Abstract: A wired circuit board includes an insulating layer, a conductive pattern made of copper formed on the insulating layer and a covering layer made of an alloy of copper and tin to cover the conductive pattern. An existing ratio of tin in the covering layer increases in accordance with a distance from an inner surface adjacent to the conductive pattern toward an outer surface being not adjacent to the conductive pattern. An atomic ratio of copper to tin in the outer surface of the covering layer is more than 3.

Abstract: A wired circuit board comprises a metal supporting board, a metal foil formed on the metal supporting board, a first protecting layer formed on the surface of the metal foil, the first protecting layer is made of tin or a tin alloy, a first insulating layer formed on the metal supporting board to cover the first protecting layer, a conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer, and a second protecting layer formed on the surface of the conductive pattern, the second protecting layer is made of tin or a tin alloy.

Abstract: A wired circuit board includes an insulating base layer, a conductive pattern formed on the insulating base layer and including a wire and a terminal portion, an insulating cover layer formed on the insulating base layer and having an opening portion to expose the terminal portion, and a metal thin film including a protecting portion interposed between the wire and the insulating cover layer, and an exposed portion formed continuously from the protecting portion on a peripheral end portion of the terminal portion exposed from the opening portion.

Abstract: A wired circuit board includes: a first insulating layer; a conductive pattern formed on the first insulating layer and having a terminal portion; and a second insulating layer formed on the first insulating layer to cover the conductive pattern. A surface of the terminal portion is formed to be exposed from the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. A tin alloy layer is formed at least on a top surface and both side surfaces of the terminal portion.

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 method (and apparatus) for operating a disk drive apparatus. The method includes moving a movable member about a fixed position to move a read/write head coupled to a slider to a selected track on a disk. The selected track is at least one of a plurality of tracks. The method includes adjusting a position of the read/write head using an actuating device integrated on the gimbal. The actuating step moves the read/write head relative in a manner normal to the track on the magnetic disk to align the read/write head on the track using a finer and faster alignment of the read/write head than the moveable support member.

Abstract: A base material in which a base insulating layer and a metallic layer are laminated is prepared. The metallic layer is processed into a predetermined pattern to form conductor patterns including terminal parts. A hole is formed in a region under a predetermined terminal part where the base insulating layer is formed by directing a laser beam from below. A reinforcing board having a through hole is attached to the lower surface of the base insulating layer by a sheet-like adhesive having a through hole, with the holes being aligned with one another. An opening space formed by the holes is filled with metallic paste by screen printing. In this way, a printed circuit board is fabricated. An electronic component is mounted on this printed circuit board.

Abstract: A wired circuit board has an insulating layer and a conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer and made of a copper alloy in which silver is diffused, wherein a content ratio of the silver contained in the copper alloy is more than 0.50% by weight and not more than 3.

Abstract: A wired circuit board has a metal supporting board, an insulating layer formed on the metal supporting board, a conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer and having a pair of wires arranged in spaced-apart relation, and a semiconductive layer formed on the insulating layer and electrically connected to the metal supporting board and the conductive pattern. The conductive pattern has a first region in which a distance between the pair of wires is small and a second region in which the distance between the pair of wires is larger than that in the first region. The semiconductive layer is provided in the second region.

Abstract: A method is provided for reworking a head gimbal assembly (HGA). An ultrasonic probe is used to stress the connection between the slider component of an HGA to remove the slider from its mounting position.

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 disk drive apparatus. The apparatus has a first drive device and a support member coupled to the first drive device. The support member has a tongue portion and a gimbal portion. The tongue portion is coupled the gimbal portion. A fixed drive device is formed within a first portion of the tongue portion. A movable drive device is operably coupled to the fixed drive device and formed within a second portion of the tongue portion. A read/write head is coupled to the movable drive device. A voltage source is coupled between the fixed drive device and the movable drive device to cause movement of the read/write head by forming an interaction between the fixed drive device and the movable drive device.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus. The apparatus has a first drive device and a support member coupled to the first drive device. The support member has a tongue portion and a gimbal portion. The tongue portion is coupled the gimbal portion. A fixed drive device is formed within a first portion of the tongue portion. A movable drive device is operably coupled to the fixed drive device and formed within a second portion of the tongue portion. A read/write head is coupled to the movable drive device. A voltage source is coupled between the fixed drive device and the movable drive device to cause movement of the read/write head by forming an interaction between the fixed drive device and the movable drive device.

