Abstract: An integrated lead suspension is formed from a five layer laminate of stainless steel, polyimide and copper. Prior to lamination, the steel layer has preformed voids which may have various configurations. The voids are provided for intentionally weakening high strain flexure areas in the suspension so that strain energy can be dissipated more effectively.

Abstract: An integrated lead suspension is formed from a laminate of three materials in a variety of configurations having from three to five layers. The materials are stainless steel, polyimide and copper. Each layer is essentially homogeneous, but may be formed with one or more holes or voids prior to the formation of the laminate. The voids allow dielectric material to be removed from the area beneath the conductors to simplify processing and reduce the cost of the suspensions. The voids can also form a window through which conductors can be shorted to other conductive layers to form an electrostatic discharge shunt. Alternatively, the shorting of conductors can be used as a cross-over for various conductors.

Abstract: An integrated lead suspension is formed from a laminate of three materials in a variety of configurations having from three to five layers. The materials are stainless steel, polyimide and copper. Each layer is essentially homogeneous, but may be formed with one or more holes or voids prior to the formation of the laminate. After the copper layer is etched to form a tab which overhangs the steel layer, the suspension is welded to a load beam. The load beam prevents the downward motion of the suspension. The tab acts as a flexure motion limiter for upward motion of the suspension. The voids allow a precise amount of polyimide undercut between the steel and copper layers which otherwise could not be achieved.

Abstract: A method for making a suspension system comprising a multiple layer flexure, a load beam and an arm. The load beam extends from the tip of the suspension all the way back to the rear of the arm. Datum holes are located in the load beam such that during assembly all reference points are made from the single load beam piece.

Abstract: A rotary microactuator includes a stationary structure formed on a substrate, a movable structure, and at least a pair of wires connected to the movable structure that conduct a signal associated with the movable structure. Each wire of the pair of wires has a first end that is connected in a cantilever manner to the substrate and a second end that is connected to the movable structure. The wires each have a serpentine shape between the first end and the second end, a predetermined spring stiffness, and a predetermined electrical characteristic. The microactuator also includes a magnetic head slider that is attached to the movable structure, and at least another pair of wires conducting a signal associated with a magnetic head of the slider. Each of the another pair of wires has a first end that is connected in a cantilever manner to the substrate and a second end that is connected to the movable structure.

Abstract: A lead routing module for interconnecting two devices in a suspension assembly. The suspension assembly including at least a suspension, a slider/head assembly, and a lead routing module. The suspension assembly may also include a microactuator. The lead routing module routes electrical signals between at least two devices in the suspension assembly such that the termination leads and/or pads of each device may be conveniently located. The suspension assembly may be used in a disk drive system, or alternatively, in a disk test system used for testing disks.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated lead suspension flexure attachment structure for a micro-actuator with a slider/transducer assembly attached thereto, having a plurality of electrical terminals for both the micro-actuator and the transducer. The suspension provides low gimbal stiffness and allows the slider to have correct pitch and roll static attitudes. An attachment platform is provided for mechanically attaching the micro-actuator. Two elongate cantilever compliance members extend from the transducer edge and the opposite edge of the attachment platform. Two lead termination platforms are provided, each at the distal end of one of the compliance members. The lead termination platforms extend laterally to either side of the compliance members. Electrical leads are positioned laterally of each of the lead termination platforms on either side, and loop towards the compliance member to the lead termination platform to reduce stiffness of the leads.

Abstract: A suspension system comprises a multiple letter flexure, a load beam and an arm. The load beam extends from the tip of the suspension all the way back to the rear of the arm. Datum holes are located in the load beam such that during assembly all reference points are made from the single load beam piece.

Abstract: A transducer suspension system has a transducer head, laminated member and a load beam. The laminated member is comprised of a support layer, at least two electrically insulating layers, and at least two electrically conducting layers. The electrical leads are formed directly into the laminated member such that each electrical lead is directly above or below at least one other electrical lead. The overlying leads have noise cancellation similar to that for twisted wire pairs. In addition, by stacking the electrical leads, more electrical leads can be accommodated in the same suspension width.

Abstract: A transducer suspension system has a transducer head, laminated member, and a load beam. The laminated member is comprised of a support layer, an electrically insulating layer, and an electrically conducting layer. The electrical lines are formed directly into the laminated member. A first end of the support layer has an aperture into which a tongue section protrudes. The transducer head is attached to the tongue section. A platform section is formed between the aperture and the end of the support layer. The electrical lines run to the transducer head along the platform section. The load beam is attached to the laminated member and provides rigid support. The load beam has an aperture located directly above the platform section and provides access to allow clamping of the electrical lines and the platform section during electrical attachment of the lines to the transducer head. Precise electrical attachment is achieved without unwanted bending of the delicate flexure section of the suspension.

Abstract: An integrated suspension system for supporting a magnetic read/write slider comprising a load beam for supporting a slider, a flexure for connecting the load beam to a slider, the flexure including a bonding area upon which the slider is attached, a tip platform supporting the slider read/write element terminations, and a hinge-like compliance member for flexibly connecting the tip platform and the bonding area. The flexure further includes a pair of flexure legs which substantially enclose the slider bonding area, and a pair of tabs extend perpendicular from the flexure legs to support conductive elements electrically connecting the magnetic read/write slider to the disk drive controlling electronics.

