The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 01, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 19, 1997
Kent J Forbord, St. Louis Park, MN (US);
Kevin J Schulz, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Kenneth R Fastner, Inver Grove Heights, MN (US);
John S Putnam, Excelsior, MN (US);
Seagate Technology, Inc., Scotts Valley, CA (US);
Abstract
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.