A dual stage actuated suspension has a first piezoelectric microactuator on the trace gimbal assembly (TGA), and a pseudo feature located laterally opposite the microactuator. The pseudo feature is formed integrally with the TGA from at least one of the base metal layer, the insulative layer, and the conductive layer that make up the TGA. The pseudo feature helps to balance the suspension. The suspension can optionally have a second microactuator located proximal of the first microactuator in order to perform coarser positioning than the first microactuator, such that the suspension is a tri-stage actuated suspension.

A suspension for a disk drive includes a plate member having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first penetration portion penetrating the first surface and the second surface, and a second penetration portion spaced from the first penetration portion and penetrating the first surface and the second surface, an actuator provided on the second surface and having an electrode located in the first penetration portion, and a flexure having an electrode connection portion connected to the electrode. The electrode connection portion includes a first region and a second region having a thickness smaller than a thickness of the first region, and the second region overlaps the second penetration portion.

A multi-layer microactuator for a hard disk drive suspension includes a piezoelectric (PZT) layer, a constraining layer, a lower electrode layer, a middle electrode layer, and an upper electrode layer. The lower electrode layer is on a bottom surface of the PZT layer and includes a first lower electrode island, a second lower electrode island, and a third lower electrode island. The second lower electrode island includes a finger extending from a main body portion towards a first end of the PZT layer. The middle electrode layer is disposed between a top surface of the PZT layer and a bottom surface of the constraining layer. The middle electrode layer including a first middle electrode island and a second middle electrode island, the second middle electrode island including a finger extending from a main body portion towards the first end of the PZT layer.

According to one embodiment, a disk device includes two magnetic disks opposing each other at intervals of 1.2 to 1.5 mm, and at least two suspension assemblies movable respectively between the two magnetic disks. Each of the suspension assemblies includes a base plate, a load beam extending from the base plate, a tab extending from a distal end of the load beam, a wiring member on the load beam and the base plate, including a gimbal portion, and a magnetic head on the gimbal portion, abutting on a dimple of the load beam via the gimbal portion. The ratio of a distance from a bendable location of the load beam to a center of the dimple with respect to a distance from the center of the dimple to a tip of the tab is 2.8 to 3.8.

A PZT microactuator such as for a hard disk drive has a restraining layer bonded on its side that is opposite the side on which the PZT is mounted. The restraining layer comprises a stiff and resilient material such as stainless steel. The restraining layer can cover most or all of the top of the PZT, with an electrical connection being made to the PZT where it is not covered by the restraining layer. The restraining layer reduces bending of the PZT as mounted and hence increases effective stroke length, or reverses the sign of the bending which increases the effective stroke length of the PZT even further. The restraining layer can be one or more active layers of PZT material that act in the opposite direction as the main PZT layer. The restraining layer(s) may be thinner than the main PZT layer.

A dual stage actuated suspension has a first piezoelectric microactuator on the trace gimbal assembly (TGA), and a pseudo feature located laterally opposite the microactuator. The pseudo feature is formed integrally with the TGA from at least one of the base metal layer, the insulative layer, and the conductive layer that make up the TGA. The pseudo feature helps to balance the suspension. The suspension can optionally have a second microactuator located proximal of the first microactuator in order to perform coarser positioning than the first microactuator, such that the suspension is a tri-stage actuated suspension.

A data storage device can employ a microactuator system that efficiently translates longitudinal microactuator strain into movement in-plane with a mid-plane of a gimbal tongue. A gimbal tongue may be suspended from a load beam with a transducing head mounted to the gimbal tongue and the transducing head separated from a magnetic recording medium by an air bearing. A microactuator attached to the gimbal tongue can be positioned so that a mid-plane of the microactuator is congruent with a mid-plane of the gimbal tongue.

According to one embodiment, a microactuator includes a wiring substrate, and a piezoelectric element connected to first and second connecting pads of the wiring substrate. The piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric substrate, and a first electrode and a second electrode provided on surfaces of the piezoelectric substrate. The first electrode includes a first electrode portion on an end portion on a first main surface. The second electrode includes a fifth electrode portion having an electrode end which faces the first electrode portion across a gap and provided on the first main surface. The piezoelectric element includes a protective insulating layer covering at lease an end portion of the fifth electrode including the electrode end.

A method of assembly a dual stage actuated suspension includes either applying an adhesive to a microactuator motor and then B-staging the adhesive, or applying an adhesive that has already been B-staged such as in film adhesive form to the microactuator then assembling the microactuator into a suspension and then finishing the adhesive cure. The adhesive can be applied to bulk piezoelectric material, with the adhesive being B-staged either before or after it is applied to the bulk piezoelectric material, and the piezoelectric material then singulated into a number of individual piezoelectric microactuators. The method allows greater control over how much adhesive is used, and greater control over spread of that adhesive and control over potential contamination, than traditional liquid epoxy dispense methods.

A head support mechanism is provided with: a slider with a head element; a slider support plate; a load beam that holds the slider support plate; a fulcrum protrusion that is provided around a front end part of the load beam which supports the slider support plate; drive means that is configured to pivotally move the slider support plate centering on the fulcrum protrusion; and a drive means support portion that is provided to overlap and support the drive means. The drive means support portion has a narrow part and at least one wide part provided on a front end part side and a rear end part side of the load beam with respect to the narrow part. The drive means support portion is disposed at a position overlapping the fulcrum protrusion in a projection plane in a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the slider.