Abstract: A suspension for disc drive includes a base plate, a load beam, and a flexure. The flexure includes a metal base member and a circuit member disposed along the metal base member. The circuit member extends in a longitudinal direction of the load beam. The circuit member includes a resin base member formed of an electrically insulating resin and conductors. The conductors are formed into predetermined circuit patterns by etching a deposited copper layer deposited on the resin base member. Each conductor has a cross section in the shape of a trapezoid such that the width of a surface of the conductor which faces the resin base member is greater than that of a surface of the conductor on the side opposite from the resin base member.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a highly reliable hard disk drive (HDD). In an HDD according to an embodiment of the present invention, solder at a solder joint for joining a pad of a head slider and a pad of a transmission wiring comprises the main component of Sn and atomic percent to atomic percent of indium. The solder exhibits the ? phase within the range of ?150° C. to 120° C. Accordingly, even if the HDD is left at a low temperature for a long time, the solder joint is not broken.

Abstract: A disk drive flexure has a pattern of voids in the ground plane in the area directly underneath the read and write bond pads, in order to adjust the respective impedances of the read and write bond pad pairs to match the impedances of the read and write transducers and the signal trace pairs to and from the transducers. The resulting impedance matched bond pads increase the effective signal bandwidth of the flexure and its electrical connections, decreasing the probability of error at high signal speeds and increasing the maximum data rate through the suspension.

Abstract: A micro-actuator to which no head slider is adhesively bonded is mounted on a suspension. The head slider is adhesively bonded to the micro-actuator mounted on the suspension. Before the head slider adheres to the micro-actuator, an electrical connecting work of the slider is completed, and a characteristic test is carried out. If the head slider is judged as being normal as a result of the characteristic test, the head slider concerned is bonded to the micro-actuator by the adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin-film device whose bump has an improved surface property. A thin-film element of the thin-film device includes at least one of an electromagnetic conversion element, a passive element and an active element. A lead conductor film containing Cu as a main component is connected to the thin-film element. The lead conductor is provided with a bump. The bump includes a first conductor film and a second conductor film. The first conductor film is adhered onto the lead conductor film and is a Ta film or made of a material having a comparably fine crystal structure. The second conductor film is a plated film which is directly or indirectly formed on the first conductor film and contains Au as a main component.

Abstract: A slider includes a slider body having a first side and edges defined adjacent to the first side, at least two separate insulators each adjacent to the first side of the slider body and supported by the slider body, and a conductive trace adjacent to each of the at least two separate insulators and opposite the first side of the slider body. The at least two separate insulators each are in physical contact with the slider body along the first side of the slider body such that the at least two separate insulators are physically attached to the slider body to electrically insulate each conductive trace from the slider body.

Abstract: A disk pack, comprising at least one hard disk, is rotatably mounted to a housing. The disk pack defines an axis of rotation and a radial direction relative to the axis. At least one actuator mounted to the housing is coupled with a suspension and is movable relative to the disk pack. A slider, comprising a slider body and a head configured to read data from and write data to at least one hard disk, is coupled with the suspension. A first suspension electrical interconnect is configured to electrically couple a first signal conducting pathway with the slider and with a first non-terminated signal pathway. A second suspension electrical interconnect is configured to electrically couple a second signal conducting pathway with the slider and with a second non-terminated signal pathway. The length of the second non-terminated signal pathway is selected to achieve a desired impedance level.

Abstract: An integrated conductor/suspension structure for supporting and electrically connecting a write/read head in a hard disk drive and methods of making the conductor/suspension structure are provided. The integrated conductor/suspension structure may allow for an increased characteristic-impedance range, greater interference shielding and a reduction of signal loss that is contributed by a lossy conductive substrate. The suspension structure includes apertures formed therein that result in a reduction in the lossy material and its effect on the electrical signals. In addition, the conductor/suspension structure of the present invention provides shielding to reduce the interference from external electric fields.

Abstract: An interconnect between the write driver and the write head in a magnetic recording disk drive enables an inherent write current overshoot. The interconnect includes an integrated lead suspension (ILS) and a short flex cable that connects the write driver circuitry to the ILS. The interconnect is a two-segment transmission line, with the first segment connected to the write driver having multiple sub-segments or sections with non-uniform impedance levels. The section of the first segment that connects to the write driver is the short flex cable and has an impedance substantially higher than the source impedance ZWD of the write driver. The multiple sections of the first segment have non-uniform impedance values that have an effective impedance Z01-eff that substantially matches ZWD. The second segment of the transmission line has an effective impedance Z02-eff that is substantially less than Z01-eff. The write lines for the +W and ?W signals are preferably interleaved on the transmission line sections.

Abstract: A disk drive comprising a guide member configured to guide a strip-shaped flexible wiring board, wherein the strip-shaped flexible wiring board has one end attached to a side portion of a carriage that is rotatably supported, in such a way that another end thereof is oriented toward a mounting position. A U-shaped component of the guide member which comprises a pair of edge components and is formed into a U-shape, wherein the U-shaped component is inserted between two projecting components comprising a front-side projecting component and a rear-side projecting component which are arranged to a front and a rear portion of the carriage respectively and are provided on a side portion of the carriage, and the pair of edge components come into contact with the two projecting component, respectively, wherein the U-shaped component is elastically deformed in such a way that the pair of edge components come closer together.

