HK1158355B - Suspension assembly having a microactuator electrically connected to a gold coating on a stainless steel surface - Google Patents

Description

Suspension assembly with microactuator electrically connected to a gold coating on a stainless steel surface

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the field of information storage devices, and more particularly to a micro-drive and suspension assembly for positioning a read head in an information storage device.

Background

Information storage devices are used to obtain and/or store data in computers and other consumer electronic devices. Magnetic hard disk drives are examples of information storage devices that include one or more heads that are capable of reading and writing, but other information storage devices also include heads — these heads sometimes include heads that are not capable of writing. For convenience, all heads capable of reading are referred to herein as "read heads," regardless of the other devices and functions that the read heads may also perform (e.g., write, fly height control, touchdown detection, overlay control, etc.).

In modern magnetic hard disk drive devices, each read head is a subcomponent of a Head Gimbal Assembly (HGA). The read head typically includes a slider and a read/write transducer. The read/write transducer typically includes a magnetoresistive read element (e.g., a so-called giant magnetoresistive read element, or a tunneling magnetoresistive read element) and an inductive write structure that includes a flat coil deposited by lithography and a yoke structure having a pole tip facing the disk medium.

HGAs also typically include a suspension assembly that includes a mounting plate, a load beam, and a laminated flexure to carry electrical signals to and from the read head. The read head is typically bonded to the tongue of the laminated flexure. The HGAs, in turn, are sub-components of a Head Stack Assembly (HSA), which typically includes multiple HGAs, a rotary drive, and a flexible cable. The mounting plate of each suspension assembly is attached to an arm of the rotary drive (e.g., by forging), and each laminate flexure includes a flexure tail that is electrically connected to a flexible cable of the HSA (e.g., by welding).

Modern laminated flexures typically include conductive copper traces separated from a stainless steel support layer by a polyimide dielectric layer. Enabling signals to and from the heads to reach the flex cables on the drive body, each HGA flexure includes a flexure tail that extends from the head along the drive arm and is ultimately attached to the flex cable adjacent the drive body. That is, the flexure includes conductive traces that are electrically connected to a plurality of conductive bond pads on the heads and extend from adjacent heads to terminate at electrical connection points at the flexure tail.

The position of the HSA relative to the rotating disk in the disk drive, and hence the position of the read head relative to the data tracks on the disk, is effectively controlled by a rotary drive, typically driven by a Voice Coil Motor (VCM). In particular, the current through the coil of the VCM applies a torque to the rotary actuator that enables the read head to seek and follow the desired data track on the rotating disk.

However, the industry trend to increase spatial data density necessitates a dramatic reduction in the space between data tracks on a disk. In addition, disk drive performance requirements, particularly with respect to the time required to access desired data, do not allow the rotational speed of the disk to be reduced. In fact, for many disk drive applications, rotational speeds have increased significantly. The result of these trends is that servo control of read head position relative to data tracks on rotating disks requires increased bandwidth.

One solution that has been proposed in the art to increase the servo bandwidth of a disk drive is a dual stage drive. In the dual stage drive concept, a rotary drive driven by the VCM is used as a coarse drive (for large adjustments of HSA position relative to the disk), while a so-called "micro-drive" with higher bandwidth but less back-and-forth motion is used as a fine drive (for smaller adjustments of read head position). Various microdrive designs have been proposed in the art for the purpose of dual stage driving in disk drive applications. Some of these designs utilize one or more piezoelectric microactuators that are secured to the stainless steel components of the suspension assembly (e.g., the mounting plate or an extension thereof, and/or the load beam or an extension thereof, and/or the intermediate stainless steel components that connect the mounting plate to the load beam).

However, if the microactuator is electrically connected to the stainless steel surface of the suspension assembly (e.g., for grounding), the electrochemical reaction may cause an oxide layer to form on the stainless steel at the connection location. The oxide layer may be insulating and interfere with the desired conductivity and may deteriorate due to thermal and wet conditions. Over time, the desired response of the micro-drive to the applied signal may become diminished, resulting in reduced or impaired performance of the information storage device and/or loss of data.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art of information storage devices for suspension assembly designs that can improve integration with micro-drives, such as piezoelectric micro-drives.

