Abstract: The disclosure describes a head gimbal assembly including a suspension and a damping layer on a surface of the suspension. The suspension may include a slider mount configured to establish mechanical communication with a slider and the layer may be displaced from the slider mount. The layer may be configured to provide passive damping or active damping.

Abstract: A flexure of a disk drive suspension includes a metal base, and a wiring portion provided along the metal base. The wiring portion includes a base insulating layer, a conductor layer overlapping with the base insulating layer, and a cover insulating layer overlapping with the conductor layer, and the metal base includes a pair of first portions having side surfaces opposed to each other. At least one of the base insulating layer and the cover insulating layer is in contact with the side surfaces between the pair of first portions, and the conductor layer does not overlap with the metal base in a direction of stacking the wiring portion.

Abstract: A wired circuit board includes an insulating layer and a plurality of wires disposed at one-side surface in a thickness direction of the insulating layer at spaced intervals to each other. The plurality of wires have one pair of wires in parallel, the plurality of wires continuously have a first portion and a second portion in which the total sum of a line width of one wire of one pair of wires and an interval between one pair of wires is smaller than that of the first portion, and a thickness T1 of the first portion is large with respect to a thickness T2 of the second portion.

Abstract: A flexure includes a metal substrate whose front end supports a slider and a wiring part having a base insulating layer and a conductor layer formed on the base insulating layer. The wiring part includes a normal wiring part that is on the metal substrate and an aerial wiring part that is on a space separated from the metal substrate. The base insulating layer of the aerial wiring part is formed to be thinner than that of the normal wiring part. This configuration reduces a rigidity contribution ratio of the wiring part.

Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting board, a first insulating layer including a disposing portion formed at one side in a thickness direction of the metal supporting board, a first conductive layer including a first wire portion formed at the one side of the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer including a covering portion covering the first wire portion, and a second conductive layer including a second wire portion formed at the one side of the second insulating layer and a terminal portion connected to the first or second wire portion. The second insulating layer includes a second terminal supporting portion formed at the other of the terminal portion. The first insulating layer includes a first terminal supporting portion formed at the other side of the second terminal supporting portion. The metal supporting board is not formed at the other side thereof.

Abstract: A flexure tail of a head suspension assembly includes a structural layer, a conductive layer, a dielectric layer between the structural and conductive layers, and an insulative cover layer disposed on the conductive layer. The conductive layer includes a plurality of flexure bond pads in a terminal region of the flexure tail. The insulative cover layer includes a plurality of openings that expose each of the plurality of flexure bond pads. The dielectric layer defines a first thickness between the structural layer and the conductive layer at each of the plurality of flexure bond pads. The dielectric layer also defines a second thickness between the structural layer and the conductive layer adjacent to the plurality of flexure bond pads in the terminal region of the flexure tail. The second thickness is less than the first thickness by a thickness difference that is no less than a cover layer thickness.

Abstract: A vibration damper for a suspension has two different viscoelastic layers and two different constraint layers. The two viscoelastic layers can be tailored to have different properties, including different viscosities and/or peak vibration frequency damping at different frequencies. The vibration damper exhibits improved vibration damping as compared to a single layer damper having the same overall thickness at critical frequencies.

Abstract: A thick portion having a first thickness and a thin portion having a second thickness on a base insulating layer are formed on a conductive support substrate. The second thickness is smaller than the first thickness. A boundary surface is formed between an upper surface of the thick portion and an upper surface of the thin portion. A boundary line between the upper surface of the thick portion and the boundary surface extends in a first direction. Write wiring traces and read wiring traces are formed to extend on the thick portion and the thin portion of the base insulating layer. The lateral sides of the write wiring traces and the read wiring traces extend in a second direction that intersects with the first direction, and the second direction forms an angle of not less than 60 degrees and not more than 90 degrees with the first direction.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a write head that includes a slider, a write transducer disposed on the slider, and a laser device affixed to the slider. The write transducer is driven by a first electrical signal that is carried on at least one of a plurality of conductive traces of a laminated flexure to which the write head is attached. The laser device is driven by a second electrical signal that is also carried by the same at least one of the plurality of conductive traces. The first signal is characterized by a first frequency, and the second electrical signal is characterized by a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.