Abstract: An integrated lead suspension (ILS) in a magnetic recording disk drive has the transmission line portion of the ILS between the flex cable and the gimbal formed of multiple interconnected segments, each with its own characteristic impedance. At the interface between any two segments there is a change in the widths of the electrically conductive traces of the transmission line. The change in impedance of a fixed-length segment is a function of the change in its trace width. The number of segments and their characteristic impedance values are selected to produce the largest frequency bandwidth with a substantially flat group delay from the write driver to the write head.

Abstract: A hard disk drive including a base plate and a drive cover. The hard disk drive also includes a capacitive coupling feature disposed between the base plate and the drive cover. The capacitive coupling feature is configured to provide grounding between the base plate and the drive cover.

Abstract: A disk drive gimbal, an apparatus, and a related method of manufacture, wherein the disk drive gimbal includes a strut having a trace with a zig-zag shape. The trace is made from conducting material, and the zig-zag shape is configured to provide a level of stress relief to the conducting material that is included in the trace.

Abstract: A suspension for a head stack assembly, comprises a flexure with a suspension tongue, a flexure tail and a plurality of conductive traces extending between the suspension tongue and the flexure tail, each of said conductive traces having one end thereof terminated to an electrical pad formed on the suspension tongue for electrical connection to a slider and the other end thereof terminated to a connection pad formed on the flexure tail for both testing and bonding such that the flexure has no additional testing pads. The suspension with a flexure tail able to make the bonding and the dynamic performance testing on the pad area and thus reduce suspension length and increase flexure density for low cost. The invention also discloses a manufacturing method of the suspension and a HSA with such an suspension and a disk drive unit having such an HSA.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly (HGA) of a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a flexure, a slider attached to the flexure and including a magnetic head, a plurality of pads at a side of the slider, a plurality of traces attached to and supported by the flexure and respectively bonded to the pads to form an electrically continuous circuit therebetween, and an insulating support element covering a bonding region between the pads and the traces.

Abstract: A disk drive comprising a disk, and a head actuated over the disk, the head comprising a read element and a write element. The disk drive further comprises a preamp and an interconnect comprising a first transmission line and a second transmission line coupling the head to the preamp. A compensation network is disclosed operable to compensate for an impedance discontinuity in the first and second transmission lines, the compensation network comprising a first trace and a second trace connected in parallel with the first and second transmission lines, wherein a shape of the first and second traces varies to form at least a first capacitor.

Abstract: A gimbal, a disk drive suspension that includes the gimbal, and a related method of manufacture, wherein the gimbal is configured to be coupled to a slider having a disk drive read-write transducer. The gimbal includes one or more strut(s) having an insulating layer that includes a first surface, and a supporting layer that includes a plurality of segments and that is coupled to the insulating layer's first surface.

Abstract: A bending apparatus of a head gimbal assembly includes a suction unit configured to attract the head gimbal assembly, a movement unit configured to move a long tail connected to a terminal part, a stopper against which the moved long tail is butted, a transmission type optical sensor configured to detect that the long tail is positioned to the stopper, a tail holder configured to hold a part of the long tail on a work table, a roller configured to compress the terminal part against the tail holder and to bend the terminal part relative to the long tail at a right angle, and a controller configured to control, based on a detection result of the transmission type optical sensor, a movement of the tail holder to the work table and a movement of the roller to the tail holder.

Abstract: An integrated lead suspension (ILS) has a constrained layer damper (CLD) that attenuates vibration of the ILS. The CLD may be applied over an already assembled ILS such that the CLD is applied to the cover layer, to the base layer, or to both. Alternatively, the ILS may be encapsulated via a deposition process such that a damping layer is sandwiched between the conductor layer and the cover layer of the ILS, between the conductor layer and the dielectric layer of the ILS, or both.

Abstract: A first conductor member includes an amplifier-side first conductor, a head-side first conductor, and first and second interleaved conductors. A second conductor member includes an amplifier-side second conductor, a head-side second conductor, and third and fourth interleave conductors. The second interleaved conductor is connected to the amplifier-side first conductor through a first jumper conductor. The fourth interleave conductor is connected to the head-side second conductor through a second jumper conductor. The jumper conductors are formed by partially etching a metal base. The jumper conductors are individually inclined at angles of 45° or less to an axis which extends in a wiring direction of each of the interleaved conductors.

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: Head gimbal assemblies for data storage systems are provided. Some embodiments include a dielectric layer having a first and a second side. A first conductive layer is on the first dielectric layer. The first conductive layer includes a pad and a trace. A second conductive layer is on the second dielectric side. A via extends from the first dielectric layer side to the second dielectric layer side. The via electrically connects the first conductive layer to the second conductive layer.

