5. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said tongue connects with a main body of said gimbal at a rear side of a center of said tongue.

6. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said load beam has a pad that comes into contact with said tongue at the rear of said slider, said tongue connects with a main body of said gimbal at a rear of a center of said tongue, and said limiter tab extends from a front of said tongue.

7. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said load beam has a pad that comes into contact with said tongue at a front of said slider, and said limiter tab extends from a rear of said tongue.

8. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said tongue connects with a main body of said gimbal at a front of a center of said tongue, and said limiter tab extends from a rear of said tongue.

9. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said load beam has a pad that comes into contact with said tongue at a front of said slider, said tongue connects with a main body of said gimbal at a front of a center of said tongue, and said limiter tab extends from a rear of said tongue.

10. The assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said limiter tab extends from said front end or said rear end of said tongue and passes through a hole of said load beam, and said locking part engages with said limiter tab at anopposite side of said first surface.

11. A disk drive unit comprising a motor that rotates a disk,a slider that floats above said disk,a suspension that supports said slider, andan actuator that turns around a rotational axis to move said slider,wherein said suspension has a gimbal and a load beam, said gimbal having a tongue to which said slider is fixed and a limiter tab which limits the displacement of said tongue and said load beam having a locking part which supports said gimbal on a surface facing said disk and locks said limiter tab, said limiter tab and said locking part being within a region overlapping said slider in a direction perpendicular to said recording surface of said disk, and said limiter tab is formed by fabricating part of said gimbal within said region overlapping said slider in said direction perpendicular to said recording surface of said disk.

12. The disk drive unit as defined in claim 11, wherein said limiter tab extends from a front end or a rear end of said tongue.