US 11,854,583 B2
Head gimbal assembly with damping material
Michael C. McAlpine, Minneapolis, MN (US); Ghazaleh Haghiashtiani, Minneapolis, MN (US); and Zhijie Zhu, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Assigned to Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/301,199.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/004,854, filed on Apr. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0312946 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. G11B 5/48 (2006.01); G11B 33/08 (2006.01)
CPC G11B 5/4833 (2013.01) [G11B 33/08 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A head gimbal assembly comprising:
a suspension, wherein the suspension is configured to establish mechanical communication with a motor arm of a motor, and wherein the suspension is configured to establish mechanical communication with a slider and a read/write head; and
a layer comprising a first individual layer on a surface of the suspension and comprising a second individual layer atop the first individual layer, such that the first individual layer is between the second individual layer and the surface,
wherein the first individual layer comprises a first viscoelastic material and the second individual layer comprises at least one of the first viscoelastic material or a second viscoelastic material,
wherein the first individual layer has a first individual thickness less than 100 microns and the second individual layer has a second individual thickness less than 100 microns,
wherein the first individual thickness and the second individual thickness are measured substantially perpendicular to the surface, and
wherein the layer defines a free-layer damping material on the suspension.