Disclosure of Invention

A novel suspension assembly includes a suspension assembly mounting plate, a microactuator mounting structure extending from the suspension assembly mounting plate, a load beam extending from the microactuator mounting structure, and a laminated flexure attached to the load beam. The laminated flexure includes a tongue having a read head engaging surface. The suspension assembly includes a stainless steel surface having a gold coating and a microactuator attached to the microactuator mounting structure and electrically connected to the gold coating.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a top view of a disk drive that can include an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a Head Gimbal Assembly (HGA) that can include an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an expanded view of the area labeled 3 in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top perspective view of a suspension assembly according to an embodiment of the invention, after placement of the micro-drives but before electrical connection of the micro-drives.

Fig. 5 is an expanded view of the area marked 5 in fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an expanded view of the area labeled 5 in fig. 4, but after the microactuator is electrically connected.

FIG. 7 is an expanded view of the area labeled 5 in FIG. 4, but prior to placement of the microactuator.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a suspension assembly component including a mounting plate and a microactuator mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 is a top view of a disk drive 100 that can include an embodiment of the present invention. The disk drive 100 includes a disk drive base 102. The disc drive 100 also includes a pivot 106 rotatably mounted on the disc drive base 102 for rotating the disc 104 mounted on the pivot 106. The rotation of the disks 104 establishes an air flow through an optional recirculation filter 108. In certain embodiments, the disk drive 100 may have only a single disk 104, or alternatively, two or more disks.

The disc drive 100 also includes a rotary coarse drive 110 rotatably mounted on the disc drive base 102. The rotary coarse actuator 110 includes an actuator arm 114 supporting a Head Gimbal Assembly (HGA) 118. Voice coil motor 112 rotates actuator 110 through a limited angular range so that HGA118 may be desirably positioned relative to one or more information tracks on disk 104. Preferably, the disk drive 100 will include one HGA118 per disk surface, but a reduced number of disk drives in which fewer HGAs are used are also contemplated. In the inactive state, the HGA may be parked on the ramp 120, for example, to avoid contact with the disk 104 when it is not rotating. The electrical signals to/from the HGA118 are carried to other drive electronics, in part via a flex cable (not shown) and a flex cable mount 116.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of an HGA200 that can include embodiments of the present invention. Referring additionally to FIG. 2 below, HGA200 includes a load beam 202 and a read head 210 for reading and writing data from and to a disk (e.g., disk 104). The read head 210 includes a slider substrate having an air bearing surface (to which the marks 210 are directed) and an opposing top surface (not visible in the view of FIG. 2). The slider substrate preferably comprises AlTiC, although other ceramics or silicon may also be used. The slider substrate of the read head 210 also includes a trailing face 212 that includes a read/write transducer (too small to be physically shown in FIG. 2, but disposed on the trailing face 212). In a particular embodiment, the read/write transducer is preferably an inductive magnetic write transducer combined with a magnetoresistive read transducer. The purpose of the load beam 202 is to provide limited vertical compliance to the read head 210 to follow vertical undulations of the surface of a disk (e.g., disk 104 of FIG. 1) as it rotates, and to preload the air bearing surface of the read head 210 to the disk surface with a preload force commonly referred to as a "gram load".

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the HGA200 also includes a laminated flexure 204 attached to the load beam 202. The laminated flexure 204 includes a tongue 206 having a read head engaging surface. The head 210 is attached to the read head engagement surface of the tongue 206 of the laminated flexure 204. Because the read head 210 partially obscures the tongue 206, only a portion of the tongue 206 is visible in FIG. 2. A first purpose of the laminated flexure 204 is to provide compliance for the head 210 to follow pitch and roll angular fluctuations of the surface of a disk (e.g., disk 104) as it rotates, while limiting relative motion between the read head 210 and the load beam 202 in the lateral direction and about the yaw axis. A second purpose of the laminated flexure 204 is to provide multiple electrical paths to facilitate signal transmission to and from the read head 210. For a second purpose, the laminate flexure 204 includes a plurality of conductive traces 218 defined in a conductive sub-layer (e.g., copper) of the laminate flexure 204. The conductive traces 218 are isolated from the support layer (e.g., stainless steel) by a dielectric layer (e.g., polyimide).

