Seagate Technology Incorporated

John S Putnam

Kent J Forbord

Brian W Sudman

Robert J Nielsen

Kevin Jon Schulz

Gary D Sorenson

Kenneth R Fastner

Hugh A Ritchey

A disc drive storage system and device is provided in which distortion in a drive signal due to a mismatch between a signal source impedance and a write head impedance is minimized. A write head that writes on a disc surface and a signal source that provides a drive signal to the write head are coupled by an electrical interconnect path. A connection device that minimizes the mismatch between the signal source impedance and the write head impedance is introduced in the electrical interconnect path. In addition, a method of coupling a signal source to a write head in a disc drive storage system is provided.

Frequency extension method and apparatus for fast rise time writers

A disc drive storage system and device is provided in which uncharacteristic behavior of a signal source caused by having to drive a very low impedance due a common mode component of the drive signal is eliminated. A write head that has a first and second end writes on a disc surface. A signal source provides a drive signal to the write head. The drive signal has a differential signal component and a common mode signal component. An electrical interconnect path couples the write head and the signal source. The electrical interconnect path provides a return path for the differential signal component and an open circuit for the common mode signal component. A common mode termination network with a first node, second node and a center tap is included. The first node is connected to the first end of the write head, the second node connected to the second end of the write head and the center tap connected to ground to provide a return path for the common mode signal component. In addition, a method of providing a return path for a common mode signal in a disc drive storage system is provided.

Common mode termination method and apparatus for a write head

An electrical circuit package including disk drive operation and control circuitry is formed in multiple layers, including a compliant circuitry layer coextensive with the package, and additional conductive and dielectric layers to form relatively stiff circuit panels bonded to the compliant layer and spaced apart from one another. Portions of the compliant layer, between confronting edges of adjacent circuit panels, provide compliant joinder segments. Each joinder segment electrically couples its associated pair of circuit panels, and structurally couples the panels in a manner that permits a selective, non-coplanar orientation of the panels relative to each other. Thus, the panels are electrically and structurally coupled in a manner that facilitates testing the circuit package as a single unit, followed by installation of the package to a disk drive housing with the circuit panels integral with the housing and in the desired non-coplanar arrangement. The non-coplanar arrangement increases area available for supporting semiconductor components. Selectively arranging the components over the available panel surface area facilitates heat dissipation. Selective shaping and positioning of the panels about the housing enables the housing to accommodate full height actuator and spindle motors.

Disk drive housing with recess for circuit panel

A rotary actuator for disk drives includes a carriage rotatable on a vertical axis, and multiple transducing head suspensions extended horizontally away from the carriage in cantilever fashion. Data reading and writing circuitry includes an electrical circuit package mounted at the carriage, and multiple flexible printed circuits extending horizontally away from the circuit package, each for electrical coupling to one of the transducing heads. A series of slots, formed through the circuit package along one edge, support the flexible printed circuits to achieve an electrical and mechanical coupling that orients the flexible printed circuits with their major planes horizontal throughout their respective lengths, avoiding any twists of the flexible circuitry while providing improved damping and electrical performance. Alternative connecting structures, in lieu of the slots, include rigid rails on one or both sides of each flexible printed circuit, and bendable tabs incorporated into the printed circuits.

Planar flexible circuit package for coupling transducers with carriage

Unitary rigid and flexible circuit package for disk drives

An E-block assembly is used in a disk drive which reads and writes information to a plurality of magnetic disks. The E-block assembly includes a plurality of sliders, each slider including a magnetic transducer for reading information from one of the plurality of magnetic disks. A plurality of load beams are each coupled to one of the plurality of sliders. A unitary E-block has a first side and a second side and a plurality of load beams is coupled to an arm. The unitary E-block is suitable for being coupled to an actuator for moving the arms relative to the magnetic disks. A plurality of component support members mounted to one of the first or second sides of the unitary E-block has a plurality of component support members. The component support members support electrical components for use in reading information from and writing information to the magnetic disks.

Unitary E-block assembly for use in a disk drive

An improved multilayer flexible circuit for use in a disk storage device actuator arm supporting a data head and a servo head includes a first ground plane and a second electrically floating ground plane.

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Excelsior, MN, United States of America

John S Putnam