System and method for improving hard drive actuator lead attachment
A system and method are disclosed for improving hard drive actuator lead attachment. In one embodiment, an actuator board is coupled to an actuator flexible cable by a bonding agent, such as an anisotropic conductive film (ACF). In one embodiment, an actuator flexible cable is coupled to one or more actuator coil leads, such as by solder bump bonding, and the flexible cable/actuator coil coupling is embedded in an actuator frame, such as by polymer injection molding.
The present invention relates to hard disk drives. More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method for improving the electrical connection of a hard drive actuator coil lead.
In typical hard disk drives, electrical control signals are communicated to the voice coil motor (actuator 20) by a head stack assembly (HSA) flexible circuit 9. Typically, the HSA flexible circuit 9 also communicates read/write data to the head(s) 1. The flexible circuit 9 attaches to the actuator coil 13 via an actuator board 7, containing a preamplifier chip 11 (mounted to the actuator arm 3).
There are disadvantages associated with the above method of bonding. For example, such methods provide poor bonding strength, and thus, the reliability and durability of such bonds are lacking. A bond defect can cause degraded performance or failure of the head stack assembly. The nature of this type of bonding prevents rework or salvage of the bonded components. Further, laser/ultrasonic-assisted thermal compression techniques require costly, high precision equipment. Also, cleaning flux, which is necessary for effective soldering is difficult and costly. Further, solder, which consists primarily of tin, can cause component contamination. During soldering, such as soldering coil leads 18 to the connection pads on an actuator board 7 (See
It is therefore desirable to have a system and method for improving the electrical connection of the hard drive actuator coil that avoids the above-mentioned problems, as well as having additional benefits.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Although several embodiments are specifically illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A system for manufacturing a hard disc drive arm comprising:
- a hard drive actuator board having at least one actuator pad to be coupled to a flexible cable element having at least one flexible cable pad by a bonding agent, wherein
- said bonding agent includes a plurality of electrically conductive particles;
- said bonding agent is to be compressed between said actuator board and said flexible cable element; and
- a number of said particles is to form an electrical path between said actuator pad and said flexible cable pad.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said flexible cable element is a hard drive relay flexible cable.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said bonding agent is anisotropic conductive film (ACF).
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive particles are silver.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive particles are silver-coated glass spheres.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive particles are to embed into said actuator pad and into said flexible cable pad to form said electrical path.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein said hard drive actuator board is to be positioned upon said flexible cable element for coupling by pre-tacking said actuator board to said flexible cable element with said bonding agent.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein said hard drive actuator board is to be coupled to said flexible cable element by applying pressure to said flexible cable element by a bonding tip to compress said bonding agent between said actuator board and said flexible cable element.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein said bonding tip is a heated bonding tip and said bonding agent is to be heated by said bonding tip for coupling said actuator board to said flexible cable element.
10-18. (canceled)
19. A system for manufacturing a hard disc drive arm comprising:
- a hard drive actuator board having at least one actuator pad to be coupled to a flexible cable element having at least one flexible cable pad by a bonding agent, wherein
- said bonding agent includes a plurality of electrically conductive particles;
- said bonding agent is to be compressed between said actuator board and said flexible cable element; and
- a number of said particles is to form an electrical path between said actuator pad and said flexible cable pad.
20. A system for manufacturing a hard disc drive arm comprising:
- an electrical lead of a hard drive actuator coil to be coupled to a flexible cable pad of a flexible cable element, forming a coupling, wherein
- at least a portion of said coupling is to be enclosed in a polymer frame.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein said electrical lead is to be coupled to said flexible cable pad by solder bonding.
22. The system of claim 20, wherein said electrical lead is copper.
23. The system of claim 20, wherein said electrical lead is gold-plated copper.
24. The system of claim 20, wherein said flexible cable pad is copper.
25. The system of claim 20, wherein said flexible cable pad is gold-plated copper.
26. The system of claim 20, wherein a mold is to surround said portion of said coupling and polymer is to be injected into said mold to form said polymer frame.
27-29. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 7, 2005
Publication Date: Apr 27, 2006
Inventors: Yiu Ho (Ma On Shan Shatin, N.T.), Guo Lu (Dongguan City), Can Chen (Dongguan City), Yuan Luo (Dongguan City), Jeffery Wang (Taipo, N.T.), Liu Zhang (Dongguan City)
Application Number: 11/297,767
International Classification: A47J 36/02 (20060101);