Seagate Technology Incorporated

Wagner Spray Tech Corporation

Andrew Robert Motzko

Rick Pfahl Freeman

Neal Frank Gunderson

Erik Jon Lindquist

Adam Karl Himes

Roger Alan Resh

Michael A Mewes

Garry Edward Korbel

Kurt J Korkowski

Antanas Daugela

Maxwell Reese Kraus

Kenneth R Fastner

Gregory Paul Myers

Todd Michael Lammers

Zine Eddine Boutaghou

Jason Wayne Riddering

John Stuart Wright

Frank William Bernett

Reed David Hanson

Wolfgang Rosner

Stefan Andrei Ionescu

Subra Nagarajan

David D Backlund

John M Baker

Chau Chin Low

Stuart Kevin Francis

Karsten Klarqvist

Matthew S Graeff

Lawrence Allen Wilcox

Ricardo P Freeman

Erick J Lindquist

A data storage device includes a first actuator and a second actuator rotatable around a common axis. The data storage device further includes a first electrical connector configured to communicate electrical signals to and from the first actuator via a first flexible circuit. The data storage device further includes a second electrical connector separate from but in a stacked arrangement with the first electrical connector. The second electrical connector is configured to communicate electrical signals to and from the second actuator via a second flexible circuit.

Multi-actuator interconnector

According to some embodiments, a storage device includes a first actuator and a second actuator rotatable around a common axis. The storage device further includes a first electrical connector configured to communicate electrical signals to and from the first actuator, and a second electrical connector configured to communicate electrical signals to and from the second actuator and to communicate electrical signals to and from the first electrical connector. The storage device includes a hermetically-sealed body, the hermetically-sealed body including a base deck and a top cover, wherein the second electrical connector is configured to send and receive electrical signals to and from the first actuator and the second actuator through a single aperture in the hermetically-sealed body.

An apparatus includes an actuator assembly, a dampening assembly coupled to the actuator assembly, and a vibration sensor assembly coupled to the dampening assembly and coupled to the actuator assembly by way of the dampening assembly. A method includes attaching a dampening assembly to an actuator assembly and attaching a vibration sensor assembly to the dampening assembly. The dampening assembly is positioned between the vibration sensor assembly and the actuator assembly.

Methods and devices for detecting shock events

Systems and methods for a flexible dynamic loop having reduced impedance are described. The flexible dynamic loop may supply current from a preamplifier to another device, such as a hard disk drive. In one embodiment, a flexible dynamic loop comprises a flexible structure having a set of wire traces. The flexible dynamic loop may also comprise a set of impedance control structures on the flexible structure and perpendicular to a bend radius of the flexible structure, wherein the set of impedance control structures change an impedance level experienced by at least some of the set of wire traces. Some of the impedance control structures may be staggered. The flexible dynamic loop may also include a cover layer formed over the set of impedance control structures, which may be patterned with perforations. The flexible dynamic loop may also include one or more flexible rails connecting some of the impedance control structures.

Flexible dynamic loop with back-side impedance control structures

A system includes a first preamplifier, a second preamplifier and a flex circuit. The first preamplifier is configured to be connected to a first plurality of recording heads. The second preamplifier is configured to be connected to a second plurality of recording heads. At least one of the first plurality of recording heads and at least one of the second plurality of recording heads are configured to concurrently perform read and or write operations. The flex circuit is a single flex circuit configured to connect the first and second preamplifiers to the plurality of recording heads.

Flexible circuit for concurrently active recording heads

An actuator for supporting data transfer elements includes an arm, a flexible circuit assembly and a sensor. The flexible circuit assembly includes a stiffener having a mount feature and a turnaround feature. The flexible circuit assembly also includes a flexible cable having a plurality of conductive traces for electrically connecting the data transfer elements to circuitry. The flexible cable has a service loop portion, a mounting portion coupled to the mount feature of the stiffener and a turnaround portion coupled to the turnaround feature of the stiffener. The turnaround portion is configured to couple the mounting portion to the service loop portion. The sensor is in contact with a surface of the arm and is electrically coupled to the flexible cable.