Abstract: An Extended Circuit Integrated Suspension (ECIS) design and manufacture thereof, to allow for circuit elements to be disposed onto the load beam on the opposite side of the flexure circuit. An Extended Circuit Integrated Suspension (ECIS) may include a load beam; a flexure circuit comprising a plurality of traces; and a connection portion which connects the load beam laterally to the flexure circuit. The load beam, the flexure circuit, and the connecting portion may be formed as a single component from a single panel, and the connection portion is oriented so that the connection portion is folded to place the flexure circuit onto a first side of the load beam. Applications for the use of the extended circuit are many, and a semi-collocated micro-actuator (SCLMA) is illustrated for example.

Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a conductive pattern, including a slider arranged on a surface side of the suspension board with circuit and mounted with a magnetic head, the magnetic head being electrically connected with the conductive pattern; and a light emitting device arranged on the back surface side of the suspension board with circuit and electrically connected with the conductive pattern, in which the conductive pattern includes a first terminal provided on a surface of the suspension board with circuit and electrically connected with the magnetic head; and a second terminal provided on the back surface of the suspension board with circuit and electrically connected with the light emitting device.

Abstract: A flexure is capable of securing strength of the flexure while surely preventing from deteriorating electric characteristic thereof. The flexure includes a metal substrate, an insulating layer formed on the metal substrate, and a wiring pattern arranged on the insulating layer and having a first end connected to the head and a second end that is provided with a terminal for external connection. The insulating layer extends a back of the terminal and a surrounding portion of the back. The metal substrate has an isolated portion that is on the back of the terminal through the insulating layer and is separated from the other portion of the metal substrate.

Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a conductive pattern, including a slider arranged on a surface side of the suspension board with circuit and mounted with a magnetic head, the magnetic head being electrically connected with the conductive pattern; and a light emitting device arranged on the back surface side of the suspension board with circuit and electrically connected with the conductive pattern, in which the conductive pattern includes a first terminal provided on a surface of the suspension board with circuit and electrically connected with the magnetic head; and a second terminal provided on the back surface of the suspension board with circuit and electrically connected with the light emitting device.

Abstract: A slit is formed between two opposite side portions of a metal base made of an electrically conductive material. The slit penetrates the metal base thicknesswise and extends longitudinally relative to the metal base. An insulating layer is formed on the metal base. A first conductor is formed within the slit. The first conductor extends longitudinally relative to the metal base along the slit. A second conductor is formed on the insulating layer. The second conductor faces the first conductor across the insulating layer. The second conductor extends longitudinally relative to the metal base along the first conductor. The metal base and the first conductor consist of a common base material, such as a stainless-steel plate. The first conductor is formed by etching the base material.

Abstract: Avoiding contaminant generation within a hard disk drive due to increased temperatures during a solder reflow process is described. Energy from a beam of energy that is directed toward a plurality of polyimide regions is received. Each of the plurality of polyimide regions are disposed adjacent to at least one solder pad. The plurality of polyimide regions and the at least one solder pad comprises a first component of a hard disk drive. Then, a portion of the energy is reflected away from the plurality of polyimide regions to prevent an absorption of the portion by the plurality of polyimide regions and a burning of the plurality of polyimide regions.

Abstract: An integrated lead flexure comprising a base region, a gimbal extending from the base region and conductive traces. The gimbal includes spring arms and a slider mounting region extending from the spring arms. The conductive traces include one or more unsupported trace sections extending from head bond pads on the slider mounting region to the base region off of the spring arms. One or more metal islands on the unsupported trace sections enhance the impedance characteristics of traces. An insulating layer is located between the traces and the metal islands.

Abstract: A suspension load beam for use in supporting a transducer head in a data storage system includes a front beam section, a rear beam section, and a middle beam section. The front beam section is configured to connect to a slider assembly carrying a transducer head. The rear beam section is configured to connect to an actuator arm. The middle beam section is located between the front beam section and the rear beam section. The middle beam section comprises a top thermal insulation layer, a bottom thermal insulation layer and a rigid layer between the top and bottom thermal insulation layers.

