Hutchinson Technology Corporation

Applied Kinetics, Inc.

Applied Kiietics, Inc.

Mobius Innovations, Inc.

Mark T Girard

Ryan A Jurgenson

David R Swift

Joseph P Tracy

Roger Rhea Livermore

Steven J Knight

Todd A Krinke

Susan June Livermore, Legal Representative

Jeffry S Bennin

John H Tangren

Stevenson J Marek

David A Ziegler

An optical measurement device for determining at least two parameters of a measurement location of a surface of at least one workpiece positioned in a known coordinate system is described. The device comprises a first light source providing a first measurement beam. The first measurement beam is directed at a first surface of a workpiece. The device also comprises a second light source providing a second measurement beam. The second measurement beam is directed at a second surface of a workpiece facing opposite the first surface. Further, the device comprises a first system of receiving optics. The first system of receiving optics detects the incoming position of the first measurement beam. The first system of receiving optics is positioned on an opposite side of a workpiece from the first light source. Further still, the device comprises a second imaging system. The second system of receiving optics detects the incoming position of the second measurement beam. The second system of receiving optics is positioned on an opposite side of a workpiece from the second light source.

Apparatus and method for measuring suspension and head assemblies in a stack

An optical measurement device for determining at least two parameters of a measurement location of a surface of a workpiece positioned in a known coordinate system by a workpiece support is described. The device comprises a first light source providing a first measurement beam at a first wavelength and a second light source providing a second measurement beam at a second wavelength. The device also comprises a beam steering system positioning the first and second measurement beams to be collocated on the surface of the workpiece. Further, the device comprise a first imaging system, detecting the incoming position of the first measurement beam and an optical receiving system, detecting the incoming position of the second measurement beam.

Apparatus and method for measuring suspension and head assemblies

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for determining spatial information of a workpiece surface positioned in a predetermined coordinate system. Apparatuses and methods of the present invention can be used to determine one or more coordinates of one or more measurement locations of a workpiece within a predetermined coordinate system. Such coordinates can be used to define points, lines, and/or surfaces of the workpiece within the coordinate system. In one exemplary application, apparatuses and methods of the present invention can be used to determine spatial information of surfaces of head suspensions or head suspension assemblies such as those that are generally utilized in dynamic storage devices such as magnetic disk drives. Such spatial information can be used to determine z-height and/or static attitude, for example.

Apparatuses and methods for measuring head suspensions and head suspension assemblies

A limiter used to limit the motion of a ring gimbal with attached slider relative to a load beam within a head suspension assembly of a disk drive. The ring gimbal includes a flexible substrate supporting at least one electrical lead and a limiter assembly joined to a portion of the flexible substrate. The ring gimbal also includes a tongue portion disposed within a substantially ring-like portion. The limiter is attached to a first surface of the tongue portion. The gimbal may further include a slider attached to a second surface of the tongue portion, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface of the tongue portion.

Limiter for integral flexible circuit suspension assembly and method of assembling

The present invention provides a tray for holding components having first and second sides, wherein the first side has at least one first component receptacle for engaging said component; and the second side has at least one component engaging member, and further wherein the first component receptacle and the component engaging member are aligned such that when multiples of the tray are stacked upon each other the first component receptacle and the component engaging member will cooperate to restrain the motion of the component relative to the tray. In such an embodiment the component will have first and second engagement surfaces and the first component receptacle will engage the first component engagement surface and the component engaging member will engage the second component engagement surface.

Tray system for holding and positioning components

The present invention provides a method for assembling a head gimbal assembly useful in a hard disk drive and for testing such an assembly. In a method in accord with the present invention a head/slider is mounted to a circuited gimbal in an automated assembly machine. Following this step the head/slider circuited gimbal assembly will be subjected a dynamic electrical test with those head/slider circuited gimbal assemblies not passing being sorted from the lot. Following this step the head/slider circuited assembly will be attached to a suspension.

Head gimbal assembly method

An apparatus and method for determining and adjusting the static attitude of a head suspension or a head suspension assembly for use in a dynamic storage device. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a workpiece support and an adjust device, operatively positioned with respect to the workpiece support, for adjusting the head suspension. The adjust device includes first and second clamp portions for restraining a gimbal arm and an adjust body for deforming the restrained gimbal arm while the gimbal arm is restrained by the first and second clamp portions. A method in accordance with the present invention includes determining the planar orientation of a surface indicative of the static attitude of the slider mounting tongue or a slider mounted thereto and controllably deforming an individual gimbal arm of the flexure independently from another gimbal arm of the flexure to introduce a permanent deformation of the gimbal arm thereby adjusting the static attitude of the slider mounting tongue or slider if present.

