Disc drive suspension and head

Abstract

A magneto-optical (MO) disc drive including a novel suspension, slider body, airbearing surface, and magnetic head. The MO disc drive includes a fine-focus actuator block including an objective lens, wherein the coarse carriage block moves radially above a surface of an MO disc to position the objective lens. The MO disc drive also includes a flat suspension having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fixedly attached to the fine-focus actuator block and the second end is attached to the coarse carriage block. A gimbal is moveably attached to an opening in a surface of the suspension and a magnetic head assembly is attached to the gimbal. The magnetic head assembly is loaded and unloaded by the load/unload mechanism independent of the objective lens and attached to the coarse actuator.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A magneto-optical (MO) disc drive, comprising: 
 a fine-focus actuator block including an objective lens, wherein the coarse carriage block moves laterally above a surface of an MO disc to position the objective lens;    a flat suspension having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fixedly attached to the fine-focus actuator block and the second end is manipulated by a load/unload mechanism of the coarse carriage block;    a gimbal moveably attached to an opening in a surface of the suspension; and    a magnetic head assembly attached to the gimbal, wherein the magnetic head assembly is loaded and unloaded by the load/unload mechanism independent of the objective lens.    
     
     
         2 . The MO disc drive of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic head assembly comprises: 
 a slider body; and    a coil fixedly attached to an opening in the slider body, wherein the coil forms a light groove for laser light to pass through during read and write operations.    
     
     
         3 . The MO disc drive of  claim 2 , wherein the slider body is annular and includes a step in an inner diameter of the slider body wherein the coil is bonded to the step.  
     
     
         4 . The MO disc drive of  claim 2 , wherein the slider body is rectangular and includes two parallel air bearing pad areas that form an open area therebetween through which lar light passes during read and write operations.  
     
     
         5 . The MO disc drive of  claim 3 , wherein the slider body includes a flange one side that is shaped to fit into the gimbal.  
     
     
         6 . The MO disc drive of  claim 4 , wherein the slider body includes a flange one side that is shaped to fit into the gimbal.  
     
     
         7 . The MO disc drive of  claim 4 , wherein the two air bearing pad areas are connected by an air bearing pad area that is on a side of the slider body facing into a direction air flow over the slider body during operation of the MO disc drive.  
     
     
         8 . The MO disc drive of  claim 7 , wherein the air bearing pad area that connects the two air bearing pad areas includes a chamfer on an edge facing the direction of air flow and on a side facing an MO disc during operation of the MO drive.  
     
     
         9 . The MO disc drive of  claim 4 , wherein each of the two air bearing pads includes a groove therein that is parallel to the direction of air flow.  
     
     
         10 . The MO disc drive of  claim 2 , wherein the slider body is manufactured of injection molded plastic and wherein the coil is bonded to the slider body.  
     
     
         11 . The MO disc drive of  claim 10 , wherein the coil is formed of wire wound to form an oval central opening through the coil that is conical in cross-section.  
     
     
         12 . The MO disc drive of  claim 2 , wherein a surface of the slider body that faces an MO disc during operation of the MO disc drive includes at least one groove therein in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction of air flow over the slider body during operation.  
     
     
         13 . The MO disc drive of  claim 1 , wherein the flat suspension is formed of one piece of material and includes a mounting plate with a first surface fixedly attached to the first end.  
     
     
         14 . The MO disc drive of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting plate includes an angled surface opposing the first surface, and wherein the angled surface is fixedly attached to the fine-focus actuator block so as to produce an angle between the suspension and an MO disc to create a gram load.  
     
     
         15 . The MO disc drive of  claim 1 , wherein the flat suspension is formed of one piece of material and includes a mounting plate with an angled surface fixedly attached to the first end.  
     
     
         16 . The MO disc drive of  claim 15 , wherein the mounting plate includes a flat surface opposing the first surface, and wherein the flat surface is fixedly attached to the fine-focus actuator block so as to produce an angle between the suspension and an MO disc to create a gram load when the suspension is positioned over the MO disc.  
     
     
         17 . The magneto-optical (MO) disc drive of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the suspension includes ears for aligning the suspension with the disc drive such that laser light may travel through the suspension during read and write operations.  
     
     
         18 . In a disc drive mechanism, a suspension assembly comprising: 
 a suspension comprising a single, flat piece of material having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fixedly attached to the disc drive mechanism; and    a gimbal attached to the suspension.    
     
     
         19 . The suspension assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a first and second clip extension on the first end for attaching to the disc drive; and    a flying head assembly attached to the gimbal and defining a hole therethrough for allowing the passage of laser light during operation of the disc drive mechanism.    
     
     
         20 . The suspension assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a flying head assembly attached to the gimbal and defining an opening hole therethrough for allowing the passage of laser light during operation of the disc drive mechanism; and    a first and second ear on the first end for aligning the opening with a path of the laser light before bolting the suspension to the disc drive mechanism.    
     
     
         21 . The suspension assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the flying head assembly includes a flange shaped to fit into the gimbal.  
     
     
         22 . The suspension of  claim 19 , wherein the flying head assembly includes a flat surface for bonding to the gimbal.