Abstract: A wired circuit board has an insulating layer extending in a longitudinal direction, a conductive layer having a plurality of signal wirings covered with the insulating layer and arranged in mutually spaced-apart and parallel relation in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal direction and a thickness direction of the insulating layer, and connecting terminals provided on both longitudinal ends of each of the signal wirings and exposed from the insulating layer, and a ground layer covered with the insulating layer and formed to surround each of the signal wirings in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal direction. A slit along the longitudinal direction is formed between each of the signal wirings in the insulating layer.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a hard disk drive includes at least two spring extensions that couple to a proximal portion of a load beam. These spring extensions are disposed by a vertical offset and couple to the load beam on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the load beam. The method for operating a disk drive apparatus includes following by a suspension assembly from a reference position to a second position a vertical movement of a rotating disk. The suspension assembly is predisposed to move from the reference position to the second position by the vertical offset. A read/write head coupled to the suspension assembly is in closer alignment to a selected track during the vertical movement in the second position than if the first and second spring extensions were disposed to be co-planar.

Abstract: A first insulating layer is formed on a suspension body. A write wiring trace is formed on the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is formed on the first insulating layer to cover the write wiring trace. A write wiring trace and read wiring traces are formed on the second insulating layer. The write wiring trace is arranged above the write wiring trace. The write wiring trace includes a conductor layer and reinforcing alloy layers. The reinforcing alloy layers are sequentially formed to cover an upper surface and side surfaces of the conductor layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are various techniques for reduction of the magnitude of the residual stress in the HDD gimbal circuits, or more specifically, the residual plastic strain. Various trace structures of the gimbal circuits as well as stress suppressors are utilized to achieve the reduction of the residual stress in the circuit.

Abstract: A wired circuit board has an insulating layer extending in a longitudinal direction, a conductive layer having a plurality of signal wirings covered with the insulating layer and arranged in mutually spaced-apart and parallel relation in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal direction and a thickness direction of the insulating layer, and connecting terminals provided on both longitudinal ends of each of the signal wirings and exposed from the insulating layer, and a ground layer covered with the insulating layer and formed to surround each of the signal wirings in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal direction. A slit along the longitudinal direction is formed between each of the signal wirings in the insulating layer.

Abstract: A wired circuit board has a plurality of insulating layers, a conductive layer having a signal wiring extending in a longitudinal direction which is covered with the insulating layers, and a signal connecting terminal provided on a longitudinal end of the signal wiring and exposed from the insulating layers, and a ground layer having a ground wiring covered with the insulating layers and formed to surround the signal wiring in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal direction, and a ground connecting terminal provided on a longitudinal end of the ground wiring and exposed from the insulating layers. The signal connecting terminal and the ground connecting terminal are formed on an upper surface of the same insulating layer among the plurality of the insulating layers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for flexure based shock and vibration sensor for head suspensions in hard disk drives. Specifically, this invention deals with operational shock and vibration management within a hard disk drive. In one implementation, the assembly includes a circuit embedded optical waveguide sensor that includes a flexible electrical circuit board with a configuration of either a single or multi layers of conductor traces, a thin flexure gimbal for carrying and flying a HDD slider, a consecutive sensing layer constructed by an optical core and by clad construction with a configuration of either a single core array or a plural core array, an optical loop formed by light input and an output core, optical grating disposed on the consecutive sensing layer forming an optical grating waveguide sensor, a light emitter for injecting light into the optical core, and a receiver receiving the output light from the optical core.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reading and writing information onto a hard disk drive is provided. The apparatus includes a suspension assembly for a hard disk drive. The suspension assembly includes at least two spring extensions that couple to a proximal portion of a load beam. These spring extensions are disposed by a vertical offset and couple to the load beam on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the load beam. The method for operating a disk drive apparatus includes following by a suspension assembly from a reference position to a second position a vertical movement of a rotating disk. The suspension assembly is predisposed to move from the reference position to the second position by a vertical offset between a first and second spring extensions of the suspension assembly. A read/write head coupled to the suspension assembly is in closer alignment to a selected track during the vertical movement in the second position than if the first and second spring extensions are disposed to be co-planar.