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, load beam 202 includes hinge plates 222 and 224 and is attached to mounting plate 220 via hinge plates 222 and 224 and microactuator mounting structure 300. These components may be made of stainless steel and their attachment to each other may be by a plurality of spot welds, for example. Alternatively, the load beam 202 could have an integral hinge plate area rather than being assembled with separate hinge plate components, such that the load beam 202 and its hinge plates would be a single component with material continuity.

The load beam 202 and its hinge plates 222, 224 (if present), the microactuator mounting structure 300, and the mounting plate 220 may together be referred to as a "suspension assembly". Further, the mounting plate 220 may also be referred to as a suspension assembly mounting plate 220. In certain preferred embodiments, the suspension assembly mounting plate 220 includes a forged bushing 226 to aid in attaching the suspension assembly to the drive arm (e.g., drive arm 114). In this case, the suspension assembly mounting plate 220 may also be referred to as a "forged mounting plate". Note that after the laminated flexure 204 is attached to the load beam 202, the laminated flexure 204 may be considered to be also attached to a "suspension assembly". However, before the laminated flexure 204 is attached to the load beam 202, the term "suspension assembly" may refer only to the load beam 202 and its hinge plates 222, 224 (if present), and the mounting plate 220.

FIG. 3 is an expanded view of the region of the HGA200 labeled 3 in FIG. 2. Referring additionally now to fig. 3, it can be seen that the microactuator mounting structure 300 extends from the suspension assembly mounting plate 220. In the embodiment of fig. 3, it is seen that the microactuator mounting structure 300 is a separate sub-component that is attached to the suspension assembly mounting plate 220 (e.g., by a plurality of spot welds). However, alternatively, the microactuator mounting structure 300 and the suspension assembly mounting plate 220 may be a single component with material continuity rather than an assembly of subcomponents.

The microactuator mounting structure 300 may include at least one compliant arm (compliant) 310 such that the microactuator can move a distal portion 318 relative to an anchor portion 316 of the microactuator mounting structure 300. For example, in the embodiment of fig. 3, the microactuator mounting structure 300 includes two compliant arms 310 and 312 such that the microactuator mounting structure surrounds a window 314. The window 314 is sized so that it can be crossed by the microactuator 300. However, alternatively, the microactuator mounting structure 300 can be designed with a single compliant arm (e.g., centered on the longitudinal axis of the suspension assembly) such that the microactuator mounting structure 300 is generally I-shaped between the tip and root portions. Such an embodiment may have two microactuators on either side of the I-shape spanning the distance from the tip portion to the root portion.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the load beam 202 extends from the distal portion 318 of the microactuator mounting structure 300, wherein the load beam 202 includes hinge plates 222 and 224 attached to and extending from the distal portion 318 of the microactuator mounting structure 300. In an alternative embodiment, the hinge plates 222, 224 and the load beam 202 can be a single component with material continuity (rather than the assembly of subcomponents shown in FIG. 3).

Fig. 4 is a top perspective view of a suspension assembly 400 according to an embodiment of the invention, after placement of a micro-actuator 430 but before electrical connection of the micro-actuator 430. In the embodiment of fig. 4, the suspension assembly 400 includes a load beam 402 and a laminated flexure 404 attached to the load beam 402. The load beam 402 includes hinge plates 422 and 424 and is attached to the suspension assembly mounting plate 420 via the hinge plates 422 and 424. These parts may be made of stainless steel and their attachment to each other may be made by, for example, spot welding. Alternatively, the load beam 402 could have an integral hinge plate area rather than being assembled with separate hinge plate components, such that the load beam 402 and its hinge plates would be a single component with material continuity. In certain preferred embodiments, the suspension assembly mounting plate 420 includes a forged bushing 426 to assist in attaching the suspension assembly to the drive arm (e.g., drive arm 114).