Arm mounted shock sensor and flexible circuit routing

In accordance with various embodiments, a printed structure of a flex circuit assembly includes a plurality of adjacent land portions formed on a heat conductive stiffener member and which support electrically conductive paths for connection to an integrated circuit. A corresponding plurality of separation channels are formed between the adjacent electrically conductive paths, and thermal energy generated by operation of the integrated circuit is transferred through the separation channels to the stiffener member. In some embodiments, the separation channels retain a fluid, such as air or a low density inert gas, which flows through the separation channels in response to rotation of a rotatable member adjacent the flex circuit assembly. In other embodiments, a dielectric, thermally conductive material fills the separation channels.

Flex circuit assembly with thermal energy dissipation

While a microactuator is controlled to cause a head to follow a track on a disk surface, one or more other microactuators are separately controlled to offset other heads away from locations of thermal asperities on other associated disk surfaces.

Microactuator control that avoids thermal asperities on disk surfaces

Apparatus and method for head-disc interface (HDI) modal response monitoring. A sensing element disposed on a rigid actuator arm is mechanically impedance matched to a head-disc interface (HDI) supported by the actuator arm to resonate at a predetermined frequency corresponding to at least one disturbance associated with the HDI.

Head-disc interface (HDI) modal response monitoring

A FOS is provided for electrically connecting a data transfer head with a PCCA. The FOS comprises a polymeric layer supporting an electrical trace. The electrical trace comprises an uninsulated pad surface configured for electrically engaging a solder interconnect of the PCCA. The polymeric layer comprises a continuous portion covering the pad and opposing the pad surface. A method is provided comprising providing the FOS comprising the electrical trace and the polymeric covering, contactingly engaging the pad surface portion of the trace with the solder interconnect portion of the PCCA, and conducting heat through the polymeric covering to reflow the solder interconnect, thereby electrically connecting the FOS to the PCCA.

Flex on suspension with a heat-conducting protective layer for reflowing solder interconnects

An interface to make interconnections between the interior and exterior of a sealed enclosure may include a flat connector (FC). The FC may comprise at least one layer of a substantially planar substrate. Each substrate layer may include metallization for conducting signals between contacts on an interior-facing surface and contacts on an exterior-facing surface. In an enclosure with an aperture for passing electrical conductors, the FC may be configured to seal the aperture to inhibit the escape of a low density gas, such as helium, for a long period of time. In one embodiment, the FC may include metallization configured to minimize helium leakage. As such, the FC may conduct electrical signals into and out of the sealed enclosure. Such signals may include, for example, power, control, and data signals for operating devices housed within the enclosure.

Method of making an electrical connection

A flex cable assembly for use in a disc drive data storage device includes a laminated flex cable and a flex cable support. The flex cable provides electrical communication paths between a moveable head stack assembly and a disc drive printed circuit board. The flex cable support comprises a base and adjacent first and second flex support portions with respective first and second flex support surfaces. The flex cable is routed along the flex support surfaces and exerts a spring force thereagainst as the flex cable attempts to return to a nominally planar orientation. The direction of the second flex support surface establishes the orientation of a dynamic loop between the flex cable support and the head stack assembly. Preferably, a portion of the flex cable pulls away from the second flex support surface to lengthen the dynamic loop in response to movement of the head stack assembly.

Flex cable assembly with improved flex cable dynamic loop characteristics

A head interconnect circuit for connecting transducer elements of a data head to drive circuitry including an alignment finger on a lead tip for aligning leads relative to connectors or solder pads for electrically connecting heads to drive circuitry. A method for connecting a head interconnect circuit to a printed circuit supported on an head actuator including aligning an alignment finger on the lead tip with a printed surface of a drive circuit for soldering leads on the lead tip to solder pads or connectors on the drive circuit.

Method for connecting a head interconnect circuit with alignment finger to a printed circuit

Head interconnect circuit with alignment finger

A motor control circuit controls a motor in a disc drive. The motor control circuit includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) providing a commutation timing signal. A commutation circuit is operably coupled to the VCO and provides commutation signals to the motor based on the commutation timing signal. A phase locked feedback circuit is operably coupled to the commutation circuit and provides a feedback signal to the VCO based on a sensed commutation phase to control a frequency of the commutation timing signal. A modulator is operably coupled to the phase locked feedback circuit and modulates the feedback signal. A method is also provided in which the commutation timing signal is modulated so as to spread a frequency spectrum of the commutation signals.

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Delano, MN, United States of America

Andrew Robert Motzko