Abstract: Techniques for preventing electrostatic discharge (ESD) and circuit noise are provided. More particularly, the present invention provides a method to prevent ESD damage during the assembly of computer disk commonly called a hard disk for memory applications. The coating mainly involves a ion-deposition process. Merely by way of example, the present invention is implemented by using filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) with a dissipative crystalline and/or amorphous carbon base thin film coating on a flexible circuit to drain the potential electrostatic charges during circuit assembly and interconnect processes, yet it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability on any electronic apparatus that is susceptible to electrostatic damage and static noise.

Abstract: Techniques for coupling a suspension assembly to an actuator arm is provided. The base plate includes a metal member and a swaging boss formed by the metal member. At least one slot disposed in the swaging boss to distribute stress and deformation of the swaging boss during a swaging process. The base plate couples to the actuator arm via the swaging boss. A method for coupling a base plate to an actuator arm includes forcing first and second swage balls through a swage hole of the base plate. A diameter of the first swage ball is greater than the diameter of the swage hole, and a diameter of the second swage ball is greater than the diameter of the first swage ball. The swage hole is shaped by a swaging boss, which swaging boss includes at least one slot.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for measuring dimple-gimbal separation force for a suspension assembly in a computer disk, commonly called a hard disk drive (HDD), for understanding the impact on suspension dynamic performance. More particularly, the present invention provides readily procedures and methods for measuring the contact force exert between a gimbal and dimple of a HDD suspension assembly. Merely by way of example, the present invention is implemented using such procedures and methods to directly probe the gimbal-dimple contact force, yet it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability on any mechanical apparatus that is small in dimension and structure stiffness, such as, micro actuators and micro electrical and mechanical system (MEMS) devices.

Abstract: A method (and apparatus) for operating a disk drive apparatus. The method includes moving a movable member about a fixed position to move a read/write head coupled to a slider to a selected track on a disk. The selected track is at least one of a plurality of tracks. The method includes adjusting a position of the read/write head using an actuating device coupled between the read/write head and the slider. The actuating step moves the read/write head relative in a manner normal to the track on the magnetic disk to align the read/write head on the track using a finer and faster alignment of the read/write head than the moveable support member.

Abstract: A method (and apparatus) for operating a disk drive apparatus. The method includes moving a movable member about a fixed position to move a read/write head coupled to a slider to a selected track on a disk. The selected track is at least one of a plurality of tracks. The method includes adjusting a position of the read/write head using an actuating device integrated on the gimbal. The actuating step moves the read/write head relative in a manner normal to the track on the magnetic disk to align the read/write head on the track using a finer and faster alignment of the read/write head than the moveable support member.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a microactuator device. The method includes providing a first sheet of material. The first sheet of material includes a plurality of gimbal structure regions. Each of the gimbal structure regions is spatially disposed on the first sheet of material. Each of the gimbal structure regions is capable of removal during a subsequent process. The method also includes providing a second sheet of material. The second sheet of material includes a plurality of actuator devices thereon. Each of the actuator devices is spatially disposed on the second sheet of material. Each of the actuator devices has an attachment surface. The method includes positioning the first sheet of material to the second sheet of material such that at least one of the attachment surface of one of the actuator devices is aligned with at least one gimbal region. The attachment surface of the one of the actuator devices is coupled with the gimbal region to connect the attachment surface with the gimbal region.

Abstract: An integrated gimbal and PZT structure. The structure includes a substrate, which has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is opposite to the second surface and sandwiches a thickness of material of the substrate. The structure also includes an isolation layer formed overlying the first surface of the substrate and a patterned layer of PZT material overlying the isolation layer overlying the substrate. A tongue portion is formed from a first portion of the substrate for a gimbal structure of a suspension assembly. A spring portion is formed from a second portion of the substrate. The spring portion is coupled between a lower portion of the suspension assembly and the tongue portion.