Method and apparatus for connecting a micro-actuator to driver arm suspension

Abstract

A system and method for connecting an actuator to a suspension element is disclosed. The actuator is electrically coupled using a silver paste. The silver paste is further covered by a coating application to provide structural support. A step, attached to either the actuator base or the suspension tongue, provides further structural support and maintains a gap between the actuator and the suspension element.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . A method, comprising: 
 coupling an actuator element to a suspension element using at least one application site of a bonding agent; and    covering the bonding agent with a coating application.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 coupling a magnetic head element to the suspension element using at least one application site of the bonding agent; and    covering the bonding agent with the coating application.    
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the actuator element is a micro-actuator.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the micro-actuator is selected from a group consisting of a piezoelectric micro-actuator, an electromagnetic micro-actuator, an electrostatic micro-actuator, a capacitive micro-actuator, a fluidic micro-actuator, or a thermal micro-actuator.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the bonding agent is a silver paste.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the coating application has a glass transition temperature greater than 120 degrees Celsius.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the coating application has a Young's modulus greater than 0.6 G Pa.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the coating application is an epoxy agent.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the epoxy agent contains a filler ingredient.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the filler ingredient is selected from a group consisting of metal, glass, or a fiber material.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising maintaining a parallel spatial relationship between the actuator element and the suspension element using a first step element.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising creating the first step element by thickening a portion of the actuator element.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising molding a second step element into the suspension element.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising coupling the first step element to a portion of the actuator element.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising coupling a second step element to a portion of the suspension element.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising molding the first step element into the suspension element.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising coupling the first step element to a portion of the suspension element.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising coupling the first step element to a portion of the suspension element using one of a group of materials comprising epoxy, resin, anisotropic conductive film, and anisotropic conductive adhesive.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising coupling the first step element to a portion of the micro-actuator element using one of a group of materials comprising epoxy, resin, anisotropic conductive film, and anisotropic conductive adhesive.