Abstract: Described is a preamp flex cable for use in a hard drive. The flex cable incorporates a stiffener layer operable to provide a mechanical support, an insulating layer provided over the stiffener layer and having at least one via provided therein to expose the stiffener layer, and at least one conductive layer provided over the insulating layer. The at least one conductive layer forms an electrical circuit and at least one heat removing element that extends through the via and establishes a contact with the stiffener layer. In one implementation, the heat removing element includes a rectangular plate having a recessed center portion and an edge portion. The recessed center portion protrudes through the at least one via in the insulating layer to mechanically couple with the stiffener. In another implementation, the heat removing element includes first portion and second rectangular portions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reading and writing information onto a hard disk drive is provided. The apparatus includes a suspension assembly for a hard disk drive. The suspension assembly includes at least two spring extensions that couple to a proximal portion of a load beam. These spring extensions are disposed by a vertical offset and couple to the load beam on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the load beam. The method for operating a disk drive apparatus includes following by a suspension assembly from a reference position to a second position a vertical movement of a rotating disk. The suspension assembly is predisposed to move from the reference position to the second position by a vertical offset between a first and second spring extensions of the suspension assembly. A read/write head coupled to the suspension assembly is in closer alignment to a selected track during the vertical movement in the second position than if the first and second spring extensions are disposed to be co-planar.

Abstract: A substrate for mounting a preamp chip thereupon, fabricated using a stiffener layer made of a conductive material; an insulating layer provided over the circuitry area of the substrate; a circuitry made of a conductive material provided over the insulating layer; and a flap which is an extension of the stiffener layer having no insulating layer provided thereupon. The flap is fabricated to fold over the preamp chip to remove heat therefrom.

Abstract: A wired circuit board has an insulating layer extending in a longitudinal direction, a conductive layer having a plurality of signal wirings covered with the insulating layer and arranged in mutually spaced-apart and parallel relation in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal direction and a thickness direction of the insulating layer, and connecting terminals provided on both longitudinal ends of each of the signal wirings and exposed from the insulating layer, and a ground layer covered with the insulating layer and formed to surround each of the signal wirings in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal direction. A slit along the longitudinal direction is formed between each of the signal wirings in the insulating layer.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing weight while maintaining sufficient stiffness of a suspension assembly in provided. The suspension assembly includes a surface having a proximal end and distal end. A length is defined between the proximal end and the distal end. At least one support member (such as an edge rail) is formed to provide stiffness. The support member is contoured. In a specific embodiment, a portion of at least one cutout is disposed in at least one support member, and extends from the horizontal portion of the load beam member vertically into the at least one support member.

Abstract: Techniques for reading and writing information onto a hard disk drive are provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a suspension assembly for a hard disk drive includes a load beam having a mounting region, a first spring extension on a first side of the load beam, and a rigid region. The suspension assembly also includes a hinge member having a second spring extension coupling the rigid region and the mounting region on a second side of the load beam. First and second spacers are disposed between the hinge member and the mounting region of the load beam and between the hinge member and the rigid region of the load beam, respectively. A vertical offset between the first and second spring extensions predisposes the rigid region to move from a first position to a second position in response to a disk flutter.

Abstract: A micro-actuator is comprised of a piezoelectric motor mounted on a flexure tongue with offsetting hinges, to perform a fine positioning of the magnetic read/write head. The substantial gain in the frequency response greatly improves the performance and accuracy of the track-follow control for fine positioning. The simplicity of the enhanced micro-actuator design results in a manufacturing efficiency that enables a high-volume, low-cost production. The micro-actuator is interposed between a flexure tongue and a slider to perform an active control of the fly height of the magnetic read/write head. The induced slider crown and camber are used to compensate for thermal expansion of the magnetic read/write head, which causes the slider to be displaced at an unintended fly height position relative to the surface of the magnetic recording disk. The enhanced micro-actuator design results in reduced altitude sensitivity, ABS tolerances, and reduced stiction.

Abstract: A head stack assembly for a disk drive includes a swing-type structure, a head gimbal assembly, and a coil. The swing-type structure has a bore defining a bore axis. The head gimbal assembly is cantilevered from the swing-type structure to project radially away from the bore axis. The head gimbal assembly includes transducing structure for writing to and reading from the recording surface of a disk. The coil is cantilevered from the swing-type structure to project radially away from the bore axis in a direction opposite from the head gimbal assembly. The coil has a shape to provide a current flow path that includes first and second multi-leg portions that are spaced from each other in a direction parallel to the bore axis.