Static attitude determination and adjust of head suspension components

Limiter for integral flexible circuit suspension assembly

An interconnect for an electrical component. Generally, interconnects of the invention include a substrate, a pair of leads supported on the substrate, and a shunt extending between the leads. In one aspect of the present invention, the shunt comprises an eroded carbonized area of a surface of a carbonizable material.

Electrical component and a shuntable/shunted electrical component and method for shunting and deshunting

The present invention provides an assembly apparatus employing at least a robotic or automated assembly apparatus to manipulate the components to be assembled and at least a first vision alignment system to align the components prior to their assembly. An adhesive dispense system is provided to connect, attach or otherwise adhere the components together. In a method in accord with the present invention for assembling components, a source of the components is provided is located relative to a global reference system. The components held by the source are then located relative to the global reference system based upon the determined location of the source. An adhesive is dispensed onto a first of the components and a second component is manipulated into an initial attachment position relative to the first component. The components are imaged by a local imaging system to establish their position relative to each other and the second component is moved into a desired attachment position and then moved into engagement with the adhesive and the first component. The adhesive may then be at least partially cured if desired.

Apparatus for assembling components

The present invention provides a method for improving the static attitude of a head suspension assembly by improving the manufacture of electrical interconnects by providing a laterally directed tension on the electrical interconnect during manufacture, thereby substantially inhibiting deformation of the gimbal region of the interconnect and the creation of non-planar slider standoffs.

Method for improved static attitude of head suspension assemblies with electrical interconnects

The present invention provides a head suspension assembly, which cantilevers a read/write magnetic transducer head adjacent the rotating surface of a disk in a disk drive, and the method of constructing the head suspension assembly using adhesives adhesive control and distribution features designed to improve both the performance characteristics and manufacturing yields of head suspension assemblies. Such adhesive control and distribution features in accord with the present invention may include through-hole features and component perimeter overlays that impede the flow of adhesive onto surfaces and component interfaces of the flex suspension assembly where the presence of such adhesives may degrade the suspension assembly's performance attributes.

Adhesive control features for wireless head suspension assemblies

The present invention provides a method for the creation and removal of shunts for the prevention of ESD/EOS damage to electrical components. In one embodiment of the present invention, the conductive pathway is provided and removed by exposing the interconnect's carbonizable and ablatable substrate to a radiant energy source such as a laser beam. The present invention also provides for interconnects that include at least two conductive wires or leads engaged on at least one surface by a carbonizable and ablatable material. The conductive wires may each include a branched dead end lead portion interleaved with the branched dead end lead portion of the other. Alternatively, the conductive wires may extend in close proximity to each other in a curved or sinuous or serpentine or backtracking pattern. An interconnect in accord with the present invention may include a substrate substantially supporting the conductive wires except at predetermined locations or proposed shunt sites wherein there is at least one through hole in the substrate.

Head interconnect with support material carbonized shunt

The present invention includes a polymeric/copper ring gimbal adhesively attached to a load beam. Such a gimbal further includes at least one deformation inhibiter for inhibiting and/or preventing the deformation of the gimbal, such deformation inhibiters comprising a forwardly or distally extending non-water absorbent appendage. Such a deformation inhibiting appendage may be an extension of the conductive traces forming the electrical pathway on the gimbal.

Gimbal stiffness control for head suspension assemblies

The present invention provides an assembly system employing at least a robotic or automated assembly apparatus to manipulate the components to be assembled and at least a first vision alignment system to align the components prior to their assembly. An adhesive dispense system is provided to connect, attach or otherwise adhere the components together. In a method in accord with the present invention for assembling components, a source of the components is provided is located relative to a global reference system. The components held by the source are then located relative to the global reference system based upon the determined location of the source. An adhesive is dispensed onto a first of the components and a second component is manipulated into an initial attachment position relative to the first component. The components are imaged by a local imaging system to establish their position relative to each other and the second component is moved into a desired attachment position and then moved into engagement with the adhesive and the first component. The adhesive may then be at least partially cured if desired.

Growing community of inventors

South Haven, MN, United States of America

Mark T Girard