Method and apparatus for testing microactuators on a suspension assembly

U.S. Patent Number: 6510752

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for testing a microactuator that forms part of a suspension assembly in a disc drive. The method and apparatus test the microactuator before placing the suspension assembly in a disc drive. In the invention, the head is positioned over a track on a disc based in part on servo information read from the disc. At least one input signal is then applied to at last one microactuator on the suspension assembly. Servo information is then read from the disc to determine a change in the position of the head. By comparing the change in the position of the head to the input signal applied to the microactuator, a performance characteristic of a microactuator can be determined.

Inventors: Sacks; Alexei H. (Edina, MN), McGlennen; James H. (Eden Prairie, MN), van der Schans; Albert (Minnetonka, MN)

Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Scotts Valley, CA)

Application Number: 09/426,349

Issued: 2003-01-28

Expired: 2007-01-28

Classes: 73/865.9 ; 324/210; 324/212; 360/75; 360/78.05; 360/78.12; 73/1.79

Field of search: 73/1.79,1.89,865.9 324/210,212 360/75,78.05,78.12

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