Appeal No. 2001-1570
Application No. 09/081,393
BACKGROUND
Appellant’s invention is directed to a second-stage, fine-
positioning piezoelectric microactuator for positioning the head
of a disk drive relative to a recording surface. The
microactuator, as depicted in Figure 6, includes a flat metal
sheet having a central beam 80 and two bent-up tabs 72 and 74
extending from opposite sides of the beam (specification, page
8). Piezoelectric elements 76 and 78 are attached to the tabs
and form two monomorphs aligned symmetrically on either side of
the central beam.
Representative independent claim 1 is reproduced below:
1. Apparatus for positioning a head adjacent a recording
surface of a recording media, said recording surface defining
multiple data track locations, the apparatus comprising:
a movable support arm supporting the head adjacent the
recording surface and movable for course positioning of the head
relative to each of the data track location; and
fine positioning means disposed on the movable support arm,
for selectively mounting and fire [fine] positioning of the head
relative to each of the data track location wherein the fine
positioning means includes two monomorphs constructed from a
metal sheet having symmetrically bent tabs on which a
piezoelectric element is attached.
The Examiner relies on the following reference in rejecting
the claims:
Boutaghou et al. (Boutaghou) 5,521,778 May 28, 1996
2
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