Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device can protect a head gimbal assembly circuit from electrostatic discharge. The device includes a housing and a shunt positioned within the housing. The shunt includes a pair of electrical contacts and the shunt has a first position in which the electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the circuit and a second position in which the electrical contacts are removed from electrical communication with the circuit. The shunt can be placed in its first position to protect the head gimbal assembly against electrostatic discharge and is moved into its second position to permit testing operations of the head gimbal assembly. The shunt is then returned to its first position.

Abstract: A paddle board with flexible extended leads is provided. The paddle board includes a chassis and a flexible lead portion. The flexible lead portion has wire traces disposed therein for receiving a plurality of wires from a parametric test head. The paddle board may be connected to a socket of a testing assembly for testing the performance of a batch of storage media. The paddle board reduces the amount of damage or breakage to the wires extending from the testing head.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a magnetoresistive head from electrostatic discharge. The apparatus includes an actuator assembly including the magnetoresistive head, and a connector board including a plurality of conductive traces in electrical contact with the magnetoresistive head. The connector board defines a plurality of openings therein, each of the openings having sides surfaces in electrical contact with one of the traces. The apparatus further includes a conductive shunting member including a plurality of protruding members adapted to be inserted into the openings and contact the side surfaces of the openings. The shunting member, when so inserted into the openings shorts the traces to provide protection of the magnetoresistive head from electrostatic discharge.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device can protect a head gimbal assembly circuit from electrostatic discharge. The device includes a housing and a shunt positioned within the housing. The shunt includes a pair of electrical contacts and the shunt has a first position in which the electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the circuit and a second position in which the electrical contacts are removed from electrical communication with the circuit. The shunt can be placed in its first position to protect the head gimbal assembly against electrostatic discharge and is moved into its second position to permit testing operations of the head gimbal assembly. The shunt is then returned to its first position.

Abstract: An interface for connection between a printed circuit board and a device associated with a disk drive apparatus for extending the flexible connection between the printed circuit board and the disk drive device. The device includes a planar substrate relatively flexible to the board, and conductors are formed on the substrate. The conductors are in conductive communication with the circuit board and with a circular flexible wire having conductors associated with the head gimbal assembly of a disk drive device.