Abstract: A head suspension 11 includes a load beam 17 having a base plate 13, a hinge part 15 resiliently supported by the base plate, and a rigid part 14 joined with the hinge part, a reinforcing plate 25 joined with the rigid part at a portion proximal to the hinge part, and a bend 17c on the load beam formed by bending the load beam toward the reinforcing plate along an edge 25a of the reinforcing plate. Only by accurately joining the reinforcing plate with the load beam in a sway direction (a widthwise direction of the head suspension), the load beam is easily and properly bent without torsion to form the bend 17c along the edge of the reinforcing plate that defines a bending strength boundary.

Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a substrate for suspension which is produced at low costs and can sufficiently attain the prevention of damage by electrostatic discharge and restraint of noises. To attain the object, the present invention provides a substrate for suspension, comprising: a metallic substrate, an insulating layer formed on the metallic formed in substrate and having an opening from which the metallic substrate is exposed, a grounding-wiring layer formed on the insulating layer and arranged near the opening, and a ground terminal formed in the opening and contacting the metallic substrate and the grounding-wiring layer, characterized in that the ground terminal is made of a metal having a melting point of 450° C. or lower.

Abstract: A flexure tail of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) is aligned with a flex cable of a head stack assembly (HSA). At least one solder ball is adhered to a bond pad on the flex cable. The solder ball is entered into a first alignment hole in the flexure tail while the solder ball is solid.

Abstract: A slit is formed between two opposite side portions of a metal base made of an electrically conductive material. The slit penetrates the metal base thicknesswise and extends longitudinally relative to the metal base. An insulating layer is formed on the metal base. A first conductor is formed within the slit. The first conductor extends longitudinally relative to the metal base along the slit. A second conductor is formed on the insulating layer. The second conductor faces the first conductor across the insulating layer. The second conductor extends longitudinally relative to the metal base along the first conductor. The metal base and the first conductor consist of a common base material, such as a stainless-steel plate. The first conductor is formed by etching the base material.

Abstract: A suspension for supporting a magnetic head is provided with a load beam formed of a thin-plate spring. A recess for accommodating a damper is formed in the load beam. The damper is affixed to a bottom surface of the recess.

Abstract: A flexure comprises a metal base, an insulating layer, and first and second conductors. First and second openings are formed so as to extend longitudinally relative to the metal base. These openings are formed at predetermined intervals longitudinally relative to the metal base. The metal base comprises ground regions continuous in a longitudinal direction thereof, ladder portions extending transversely relative to the metal base, and band-like portions formed between the openings. The band-like portions are located so as to overlap a gap between the conductors when the metal base is viewed vertically thicknesswise from above. The band-like portions extend longitudinally relative to the metal base along the conductors. Junctions are formed between the ground regions and band-like portions.

Abstract: A relatively stiff head suspension component. The suspension component is comprised of a sheet material having a major surface with side-edges. Tubular stiffening rails are integrally formed on the side-edges from the sheet material. The tubular rails have a substantially symmetrical cross section and extend around at least about 270 degrees from the major surface.

Abstract: Embodiments disclose hole sequences that are formed in the metal layer of a trace to adjust rigidity and crosstalk noise resulting from the hole sequences is thereby suppressed. A suspension according to one aspect of the invention includes a trace adapted to transmit a signal of a head slider. The trace partially extends along the side surface of the suspension. The trace includes a metal layer, a plurality of transmission lines formed above the metal layer and an insulating layer. A hole sequence overlapping the transmission lines is formed in part of the metal layer, which contributes to a reduction in transmission loss. Another hole sequence of the metal layer is formed at a position opposed to the hinge portion of the suspension. This reduces the rigidity of the wiring structure portion in the hinge portion, thereby preventing interference with the behavior of the suspension at the hinge portion.