Abstract: The invention is a suspension assembly with one or more head wires running across an upper surface of the suspension assembly; a flexure attached to a lower surface of the suspension assembly; a slider attached to a lower surface of the flexure; and a wiring window through which the one or more head wires pass to be attached to the slider. An alternative embodiment of the invention is a suspension assembly with a load/unload feature at a head end of the suspension assembly.

Abstract: A gimbal suspension flexure is disclosed for supporting a slider for a disk drive. The flexure comprises a generally planar laminated flexure section having a dielectric layer and electrical leads disposed on a surface of the flexure section flexural steel layer, and a tongue extending from the flexure section at one end thereof, attached by three extension members, each extension member connecting a separate side of the tongue to the flexure section. The tongue is formed at the three extension members to be positioned in a second displaced from the plane of the flexure section. The tongue is formed so that the second plane is displaced a distance at least equal to the thickness of the dielectrical layer and the conductive layer, whereby the slider may be attached to the tongue displaced from the generally planar flexure section and positioned for electrical connection to the electrical leads, while maintaining the correct attitude for operation with the disk drive.

Abstract: An integrated suspension for a slider in a magnetic storage system has a simplified structure that is relatively easy to manufacture. The novel integrated suspension may be assembled from separate pieces, including a load beam, a flexure and a mounting plate. The load beam provides rigid structural support of the flexure. The flexure includes a flexible member and leads integrally formed thereon. A section of the flexible member is fixedly attached to the load member, and another section having the slider mounted thereon presses against a pivot projection in the load beam for gimbal motions. An interlocking structure is provided to limit the extent of gimbal motions of the flexible member, comprising a tab extending from the flexible member into an aperture in the load beam. Alternatively, a tang is formed in the flexible member which is used to form a clip which serves to limit gimbal motions as it interacts with the load beam.

Abstract: Disclosed are an electrical connection assembly for a data storage device and a method of fabricating the electrical connection between a transducer termination pad formed on a slider and a suspension having a conductive lead structure. A compliant cantilevered conductive pad is formed at the end of the conductive lead structure. A solder bump is formed on the transducer termination pad, and may be formed subsequent to dicing the sliders. The slider is placed in mechanical contact with the suspension for mechanical support such that the solder bump contacts the cantilevered conductive pad, which cantilevered conductive pad complies with the solder bump to absorb positional errors. Then, the solder bump is heated, preferably by a laser, so as to reflow the solder bump to make an approximately right angle solder fillet joint electrical connection with the cantilevered conductive pad.

Abstract: A transducer suspension system has a transducer head, laminated member, and a load beam. The laminated member is comprised of a support layer, an electrically insulating layer, and an electrically conducting layer. The electrical lines are formed directly into the laminated member. A first end of the support layer has an aperture into which a tongue section protrudes. The transducer head is attached to the tongue section. A platform section is formed between the aperture and the end of the support layer. The electrical lines run to the transducer head along the platform section. The load beam is attached to the laminated member and provides rigid support. The load beam has an aperture located directly above the platform section and provides access to allow clamping of the electrical lines and the platform section during electrical attach of the lines to the transducer head. Precise electrical attachment is achieved without unwanted bending of the delicate flexure section of the suspension.

Abstract: A transducer suspension system has a transducer head, laminated member and a load beam. The laminated member is comprised of a support layer, at least two electrically insulating layers, and at least two electrically conducting layers. The electrical leads are formed directly into the laminated member such that each electrical lead is directly above or below at least one other electrical lead. The overlying leads have noise cancellation similar to that for twisted wire pairs. In addition, by stacking the electrical leads, more electrical leads can be accommodated in the same suspension width.

Abstract: An integrated suspension in a magnetic storage system having improved static attitude and stiffness control includes a rigid load member, a flexible member and a plurality of conductive leads integrally formed with the flexible member. The flexible member includes one or more pairs of tabs which protrude from the lateral edges of the flexible member. The pairs of tabs press against the conductive leads, and occupy a plane which is angled in relation to the horizontal axis of the flexible member. The conductive leads are oriented in the direction of the protruding tabs. The conductive leads are longer than the side edges of the flexible member, thereby forming a curve between the first pair of tabs and a second pair of tabs.

Abstract: The improved disk drive system has an improved actuator arm assembly where the arms are independently and individually insertable and removable from the actuator member. Furthermore, each arm is individually self-locked into the actuator member without the need for external retaining means such as screws, springs, and rings. Since the arms are individually insertable/removable, the arms can be made very thin thereby allowing easy attachment of the head suspension assembly to the arm without the need for swaging, bonding, welding or screw-in. Since the arms can be made very thin, that provides substantial reduction in disk to disk spacing and therefore, substantial reduction in the overall height of a disk drive system.

Abstract: The present invention accommodates, in an integrated suspension assembly for a magnetic disk storage system, tolerances in the lead and slider position in a manner to maintain gimbal integrity, minimize static attitude variation and reduce stress build up in the lead. In one aspect of the present invention, the nominal lead position and slider position are chosen such that the distance between them in an overlapping interference manner is no more than (a+b), the sum of the extreme tolerance a of the lead position and extreme tolerance b of the slider position. This is to ensure at least line to line contact between the slider and the leads, in an interference type contact configuration. In another aspect of the present invention, the ends of the leads are coated with a layer of solder material which can be reflowed to form a solder joint bonding the contacting leads to the slider.