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.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the load of a head suspension for supporting a read/write head over a disk in a magnetic disk drive. The suspension includes a load beam having a rigid region and proximal and distal ends, with a base on the proximal end and a flexure on the distal end. A spring region is located between the base and rigid region of the load beam. The spring region includes a pair of arms which extend between the base and rigid region to form a cutout, and a plurality of load adjustment frets which extend across the cutout between the base and rigid region. One or more of the frets can be severed by a laser beam to lower the gram load of the suspension. The gram load of the suspension can be increased by shrinking the frets through exposure to the laser beam. Gram load adjustments can be made with the suspensions in a disk stack assembly by directing the laser beam to the frets through an optical fiber.

Abstract: A head suspension for supporting a read/write head over a disk in a magnetic disk drive. The suspension includes a load beam having a rigid region and proximal and distal ends, with a base on the proximal end and a flexure on the distal end. A spring region is located between the base and rigid region of the load beam. The spring region includes a pair of arms which extend between the base and rigid region to form a cutout, and a plurality of load adjustment frets which extend across the cutout between the base and rigid region. One or more of the frets can be severed by a laser beam to lower the gram load of the suspension. The gram load of the suspension can be increased by shrinking the frets through exposure to the laser beam. Gram load adjustments can be made with the suspensions in a disk stack assembly by directing the laser beam to the frets through an optical fiber.

Abstract: A connection mechanism for connecting a pair of head suspension assemblies to a disc drive actuator arm in which the connection mechanism includes connection portions associated with respective load beams with such connection portions having cooperating, mating bosses extending into a mounting opening in the actuator arm and into interconnecting overlapping engagement with one another to result in an interference fit connection.

Abstract: A head suspension is comprised of a read/write transducer head carrying region supported from a support region of the head suspension by a compliant area of the head suspension. The compliant area permits the head carrying region to move freely relative to the support region when in use in a rotary data storage device. Tethers of low stiffness material are connected between the head suspension head carrying region and support region. The tethers restrain the movement of the head carrying region relative to the support region to a limited range of movement and thereby reduce the probability of the head suspension slider and/or transducer head and the surface of the disk in the rotary data storage device in which the head suspension is employed from being damaged by otherwise unrestrained movement of the head carrying region of the head suspension resulting from a shock or jarring impact on the rotary data storage device.

Abstract: A system for training an animal to remain in a specified area of containment. The perimeter of containment being easily tailored to fit a specific geometry. The system includes apparatus for determining the location of the animal, apparatus for specifying boundary coordinates, apparatus for determining if the location of the animal is within the containment perimeter, and apparatus for administering stimulus to the animal if warranted.

Abstract: A magnetic head suspension for supporting a magnetic head at a fixed distance from a rigid actuator arm has a single one-piece structure with a flexure region and a load beam region. A proximal end of the load beam region is joined to the rigid actuator arm. The flexure region projects distally beyond the load beam region. The flexure region is divided into a head support region, at least a first set of arms, such that at least one set of arms is formed with offsets which position the plane of the head support region recessed from the plane of the load beam region. The head support region is constructed and arranged for receiving a head slider to be bonded thereto. The first set of arms is defined by a first set of slots in a surface of the flexure region, the first set of slots also defining a perimeter of the head support region, each of the first set of arms generally enclosing at least a part of a perimeter of the head support region.

Abstract: A gimbal and corresponding head suspension assembly including a planar flexure platform having integral static attitude compensation, nominal angle adjustment, and load point etched or etched-formed raised features. The head suspension assembly can also include a load point cover with etched or etched-formed load point features. The etched features are manufactured by masking a pivot point at about the intersection of the roll axis and the pitch axis, thus leaving a raised protuberance having either a pivot point or a load point feature. The process of manufacturing etched-formed features includes etching protuberances and slots. A punch press is then applied to the protuberances. The slots help control the formation of raised domes and provide additional static compensation and nominal angle adjustment pivoting clearance.

Abstract: A lead structure adapted for attachment to a metal disk drive head suspension of the type having a mounting region on a proximal end, a head-receiving flexure on a distal end, a rigid region and a spring region between the rigid region and the mounting region. The lead structure is formed from a laminated sheet of material and includes a copper conductor layer and a stainless steel base layer bonded together by a polyimide insulating layer. The conductor layer includes a plurality of transversely spaced, elongate electrical conductors adapted to extend between the flexure and mounting region of the head suspension. The metal base layer includes flexure mounting, rigid region mounting and mounting region mounting sections having tabs which are adapted to be welded to the head suspension. At least portions of the conductor layer which traverse the flexure and spring regions of the head suspension are free from the metal base layer.