Fig. 5 is an expanded view of the area of the suspension assembly 400 labeled 5 in fig. 4. Referring additionally now to fig. 5, it can be seen that the suspension assembly mounting plate 420 includes a microactuator mounting structure 500 extending from the suspension assembly mounting plate 420. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the microactuator mounting structure 500 includes a partially etched well 540 in which the microactuator 430 may be placed. In certain preferred embodiments, the microactuator 430 is affixed to the microactuator mounting structure 500 by an adhesive (e.g., a UV-cured resin, a thermally cured resin, etc.), and such adhesive or other encapsulating material may be disposed around the microactuator 430 and within the partially etched wells to help prevent dislodgement of the article.

In the embodiment of fig. 5, the microactuator mounting structure 500 includes at least one compliant arm 510 that enables the microactuator 430 to move the distal portion 518 relative to the anchor portion 516 of the microactuator mounting structure 500. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the microactuator mounting structure 500 includes two compliant arms 510 and 512 such that the microactuator mounting structure surrounds a window 514. The window 514 is sized so that it can be spanned by the microactuator 430. However, alternatively, the microactuator mounting structure 500 can be designed with a single compliant arm such that the microactuator mounting structure 500 is generally I-shaped between the tip portion and the root portion. Such an embodiment may have two microactuators on either side of the I-shape spanning the distance from the tip portion to the root portion.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the load beam 402 extends from the distal portion 518 of the microactuator mounting structure 500 because the load beam 402 includes hinge plates 422 and 424 that are attached to and extend from the distal portion 518 of the microactuator mounting structure 500. In an alternative embodiment, the hinge plates 422, 424 and the load beam 402 can be a single component with material continuity (rather than an assembly of subcomponents as shown in FIG. 5). In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the tip portion 518 of the microactuator mounting structure 500 may optionally include an adhesive limiting groove 570 to help prevent adhesive from reaching the hinge plates 422, 424 (and potentially undesirably affecting the structural characteristics of the hinge plates 422, 424).

In the embodiment of fig. 5, the microactuator mounting structure 500 of the suspension assembly 400 comprises a stainless steel surface having two regions 550 and 552 that are coated with gold. Alternatively, one or more gold coatings may be disposed on the stainless steel surface of the suspension assembly mounting plate 420 that is located outside of the anchor portion 516 of the microactuator mounting structure 500 but adjacent to the anchor portion 516. Alternatively, a gold coating may be disposed on the stainless steel surface of each hinge plate 422, 424, beyond the tip portion 518 of the microactuator mounting structure 500 but adjacent to the tip portion 518. In each of these alternative embodiments, it is desirable that the gold coating be disposed close enough to the microactuator 430 to facilitate electrical connection thereof to the microactuator 430. Preferably, but not necessarily, the two gold-coated regions 550 and 552 of the stainless steel surface of the microactuator mounting structure 500 include partially etched trenches 560 and 562, respectively.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the microactuator 430 includes top electrodes 432 and 436 separated by an insulating region 434. However, in the view of FIG. 5, the top electrodes 432 and 436 are not electrically connected to the two gold-coated regions 550 and 552 of the stainless steel surface of the microactuator mounting structure 500. In a particularly preferred embodiment, microactuator 430 is a piezoelectric microactuator that is polarized differently below top electrode 432 than below top electrode 436 to facilitate differential motion (differential) despite application of a common electric field from a common bottom electrode (not shown). In certain other embodiments, the microactuator is a piezoelectric microactuator polarized similarly below the top electrode 432 as below the top electrode 436, and the differential movement is generated by applying different or opposite voltages to one opposing bottom electrode (not shown) and the other.

Fig. 6 is an expanded view of the area labeled 5 in fig. 4 (of the suspension assembly 400), but after electrically connecting the top electrodes 432 and 436 of the microactuator 430 to the two gold-coated regions 550 and 552 of the stainless steel surface of the microactuator mounting structure 500. Fig. 7 is an expanded view of the area labeled 5 in fig. 4 (of the suspension assembly 400), but prior to placement of the microactuator 430.

Specifically, and referring now additionally to fig. 6 and 7, the top electrodes 432 and 436 of the microactuator 430 have been electrically connected to two gold-clad regions 550 and 552 of the stainless steel surface of the microactuator mounting structure 500 by particles (beads)650 and 652 of an epoxy adhesive doped with silver particles. Alternatively, solder or gold wire stitching may be used to make the electrical connection. However, if solder is used and the microactuator is a piezoelectric microactuator, it may be desirable for the solder to be of a low melting point because it does not need to become as hot as the piezoelectric material (e.g., PZT) is depolarized.

