Read Rite Corporation

Western Digital (fremont), Inc.

Chung Fai Lam

Caleb Kai-Lo Chang

Dino Tommy Anthony Martinez

Seila Chao Chim

Dallas W Meyer

Daniel A Nepela

Gary Lloyd Crown

A method and system for providing a suspension assembly for protecting a magnetoresistive (MR) head from electrostatic discharge damage is disclosed. The MR head includes an MR sensor having a first end and a second end. The method and system include providing a first lead and a second lead and providing an insulating film substantially supporting a first portion of the first lead and a second portion of the second lead. The MR head is coupled with the suspension assembly. The first and second ends of the MR sensor are coupled with the first and second leads, respectively. The method and system include providing a conductive strip coupled with the insulating film. In one aspect, the method and system include providing at least one diode electrically coupling the first lead and the second lead. In another aspect, the method and system also include electrically coupling first lead with the conductive strip. In another aspect, the method and system also include electrically coupling first lead with the conductive strip and electrically coupling the first and second lead. In another aspect, the method and system include electrically coupling first and second leads with the conductive strip. Preferably, electric coupling is provided using at least one diode.

Method and system for providing ESD protection using diodes and a grounding strip in a head gimbal assembly

A method and system for protecting a suspension assembly, such as a flex-on-suspension or trace suspension assembly, is disclosed. The suspension assembly is for use with a magnetoresistive (MR) head including an MR sensor. The MR sensor has a first end and a second end. The method and system include providing a first lead coupled with the first end of the MR sensor and providing a second lead coupled with the second end of the MR sensor. The method and system further include providing an insulating film supporting a first portion of the first lead and a second portion of the second lead. The method and system also include providing a resistor coupled with the first lead, the resistor being sufficiently large to damp a transient current in the MR sensor.

Method and system for providing electrostatic discharge protection for flex-on suspension, trace-suspension assembly, or cable-on suspension

A method and system for protecting a magnetoresistive (MR) head from electrostatic discharge damage is disclosed. The MR head includes an MR sensor having a first end and a second end. The MR head is coupled with a suspension assembly including a first lead coupled with the first end of the MR sensor, a second lead coupled with the second end of the MR sensor, and an insulating film supporting first and second portions of the first and second leads. In one aspect, the method and system include providing first and second test pads coupled with the first and second leads, respectively. The first and second test pads are for testing the MR head. The method and system also include providing a permanent resistor coupled to the first and second test pads. The permanent resistor has a resistance of less than approximately ten thousand ohms. In another aspect, the suspension assembly includes first and second head gimbal assembly pads coupled to the first and second leads, respectively. In this aspect, the method and system include coupling a permanent resistor coupled to the first and second head gimbal assembly pads. In another aspect, the MR head is included in a slider having first and second pads for providing current to the MR sensor. In this aspect, the method and system include coupling a permanent resistor to the first and second pads.

Method and system for providing a permanent shunt for a head gimbal assembly

A magnetoresistive head achieves maximum signal output with minimal electromigration by using a magnetoresistive element through which a unidirectional sense current is flown. Periodically, a control circuit determines whether one or more switching criteria have been met, and applies a counter-directional compensation current in the magnetoresistive element when the switching criteria are met, thus suppressing electromigration in the magnetoresistive element in the direction of said sense current. In a preferred embodiment, the compensation current is applied during a quiescence period. In another embodiment a continuous unidirectional sense current is flown through the magnetoresistive element, and the control circuit suspends the sense current in the magnetoresistive element for a period of time when one or more switching criteria have been met, so as to prevent atomic excursion beyond one atomic diameter, such that electromigration in the magnetoresistive element is substantially reduced in the direction of the sense current.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Chung Fai Lam