Abstract: An elastic plate connected at both ends to a pair of supporting pieces of a supporting portion and connected at center to a member forming a load beam portion functions as a load bending portion. A balance mass member is mounted on a portion of the member forming the load beam portion positioned on a base-end side from the elastic plate. A narrowest portion of the supporting portion is positioned, with respect to the suspension lengthwise direction, between a position of a base-end of a concave portion defined the pair of supporting pieces and a position where phantom lines extending from inner side edges of arm areas of the supporting pieces intersect with a longitudinal center line of the suspension, thereby effectively reducing mass of tip-end side of the supporting portion without deteriorating rigidity of the supporting pieces.

Abstract: A suspension substrate according to the present invention includes: an insulating layer; a spring material layer provided on one face of the insulating layer and having conductivity; and a plurality of wirings provided on the other face of the insulating layer. One wiring includes a head-side wiring part extending from the head portion, and a plurality of division wiring parts respectively bifurcated from the head-side wiring part. The spring material layer includes a spring material main body, and a wiring spring material part separated from the spring material main body, via a groove. A conductive connecting part extending through the insulating layer is provided in the insulating layer. Each of the division wiring parts of the one wiring is connected with the wiring spring material part, via the conductive connecting part.

Abstract: A substrate for suspension which is produced at low costs and can sufficiently attain the prevention of damage by electrostatic discharge and restraint of noises. The substrate for suspension includes: a metallic substrate, an insulating layer formed on the metallic substrate and having an opening from which the metallic substrate is exposed, a grounding-wiring layer formed on the insulating layer and arranged near the opening, and a ground terminal formed in the opening and contacting the metallic substrate and the grounding-wiring layer. The ground terminal is made of a metal having a melting point of 450° C. or lower.

Abstract: A disk drive head suspension includes a load beam, a flexure for carrying a magnetic head slider, a base mounting structure for coupling the head suspension to a disk drive actuation system, a hinge, and a damping material. The load beam includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The flexure is attached to and supported by the load beam. The hinge is attached to the base mounting structure and to the load beam and includes a constraint layer portion extending toward the distal end portion of the load beam. The damping material is located between and in contact with the constraint layer portion of the hinge and the load beam for damping resonance vibrations in the head suspension.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to suppress performance degradation in an actuator of a disk drive device when attaching a damping member to a single surface of an arm. According to one embodiment, in a HDD a damping member is attached to a single surface of an arm. A shape of an inner arm is asymmetric with the center position between disks. Specifically, the thickness from a center position between the disks to the damping material attaching surface is thinner than the thickness from a center position between the disks to an opposite surface of the damping member attaching surface. This suppresses deformation of the vibration mode in the case that the damping member is attached to the single surface of the arm.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes first and second shield layers that are positioned on both sides of a magnetoresistive (MR) stack with respect to a film surface orthogonal direction; a first exchange-coupling layer that is positioned between the MR stack and the first shield layer and that generates an exchange-coupling between a first magnetoresistive (MR) magnetic layer and a first magnetic control layer of the first shield layer; a second exchange-coupling layer that is positioned between the MR stack and the second shield layer and that generates an exchange-coupling between a second magnetoresistive (MR) magnetic layer and a second magnetic control layer of the second shield layer; a bias magnetic field application layer that is disposed at an opposite surface of the MR stack from an air bearing surface (ABS) and that applies a bias magnetic field to the MR stack in a direction orthogonal to the ABS; and pair of side shield layers that are positioned at both sides of the MR stack with respect to a tra

Abstract: A suspension assembly includes a load beam having a protruding dimple and a laminate flexure. The laminate flexure includes a structural layer that is attached to the load beam, and a dielectric layer. The laminate flexure includes a flexure tongue for mounting a head. The flexure tongue includes the structural layer and the dielectric layer and a hole that extends through the structural layer but not through the dielectric layer. The dimple contacts the dielectric layer via the hole.

Abstract: A load beam having a bent rail, a suspension that includes the load beam, and a related method for manufacturing a load beam. The method includes providing the load beam before the bent rail is formed, and coining the load beam at a location where the bend will occur in the rail.