Abstract: A laminated adapter provides electrical interconnection between electrical bond pads on a vertical surface of a head slider with electrical trace interconnects adhesively bonded to a horizontal surface of the adapter, opposite to the surface to which the head slider is to be attached. Electrical connection from the electrical bond pads on a vertical face of the head slider to the electrical trace interconnects on the laminated adapter is provided by means such as electrically conductive welds. Electrical connection can be made from a horizontal surface of the assembled laminated adapter opposite to the head to electrical connection means on the surface of the head suspension assembly. The laminated adapter is particularly suitable for use with integrated electrical trace interconnects on a head suspension assembly.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a disk drive suspension including a load beam and a microactuator. The load beam and microactuator are formed from three sheets of laminated material. A first sheet of material is chemically etched to form the load beam and lower electromagnetic field generating coil members of the microactuator. A second sheet of material is chemically etched to form stationary and moving pole members of the microactuator, and a third sheet of material is chemically etched to form upper magnetic field generating coil members. The sheets of material are bonded together to form first and second magnetic field generating coils surrounding the stationary pole member. A moving pole member is chemically etched from the second sheet of laminated material and has a free end mounted between the coils at the ends of the stationary pole member. The opposite end of the moving pole member is mounted to a distal end of the load beam.

Abstract: An improved low profile magnetic head disk assembly is used with dynamic magnetic information storage devices or rigid disk drives. The HDA includes a head mounted to a suspension, wherein the suspension base plate is an integral part of the actuator plate. Each actuator plate is in close registration with a bearing. The actuator assembly positions the head in close proximity with the rigid disk surfaces, with the actuator plates positioned exterior to the disks and not passing over the surface of the disks. The actuator plates may be a single piece for each disk, two pieces (one for each suspension), or three pieces (two actuator plates and one spacer). The center line of the actuator plate(s), with or without the spacer, is at the center line of the disk, thus reducing the total HDA height.

Abstract: A trace interconnect assembly 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.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension including a load beam having a rigid region, a base on a proximal end of the load beam and a flexure for receiving and supporting a read/write head on the distal end of the load beam. A microactuator on the load beam moves the flexure and read/write head about a tracking axis with respect to the rigid region. The microactuator includes a moving pole member mounted to the flexure, a stationary pole member mounted to the rigid region of the load beam adjacent to the moving pole, and coils around the stationary pole member.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a head suspension including separately manufacturing a load beam and a set of traces. The traces are formed from a sheet of conductive material and include an elongated conductor portion and a gimbal portion. Portions of the traces which are configured to be mounted to the load beam are coated with dielectric before being mounted to the load beam. The gimbal portion of the traces provides both mechanical and electrical connections to the conductor portion.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for supporting a head slider from an actuator arm in a disk drive includes a load beam having a flexure tongue configured with a static offset error correction protuberance which extends from the slider-engaging surface of the flexure tongue. A load point dimple extends from the distal end of the load beam at a location spaced longitudinally along the axis of the HSA from the flexure tongue and from the static offset error correction protuberance, for engaging and applying a load to a head slider mounted to the flexure tongue. The static offset error correction protuberance and the load point dimple together function to reduce and/or eliminate static pitch offset error and static roll offset error.

Abstract: A gimbal and corresponding head suspension assembly including a planar flexure platform having integral static attitude compensation, nominal angle adjustment, and load point etched or etched-formed raised features. The head suspension assembly can also include a load point cover with etched or etched-formed load point features. The etched features are manufactured by masking a pivot point at about the intersection of the roll axis and the pitch axis, thus leaving a raised protuberance having either a pivot point or a load point feature. The process of manufacturing etched-formed features includes etching protuberances and slots. A punch press is then applied to the protuberances. The slots help control the formation of raised domes and provide additional static compensation and nominal angle adjustment pivoting clearance.

Abstract: A low component count and low profile disk drive includes a circuit board with a stiffening layer of stainless steel, a rigid magnetic disk mounted to a spindle motor, and head suspension assemblies mounted to an actuator bearing. The spindle motor and actuator bearing are mounted to the circuit board. Integrated circuits are mounted to the same side of the circuit board as the disk. A voice coil and a magnet assembly for driving and positioning the head suspension assemblies are mounted to the actuator bearing and to the circuit board respectively.

Abstract: A gimbal flexure and electrical interconnect assembly for attachment to a disk drive suspension assembly. The gimbal flexure and electrical interconnect acts both as an interconnect system for relaying electrical signals and as a gimbal flexure. It comprises a self-supporting set of generally parallel traces--electrically insulated linear substrate-free conductors constructed of a single layer spring material. The set of traces includes a load beam portion extending over and matching the surface topology of at least a section of the first surface of a load beam, and a gimbal portion located at a distal end of the set of traces shaped as a gimbal flexure means. The invention describes specific embodiments, including head harnesses, suspension assemblies, and head suspension assemblies, as well as manufacturing methods.

Abstract: A connection mechanism for connecting a pair of head suspension assemblies to a disc drive actuator arm in which the connection mechanism includes connection portions associated with respective load beams with such connection portions having cooperating, mating bosses extending into a mounting opening in the actuator arm and into interconnecting overlapping engagement with one another to result in an interference fit connection.