Hutchinson Technology Corporation

Jeffrey W Green

Brent D Lien

Jeffry S Bennin

Ryan A Jurgenson

Gary E Gustafson

Todd W Boucher

A trace interconnect assembly designed for transmitting electrical signals to and from a head assembly in a hard disk drive is disclosed. The interconnect assembly includes one or more single-layer thin, elongated, and generally flat substrate-free trace interconnects. The trace interconnects are new conductors etched out of a planar length of preferably a high tensile and high yield strength metal such as beryllium copper. They are shaped to match the surface topology of the suspension assembly. Trace interconnects have a rigid region and flexible regions that match a rigid region and flexible regions in the suspension assembly. Different additional elements include support braces, standoffs, trace tangs, bond pads, and stacked interconnects. Coupling a head assembly to the interconnect assembly creates a head interconnect harness. Methods of manufacture for the trace interconnect assembly, a multi-conductor stacked version, a head suspension assembly, and the head interconnect harness are disclosed.

Magnetic head suspension with single layer preshaped trace interconnect

A trace interconnect assembly is designed for transmitting electrical signals to and from a head assembly in a hard disk drive. The interconnect assembly includes one or more single-layer thin, elongated, and generally flat substrate-free trace interconnects. The trace interconnects are new conductors etched out of a planar length of preferably a high tensile and high yield strength metal such as beryllium copper. They are shaped to match the surface topology of the suspension assembly. Trace interconnects have a rigid region and flexible regions that match a rigid region and flexible regions in the suspension assembly. Different additional elements include support braces, standoffs, trace tangs, bond pads, and stacked interconnects. Coupling a head assembly to the interconnect assembly creates a head interconnect harness. Methods of manufacture for the trace interconnect assembly, a multi-conductor stacked version, a head suspension assembly, and the head interconnect harness are disclosed.

A trace interconnect assembly for transmitting electrical signals to and from a head assembly in a hard disk drive. The interconnect assembly includes one or more single-layer thin, elongated, and generally flat substrate-free trace interconnects. The trace interconnects are new conductors etched out of a planar length of preferably a high tensile and high yield strength metal such as beryllium copper. They are shaped to match the surface topology of the suspension assembly. Trace interconnects have a rigid region and flexible regions that match a rigid region and flexible regions in the suspension assembly. Different additional elements include support braces, standoffs, trace tangs, bond pads, and stacked interconnects. Coupling a head assembly to the interconnect assembly creates a head interconnect harness. Methods of manufacture for the trace interconnect assembly, a multi-conductor stacked version, a head suspension assembly, and the head interconnect harness are disclosed.

Electrical trace interconnect assembly

A method for manufacturing a head suspension including separately manufacturing a load beam and a set of traces. The traces are formed from a sheet of conductive material and include an elongated conductor portion and a gimbal portion. Portions of the traces which are configured to be mounted to the load beam are coated with dielectric before being mounted to the load beam. The gimbal portion of the traces provides both mechanical and electrical connections to the conductor portion.

Gimbal flexure and electrical interconnect assembly

A gimbal flexure and electrical interconnect assembly for attachment to a disk drive suspension assembly. The gimbal flexure and electrical interconnect acts both as an interconnect system for relaying electrical signals and as a gimbal flexure. It comprises a self-supporting set of generally parallel traces--electrically insulated linear substrate-free conductors constructed of a single layer spring material. The set of traces includes a load beam portion extending over and matching the surface topology of at least a section of the first surface of a load beam, and a gimbal portion located at a distal end of the set of traces shaped as a gimbal flexure means. The invention describes specific embodiments, including head harnesses, suspension assemblies, and head suspension assemblies, as well as manufacturing methods.

An encoder disc comprised of two or more stainless steel laminations, at least one of which is thinner than the others for the purpose of providing more accurately sized openings in the disc.

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Sioux Falls, SD, United States of America

Jeffrey W Green