In particular embodiments, the gold coating in gold-coated regions 550 and 552 may advantageously reduce or prevent electrochemical reactions that may cause an undesirable oxide layer to form on the stainless steel surface at the connection location, and thereby improve the reliability of the electrical connection. Note that the partially etched trenches 560 and 562 can also improve the reliability of the electrical connection of the top electrodes 432 and 436 of the micro-drive 430 to the two gold-clad regions 550 and 552.

In a particular embodiment, the microactuator may include two piezoelectric elements each connected to at least one of a plurality of conductive traces (e.g., conductive trace 218). In such embodiments, each piezoelectric element can be individually or differently excited to produce the desired movement of the tip portion of the microactuator mounting portion relative to its anchoring portion. In another embodiment, the microactuator includes a piezoelectric element having a bottom electrode electrically connected to two of the plurality of conductive traces (as shown in FIG. 5). In such an embodiment, different voltages can be applied to different portions of one piezoelectric element to produce the desired movement of the tip portion of the microactuator mounting portion relative to its anchoring portion. In a preferred embodiment, the microactuator 430 comprises one piezoelectric element having a common bottom electrode electrically connected to only a single one of the plurality of conductive traces (with the top electrode or electrodes grounded through the suspension assembly stainless steel structure). In such embodiments, the piezoelectric element is preferably polarized differently under one surface electrode than the other to facilitate differential motion despite the application of a common voltage from a single conductive trace. Note that in the above embodiments, the side of the grounded piezoelectric microactuator may be grounded through a connection to the stainless steel portion of the suspension assembly (which serves as a ground conductor rather than or in addition to the ground trace of the laminated flexure).

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a suspension assembly member 800 according to an embodiment of the invention. The suspension assembly component 800 includes a mounting plate portion 820 and a microactuator mounting structure 801 extending from the mounting plate portion 820. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the mounting plate portion 820 and the microactuator mounting structure 801 are shown as a single component having material continuity rather than as an assembly of subcomponents.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the microactuator mounting structure 801 includes partially etched wells 840 in which the microactuators may be placed. The microactuator mounting structure 801 includes at least one compliant arm 810 that enables the microactuator to move a distal portion 818 relative to an anchor portion 816 of the microactuator mounting structure 801. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 8, the microactuator mounting structure 801 includes two compliant arms 810 and 812 such that the microactuator mounting structure surrounds a window 814. The window 814 is sized so that it can be spanned by the microactuator.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the distal portion 818 of the microactuator mounting structure 801 comprises a stainless steel surface having two regions 850 and 852 that are coated with gold. Alternatively, one or more gold coatings can be disposed on the stainless steel surface of the mounting plate portion 820, e.g., outside of but adjacent to the anchor portion 816 of the microactuator mounting structure 801. In any of these alternative embodiments, it is desirable that the gold coating be disposed close enough to the partially etched well 840 to facilitate electrical connection to the microactuator disposed therein. Preferably, but not necessarily, the two gold-coated regions 850 and 852 of the stainless steel surface of the microactuator mounting structure 801 include partially etched trenches 860 and 862, respectively, which may increase the reliability of the electrical connection thereto. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the distal portion 818 of the microactuator mounting structure 801 may optionally further comprise an adhesion limiting groove 870.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited thereto. It is contemplated that various features and aspects of the invention may be used alone or in combination and may be used in different environments or applications. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative and exemplary rather than a restrictive sense. "including," "comprising," and "having" are non-limiting terms.

Claims (25)

1. A disk drive, comprising:

a disk drive base;

a pivot attached to the disk drive base;

a disk mounted on the pivot;

a coarse drive attached to the disk drive base, the coarse drive including an actuator arm;

a suspension assembly, the suspension assembly comprising:

a suspension assembly mounting plate attached to the drive arm;

a microactuator mounting structure extending from the suspension assembly mounting plate;

a load beam extending from the microactuator mounting structure; and

a laminate flexure attached to the load beam, the laminate flexure including a tongue;

wherein the microactuator mounting structure comprises a stainless steel surface having a gold coating and a partially etched groove in the stainless steel surface having the gold coating, the suspension assembly further comprising a microactuator attached to the microactuator mounting structure and electrically connected to the gold coating; and

a read head bonded to the tongue.

2. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the stainless steel surface is a stainless steel surface of the microactuator mounting structure.

3. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the stainless steel surface is a stainless steel surface of the suspension assembly mounting plate.

4. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the load beam comprises at least one hinge plate and the stainless steel surface is a stainless steel surface of the hinge plate.

5. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the microactuator is electrically connected to the gold coating with an epoxy adhesive doped with silver particles.

6. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the laminated flexure comprises a structural layer, a dielectric layer, and a conductive layer defining a plurality of conductive traces, and wherein the read head is electrically connected to more than one of the plurality of conductive traces.

7. The disk drive of claim 6 wherein the microactuator comprises two piezoelectric elements and wherein the two piezoelectric elements are each electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of conductive traces.

8. The disk drive set forth in claim 6 wherein the microactuator comprises a piezoelectric element and wherein the piezoelectric element is electrically connected to two of the plurality of conductive traces.

9. The disk drive set forth in claim 6 wherein the microactuator comprises a piezoelectric element and wherein the piezoelectric element is electrically connected to only one of the plurality of conductive traces.

10. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the microactuator mounting structure and the suspension assembly mounting plate are a single component having material continuity rather than an assembly of subcomponents.

11. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the micro-drive mounting structure is attached to the suspension assembly mounting plate by a plurality of spot welds.

12. A suspension assembly, comprising:

a suspension assembly mounting plate;

a microactuator mounting structure extending from the suspension assembly mounting plate, the microactuator mounting structure comprising a stainless steel surface having at least one gold-coated partially-etched groove;

a load beam extending from the microactuator mounting structure; and

a laminated flexure attached to the load beam, the laminated flexure including a tongue having a read head engagement surface;

a micro-actuator attached to the micro-actuator mounting structure and electrically connected to the gold coating.

13. The suspension assembly of claim 12, wherein the load beam includes at least one hinge plate and the stainless steel surface is a stainless steel surface of the hinge plate.

14. The suspension assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one hinge plate and load beam are a single component with material continuity rather than an assembly of subcomponents.

15. The suspension assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one hinge plate is attached to the load beam by a plurality of spot welds.

16. The suspension assembly of claim 12, wherein the microactuator mounting structure and the suspension assembly mounting plate are a single component having material continuity rather than an assembly of subcomponents.

17. The suspension assembly of claim 12, wherein the microactuator mounting structure is attached to the suspension assembly mounting plate by a plurality of spot welds.

18. The suspension assembly of claim 12 wherein the microactuator is electrically connected to the gold coating with an epoxy adhesive doped with silver particles.

19. The suspension assembly of claim 12, wherein the laminate flexure includes a structural layer, a dielectric layer, and a conductive layer defining a plurality of conductive traces.

20. The suspension assembly of claim 19, wherein the microactuator comprises two piezoelectric elements, and wherein the two piezoelectric elements are each electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of conductive traces.

21. The suspension assembly of claim 19, wherein the microactuator comprises one piezoelectric element, and wherein the piezoelectric element is electrically connected to only one of the plurality of conductive traces.

22. A head suspension assembly, comprising:

a suspension assembly, the suspension assembly comprising:

a suspension assembly mounting plate;

a microactuator mounting structure extending from the suspension assembly mounting plate, the microactuator mounting structure comprising a stainless steel surface having at least one gold-coated partially-etched groove;

a load beam extending from the microactuator mounting structure;

a laminate flexure attached to the load beam, the laminate flexure including a tongue;

and

a micro-actuator attached to the micro-actuator mounting structure and electrically connected to the gold coating; and

a read head bonded to the tongue.

23. The head suspension assembly of claim 22, wherein the load beam includes at least one hinge plate.

24. The head suspension assembly of claim 22 wherein the microactuator mounting structure and the suspension assembly mounting plate are a single component having material continuity rather than an assembly of subcomponents.

25. The head suspension assembly of claim 22, wherein the micro-drive mounting structure is attached to the suspension assembly mounting plate by a plurality of spot welds.