Gimbal Strut Configuration For High Yaw Suspension Design

Abstract

A trace gimbal is described. The trace gimbal includes outer struts including a front outrigger at a distal end of the trace gimbal and a rear outrigger at a proximal end of the trace gimbal. The front outrigger includes a distal front outrigger and a proximal front outrigger. The rear outrigger includes a distal rear outrigger and a proximal rear outrigger. The trace gimbal also includes a middle strut extending from the distal rear outrigger and adjoining the proximal front outrigger to the rear outrigger. The middle strut extends from a slider tongue adjoining the outer gimbal struts to the slider tongue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A trace gimbal comprising:
 outer struts including a front outrigger at a distal end of the trace gimbal and a rear outrigger at a proximal end of the trace gimbal, the front outrigger includes a distal front outrigger and a proximal front outrigger, the rear outrigger includes a distal rear outrigger and a proximal rear outrigger; and   a middle strut extending from the distal rear outrigger and adjoining the proximal front outrigger to the rear outrigger, wherein the middle strut extends from a slider tongue adjoining the outer gimbal struts to the slider tongue.   
     
     
         2 . The trace gimbal of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one microactuator mounted on the slider tongue, wherein the middle strut supports the slider tongue. 
     
     
         3 . The trace gimbal of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal front outrigger is adjoined to a distal rear outrigger at a first juncture. 
     
     
         4 . The trace gimbal of  claim 3 , wherein the proximal front outrigger includes a first cross-section, and a second cross-section at the first juncture, wherein the second cross-section is about a same dimension as the first cross-section of the proximal front outrigger. 
     
     
         5 . The trace gimbal of  claim 4 , wherein the first cross-section and the second cross-section of the front outrigger is between 0.05 mm and 0.10 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The trace gimbal of  claim 1 , wherein the distal rear outrigger includes a cross-section, wherein the middle strut includes a cross-section, which is about a same dimension as the cross-section of the distal rear outrigger. 
     
     
         7 . The trace gimbal of  claim 6 , wherein the cross-section of the distal rear outrigger is between 0.10 mm and 0.20 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The trace gimbal of  claim 1 , wherein the middle strut is adjoined to the slider tongue at a second juncture, the second juncture includes a cross-section at the middle strut, the cross-section of the second juncture is about a same dimension as the cross-section of the middle strut. 
     
     
         9 . The trace gimbal of  claim 1 , wherein the front outrigger, the rear outrigger, and the middle strut adjoin at a mid-strut joint, the mid-strut joint includes a mid-strut length between 0.0.25 mm and 0.40 mm, which is more than two times of the cross sections of the front outrigger, the rear outrigger and the middle strut. 
     
     
         10 . The trace gimbal of  claim 1 , wherein the front outrigger and the rear outrigger adjoin at a proximal end of the middle strut. 
     
     
         11 . A suspension comprising:
 a trace gimbal including:
 outer struts including a front outrigger at a distal end of the trace gimbal and a rear outrigger at a proximal end of the trace gimbal, the front outrigger includes a distal front outrigger and a proximal front outrigger, the rear outrigger includes a distal rear outrigger and a proximal rear outrigger; and 
 a middle strut extending from the distal rear outrigger and adjoining the proximal front outrigger to the rear outrigger, wherein the middle strut extends from a slider tongue adjoining the outer gimbal struts to the slider tongue. 
   
     
     
         12 . The suspension of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one microactuator mounted on the slider tongue, wherein the middle strut supports the slider tongue. 
     
     
         13 . The suspension of  claim 11 , wherein the proximal front outrigger is adjoined to a distal rear outrigger at a first juncture. 
     
     
         14 . The suspension of  claim 13 , wherein the proximal front outrigger includes a first cross-section, and a second cross-section at the first juncture, wherein the second cross-section is a same dimension as the first cross-section of the proximal front outrigger. 
     
     
         15 . The suspension of  claim 14 , wherein the first cross-section and the second cross-section of the front outrigger is between 0.05 mm and 0.10 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The suspension of  claim 11 , wherein the distal rear outrigger includes a cross-section, wherein the middle strut includes a cross-section, which is a same dimension as the cross-section of the distal rear outrigger. 
     
     
         17 . The suspension of  claim 16 , wherein the cross-section of the distal rear outrigger is between 0.10 mm and 0.20 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The suspension of  claim 11 , wherein the middle strut is adjoined to the slider tongue at a second juncture, the second juncture includes a cross-section at the middle strut, the cross-section of the second juncture is about a same dimension as the cross-section of the middle strut. 
     
     
         19 . The suspension of  claim 11 , wherein the front outrigger, the rear outrigger, and the middle strut adjoin at a mid-strut joint, the mid-strut joint includes a mid-strut length between 0.25 mm and 0.40 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The suspension of  claim 11 , wherein the front outrigger and the rear outrigger adjoin at a proximal end of the middle strut.