Read Rite Corporation

Victor Rudman

Oleg A Gergel

Mostafa Mahmoudian

Patrick A Weber

Jagdeep S Buttar

Harry Ray Duer

Elliot Viches

An apparatus for testing magnetic heads that interact with magnetic disks includes a translational slide and a rotatable arm mounted to one end of the slide. The translational slide moves the rotatable arm in a longitudinal direction parallel to the surface of a magnetic disk. The arm rotates the magnetic head to different positions relative to data tracks on the disk. A second translational slide moves the magnetic head vertically above the disk to adjust the vertical position of the head. The three movements of the head, (1)horizontally across the disk, (2)rotationally by the arm, and (3)vertically relative to the disk surface are controlled by servomechanisms. A read/write amplifier circuit is connected to the head under test. The test apparatus is controlled by a computer that interfaces with circuitry connected to the servomechanisms.

Apparatus and method for testing magnetic disk drive components

A test mixture for testing a head gimbal assembly has a flex interconnect circuit with one or more test pads, and includes a clamp assembly and a connector board. The clamp assembly is secured to the connector board for locking the test pads in position. The connector board includes probing pins that contact the test pads in order to establish an electrical path with the head gimbal assembly. The clamp assembly includes a base and a self-locking mechanism, with the base serving as an interface between the self-locking mechanism and the connector board. The self-locking mechanism serves to position the test pads in a desired relation relative to the probing pins and to clamp the test pads during testing. The self-locking mechanism includes a clamp arm having a guiding slide that receives part of the flex interconnect circuit for positioning the test pads within the self-locking mechanism. The connector board is secured to a magnetic test cartridge.

Fixture for testing a head gimbal assembly employing a flex interconnect

Apparatus and method for testing magnetic heads using translational

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Victor Rudman