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:
Oct. 17, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 02, 1996
Jeffry S Bennin, Hutchinson, MN (US);
Todd Boucher, Stewert, MN (US);
Jeffrey W Green, Sioux Falls, SD (US);
Gary E Gustafson, Darwin, MN (US);
Ryan Jurgenson, Hutchinson, MN (US);
Brent D Lien, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Hutchinson Technology Incorporated, Hutchinson, MN (US);
Abstract
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.