Abstract: In a flexure assembly for a hard disk drive suspension, a structure for preventing strains introduced by solder ball bonding from affecting the pitch static attitude (PSA) and other characteristics of the flexure assembly is presented. The structure includes a flexure that features two side rails that support a gimbal tongue, with the side rails also supporting a laterally extending bridge which is attached at its two ends to the side rails. The bridge is wide enough at its central portion to accommodate the flex trace circuit bonding pads, yet narrow enough at its ends to relieve strains caused by solder ball bonding and cooling and prevent those strains from significantly affecting the PSA. The gimbal tongue is thus, to an effective extent, mechanically and thermally isolated from the solder ball bonding pads, while at the same time the bridge provides strong mechanical support for the solder ball bonding pads.

Abstract: A high stroke sensitivity microactuated disk drive suspension includes a microactuator, a laminate of first and second outer layers and a plastic inner layer that define a base portion, a spring portion and a beam portion. The base portion has proximate and distal regions coupled by a segment of an outer layer and fixed to the microactuator for relative shifting of the beam portion to the base portion. The segment has a part that is locally arcuate and readily bendable during said shifting for low resistance to shifting giving the suspension high stroke sensitivity.

Abstract: An exemplary fixing apparatus is for mounting a hard disk drive having a plurality of holes in sidewalls thereof. The fixing apparatus includes a first side plate, a bracket, a locking tab, and a transverse bar. The bracket includes an end plate, and a second side plate perpendicular to the end plate. The first side plate is pivotably attached to a free end of the end plate of the bracket. The transverse bar is pivotably attached to a free end of the second side plate of the bracket. The locking tab is attached to an outside of the first side plate to detachably engage with the transverse bar.

Abstract: An integrated lead flexure or suspension including an insulating layer, a plurality of traces on the insulating layer and a stainless steel base layer on the side of the insulating layer opposite the traces. The traces are free of a conductive shield layer on the side opposite the insulating layer. One or more voids extend through the stainless steel layer below the traces. The voids are filled with a high conductivity metal layer.

Abstract: A hard disk box includes a tray, a cover, and a enclosure. The tray includes a bezel and a bottom plate. The bottom plate includes a locking portion forming a catch. The cover includes a rear wall, and an insert wall extending from a side of the rear wall. A hook extends from the rear wall for engaging the catch of the tray. The enclosure accommodates the bottom plate of the tray and the insert wall of the cover, and is retained between the bezel of the tray and the rear wall of the cover. The enclosure defines an opening in a bottom wall thereof, corresponding to the locking portion of the tray.

Abstract: An exemplary fixing apparatus is for mounting a hard disk drive (HDD) having a plurality of holes defined in sidewalls thereof. The fixing apparatus includes a first bracket, and a second bracket. The first bracket includes a side plate, and a transverse member perpendicular to the side plate. The second bracket includes a side plate, and a transverse member perpendicular to the side plate. A free end of the transverse member of the second bracket pivotably engages with the transverse member of the first bracket. A free end of the transverse member of the first bracket is detachably locked to the transverse member of the second bracket. The side plates of the first bracket and the second bracket include a plurality of fixing members attached thereto to engage in the holes of the disk drive, respectively.

Abstract: A head suspension prevents a read element from electrostatic discharge damage without employing a static electricity remover or without increasing the number of manufacturing processes. The head suspension has a load beam to apply load to a head that writes and reads data to and from a hard disk, a flexure made of a conductive thin substrate attached to the load beam and supporting the head, an insulating base layer made of flexible resin and formed on the substrate of the flexure, write wires and read wires connected to the head and formed on the insulating base layer, and an insulating cover layer covering the write and read wires on the insulating base layer. The insulating cover layer is made of slightly conductive flexible resin.

Abstract: A method and system for utilizing an interlocking dissimilar metal component in the formation of a hard disk drive is disclosed. The method provides a hard disk drive component having at least one interlocking dissimilar metal component, the at least one interlocking dissimilar metal component having at least two dissimilar metals on a single side. The interlocking dissimilar metal component is utilized to provide a similar materials weld location for coupling two dissimilar metals to a single side surface of the at least one interlocking dissimilar metal hard disk drive component.

Abstract: A webbed ground plane includes a plurality of slots and a plurality of struts between the slots. The slots and struts have generally equal lengths and extend below a length of the leads such that eddy current losses in the leads are reduced to near zero.

