Static attitude adjustment apparatus

Abstract

A slider head of a suspension supports a read/write head for data transfer to and from a data storage disk. Deviation from a pitch static attitude and a roll static attitude of the suspension arises due to manufacturing variations, resulting in inefficient data transfer. The deviation results in pitch and roll errors. Various methods have been provided for correcting the pitch and roll errors. The application of conventional methods using conventional apparatus results in the suspension either being damaged or experiencing bending cross-talk. An embodiment of the invention provides two pairs of probes with each probe having a free end for abutting and thereby cooperating for gripping the suspension. Each pair of probes allows for two degrees-of-freedom for respectively adjusting the roll static attitude and the pitch static attitude of the suspension. The contact configuration of the probes substantially reduces bending cross-talk while substantially alleviating damage to the suspension.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A static attitude adjustment apparatus comprising: 
 a first manipulator for receiving a first portion of a suspension, the first manipulator being engagable to the first portion of the suspension to hold the first portion of the suspension, and the suspension being resilient; and    a second manipulator for receiving a second portion of the suspension, the second manipulator being engagable to the second portion of the suspension to hold the second portion of the suspension,    wherein the second manipulator cooperates with the first manipulator for bending the suspension.    
     
     
         2 . The static attitude adjustment apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a controller for positioning the first and second manipulators along a first axis and a second axis, the first and second manipulators being one of electrically or pneumatically connected to the controller.    
     
     
         3 . The static attitude adjustment apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein the first axis is generally perpendicular to the second axis.  
     
     
         4 . The static attitude adjustment apparatus as in  claim 2 , further comprising a mounting structure for mounting a mounting region of the suspension thereonto, the suspension being planar, elongated, and the mounting region and a slider head constituting two extremities of the suspension, and the slider head of the suspension being bendable about a roll axis and along a pitch axis, the roll axis being the longitudinal axis of the suspension and the pitch axis being perpendicular to the roll axis and a surface of the suspension.  
     
     
         5 . The static attitude adjustment apparatus as in  claim 4 , wherein each of first and second manipulators comprising: 
 a pair of probes arranged for reciprocating in opposing directions and for receiving a portion of the suspension therebetween, the pair of probes for cooperating to abut two outwardly opposing surfaces on the suspension and thereby hold the suspension and each probe having a free end.    
     
     
         6 . The static attitude adjustment apparatus as in  claim 5 , further comprising an insert being removably coupled to the free end of each probe, each insert having an edge formed by two outwardly opposing faces having an acute angle therebetween.  
     
     
         7 . The static attitude adjustment apparatus as in  claim 6 , wherein the insert of the probe abuts one of the outwardly opposing surfaces of the suspension along the edge.  
     
     
         8 . The static attitude adjustment apparatus as in  claim 7 , wherein the edge is generally parallel to the roll axis, the roll axis being generally parallel to the first axis.  
     
     
         9 . The static attitude adjustment apparatus as in  claim 4 , further comprising a lifting assembly, the lifting assembly for applying a force to the suspension and thereby positioning the slider head of the suspension at a flying position, and the slider head having a roll static attitude and a pitch static attitude at the flying position.  
     
     
         10 . The static attitude adjustment apparatus as in  claim 9 , further comprising a measuring device for measuring the roll static attitude and the pitch static attitude of the slider head of the suspension mounted onto the mounting structure, the measuring device being electrically connected to the controller for transmitting the roll static attitude and the pitch static attitude to the controller.  
     
     
         11 . The static attitude adjustment apparatus as in  claim 10 , wherein the controller reciprocates the first and second manipulators along the first and second axes for permanently deforming the suspension such that the pitch static attitude and the roll static attitude of the slider head matches a reference pitch attitude and a reference roll attitude, the reference pitch attitude and the reference roll attitude being predetermined by a user.  
     
     
         12 . The static attitude adjustment apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the first and second manipulators reciprocate in opposing directions along the first axis for bending the suspension about the roll axis and thereby adjusting the roll static attitude of the slider head.  
     
     
         13 . The static attitude adjustment apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the first and second manipulators reciprocate in the same direction along the first axis for bending the suspension along the pitch static attitude and thereby adjusting the pitch static attitude of the slider head.  
     
     
         14 . A static attitude adjustment method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first portion of a suspension within a first manipulator, the first manipulator being engagable to the first portion of the suspension to hold the first portion of the suspension, and the suspension being resilient; and    receiving a second portion of the suspension within a second manipulator, the second manipulator being engagable to the second portion of the suspension to hold the second portion of the suspension,    wherein the second manipulator cooperates with the first manipulator for bending the suspension.    
     
     
         15 . The static attitude adjustment method as in  claim 14 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a controller for positioning the first and second manipulators along a first axis and a second axis, the first and second manipulators being one of electrically or pneumatically connected to the controller.    
     
     
         16 . The static attitude adjustment method as in  claim 15 , wherein the first axis is generally perpendicular to the second axis.  
     
     
         17 . The static attitude adjustment method as in  claim 15 , further comprising the step of: 
 mounting a mounting region of the suspension onto a mounting structure, the suspension being planar, elongated, and the mounting region and a slider head constituting two extremities of the suspension, and the slider head of the suspension being bendable about a roll axis and along a pitch axis, the roll axis being the longitudinal axis of the suspension and the pitch axis being perpendicular to the roll axis and a surface of the suspension.    
     
     
         18 . The static attitude adjustment method as in  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a pair of probes extending from each of first and second manipulator; and    arranging each pair of probes for reciprocating in opposing directions and for receiving a portion of the suspension therebetween, the pair of probes for cooperating to abut two outwardly opposing surfaces on the suspension and thereby hold the suspension and each probe having a free end.    
     
     
         19 . The static attitude adjustment method as in  claim 18 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing an insert being removably coupled to the free end of each probe, each insert having an edge formed by two outwardly opposing faces having an acute angle therebetween.    
     
     
         20 . The static attitude adjustment method as in  claim 19 , wherein the insert of the probe abuts one of the outwardly opposing surfaces of the suspension along the edge.  
     
     
         21 . The static attitude adjustment method as in  claim 20 , wherein the edge is generally parallel to the roll axis, the roll axis being generally parallel to the first axis.  
     
     
         22 . The static attitude adjustment method as in  claim 17 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a lifting assembly for applying a force to the suspension and thereby positioning the slider head of the suspension at a flying position, and the slider head having a roll static attitude and a pitch static attitude at the flying position.    
     
     
         23 . The static attitude adjustment method as in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of: 
 measuring the roll static attitude and the pitch static attitude of the slider head of the suspension by a measuring device, the measuring device being electrically connected to the controller for transmitting the roll static attitude and the pitch static attitude to the controller.    
     
     
         24 . The static attitude adjustment method as in  claim 23 , further comprising the step of: 
 reciprocating the first and second manipulators along the first and second axes for permanently deforming the suspension such that the pitch static attitude and the roll static attitude of the slider head matches a reference pitch attitude and a reference roll attitude, the reference pitch attitude and the reference roll attitude being pre-determined by a user and the first and second manipulators being controlled by the controller.    
     
     
         25 . The static attitude adjustment method as in  claim 24 , further comprising the step of reciprocating the first and second manipulators in opposing directions along the first axis for bending the suspension about the roll axis and thereby adjusting the roll static attitude of the slider head.  
     
     
         26 . The static attitude adjustment method as in  claim 25 , further comprising the step of reciprocating the first and second manipulators in the same direction along the first axis for bending the suspension along the pitch static attitude and thereby adjusting the pitch static attitude of the slider head.