Abstract: A head suspension for a hard disk drive is capable of improving shock property of the hard disk drive while miniaturizing the hard disk drive. A head suspension has a base plate to be attached to a carriage and turned around a spindle of the carriage, a load beam which includes a beam and a hinge, a base end of the beam being supported to the base plate through the hinge and which applies a load onto a head for writing and reading data to and from a disk at a front end side thereof, and a flexure which connects the head to writing and reading wires and supports the head and which is attached to the load beam, where the hinge is set to be relatively thicker than the beam so that the load beam is made thin and the load is increased.

Abstract: An exemplary fixing apparatus is for mounting a hard disk drive (HDD) having a plurality of holes defined in sidewalls thereof. The fixing apparatus includes a first bracket, a second bracket, and a bezel assembly. The first bracket includes a side plate, an end plate perpendicularly extending from one end of the side plate, and a pivoting portion formed at the other end of the side plate. The second bracket includes a side plate, an end plate perpendicularly extending from one end of the side plate to pivotably engage with the end plate of the first bracket, and an extension portion formed at the other end of the side plate. The bezel assembly is pivotably attached to the pivoting portion of the first bracket and detachably locked with the extension portion of the second bracket. The side plates include a plurality of fixing members to engage in the holes of the disk drive, respectively.

Abstract: A TMR-compensating suspension, or one or more suspension components such as a hinge or beam that can be assembled with other components to make a suspension. The suspension includes a proximal actuator mounting region, a rigid beam region, and a spring region or spring legs between the actuator mounting and beam regions. The load beam or component is formed from a multi-layer laminate and is configured with an offset structure at the spring region or spring legs that skews or twists the beam region with respect to the actuator mounting region. Motion of the beam region with respect to the actuator mounting region when the load beam is used in a disk drive will therefore include a TMR-compensating radial component.

Abstract: A suspension is provided, which has proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end toward the distal end. A rotating hinge rotates the distal end about the longitudinal axis in response to vertical motion of the distal end relative to the proximal end. In one example, the suspension includes a preformed twist deformation, which rotates the distal end about the longitudinal axis relative to the proximal end axis in a direction opposite to rotation by the rotating hinge, in response to the vertical motion.

Abstract: A plate member is made of a metal material lighter than stainless steel in a suspension for a head slider. This leads to a reduction in the weight of the suspension. The natural frequency of the suspension is thus raised. Moreover, the viscoelastic member is interposed between the front surface of the plate member and the back surface of the flexure. This structure allows either the plate member or the flexure to act as a base and the other to act as a constraining member. In other words, the plate member, the flexure and the viscoelastic member in combination act as a so-called vibration damper including constraining layers. The viscoelastic member serves to further suppress vibration of the plate member and the flexure.

Abstract: A head element support apparatus having a load beam including a first elastic member, a second elastic member. The elastic members are fixedly joined together at a joining portion. The first elastic member has a first elastically deformable portion, the second elastic member has a second elastically deformable portion, and the bending rigidity of the first elastically deformable portion is lower than the bending rigidity of the second elastically deformable portion. The second elastically deformable portion is deformable about an intermediate pivot. The balance between a floating force and a load pressure, acting on a slider, may be maintained, and consequently, and the slider may move in a rolling direction and a pitching direction.

Abstract: A suspension is provided, which has a base, a load beam and a hinge structure. The hinge structure and at least one of the base and the load beam are formed of a single continuous piece of multiple layer laminate material, which includes first and second layers. The hinge structure includes a first beam formed by the first layer and a second beam formed by the second layer. The first layer is absent along the second beam and the second layer is absent along the first beam such that the first and second beams are vertically offset from one another. The first and second beams extend between the base and the load beam.

Abstract: A magnetic head suspension assembly is fabricated with an integral piece which includes a load beam section, a flexure section, a rear mount section and a leaf spring section between the load beam and rear mount. A tongue extends from the load beam to the flexure and has a down-facing load dimple which contacts the non-air bearing surface of an attached air bearing slider. The flexure includes narrow thin legs adjacent to a cutout that delineates the load beam tongue. The head suspension is characterized by a high first bending mode frequency and low pitch and roll stiffness.