Abstract: A wired circuit board includes a metal supporting board, an insulating base layer formed on the metal supporting board, a conductive pattern formed on the insulating base layer, a first semi-conductive layer formed on the conductive pattern, an insulating cover layer formed on the first semi-conductive layer, and a second semi-conductive layer formed on the insulating cover layer. The first semi-conductive layer and the second semi-conductive layer are electrically connected to the metal supporting board.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a micro actuator device, includes: a first piezoelectric element superposed on a first lower support plate coupled to a fixed plate; a second piezoelectric element superposed on a second lower support plate in parallel with the first lower support plate coupled to the fixed plate; a first upper support plate interposing the first piezoelectric element between the first upper support plate and the first lower support plate, and generating strain equal to strain of the first lower support plate when a tensile force of the first piezoelectric element acts on the first lower support plate; and a second upper support plate interposing the second piezoelectric element between the second upper support plate and the second lower support plate, and generating strain equal to strain of the second lower support plate when a tensile force of the second piezoelectric element acts on the second lower support plate.

Abstract: A head suspension has a jumper capable of protecting an insulating cover layer of the jumper from being abraded by an edge of a base plate of the head suspension. The head suspension includes the base plate, a load beam, an actuator element to be deformed in response to applied power and thereby move the load beam relative to the base plate, a flexure arranged along a side of the base plate, and the jumper having a first end electrically connected to the actuator element, an intermediate part extending over a base plate edge of the base plate, and a second end electrically connected to the flexure, to supply power from the flexure to the actuator element. The jumper is composed of the insulating cover layer, a conductor layer, an insulating layer, and a metal layer that are laid one on another from a surface side of the base plate. The conductor layer is diverged in a direction in which the layers of the jumper are laid one on another, to form an escape recess to avoid an edge of the base plate edge.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a hard disk drive 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 the vertical offset. 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 were disposed to be co-planar.

Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a suspension substrate which can decrease the whole thickness thereof and limit the generation of warpage. To attain the object, the present invention provides a suspension substrate comprising: an insulation layer, a pair of wirings consisting of an upper wiring formed on one surface of the insulation layer and a lower wiring formed on the other surface of the insulation layer, and a metal substrate formed on the surface of the insulation layer on the lower wiring side.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a head gimbal assembly manufacturing method which can attach another magnetic head slider to a suspension to be reused without addition of solder. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a head gimbal assembly (HGA) is attached to a jig. Both sides of a portion close to the rear end of a magnetic head slider are gripped with hot tweezers heated at about 200° C. They are heated for about four seconds while applying force in a direction of peeling off the magnetic head slider from gimbals, thus removing the magnetic head slider from the gimbals. When another magnetic head slider is attached to the suspension, an adhesive adhered to the gimbals is removed and another adhesive is applied to the gimbals. The back of another magnetic head slider is pressed to the adhesive, whereby the magnetic head slider is fixed to the gimbals. Next, the solder fillet left on the gimbals is irradiated with laser beams to be melted and joined to an electric terminal.

Abstract: In a method of biasing a slider, a bias voltage is generated for biasing a slider. The bias voltage is integratedly coupled to a conductive body of the slider via an existing signal path of the slider such that the slider is biased with the bias voltage. The existing signal path is primarily used for conveying another signal to or from the slider but at least sometimes conveys the bias voltage to the conductive body in an integral fashion along with another signal.

Abstract: It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a suspension substrate having reduced strain. The present invention solves the problem by providing a suspension substrate comprising: a fundamental structure in which a metal substrate, a first insulation layer, and a wiring are laminated in this order; a wide wiring laminate structure provided with a wide wiring first insulation part of the first insulation layer, a first wide wiring formed on the wide wiring first insulation part, a second insulation part formed on the first wide wiring, and a second wide wiring formed on the second insulation part; and a narrow wiring-containing structure provided with a narrow wiring first insulation part of the first insulation layer and a first narrow wiring formed on the narrow wiring first insulation part, wherein the narrow wiring-containing structure is provided with a strain-limiting part formed to limit strain generated in relation to the wide wiring laminate structure.

Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a conductive pattern, a board main body portion on which a magnetic head is mounted, and an auxiliary portion capable of being folded back with respect to the board main body portion so as to face a back surface of the board main body portion. The conductive pattern includes a first conductive pattern including a first terminal electrically connected to an external circuit, and a second terminal electrically connected to the magnetic head, and a second conductive pattern including a third terminal electrically connected to the external circuit, and a fourth terminal electrically connected to an electronic element. Both of the first terminal and the second terminal are disposed on the board main body portion. The third terminal is disposed on the board main body portion or on the auxiliary portion, and the fourth terminal is disposed on the auxiliary portion.

Abstract: A magnetic unit includes: a magnetic pinned layer, a first function body, and a second function body. The magnetic pinned layer is provided that a magnetization direction is pinned. The first function body is provided in contact with the magnetic pinned layer and performs a function with the magnetic pinned layer. The second function body is provided in contact with the magnetic pinned layer. The second function body is any of a nonmagnetic conductor, a nonmagnetic insulator, and a function body. The magnetic pinned layer includes: a plurality of magnetic substance layers, and a nonmagnetic conductive layer provided between the plurality of magnetic substance layers. The nonmagnetic conductive layer ferromagnetically or antiferromagnetically couples magnetic substance layers on both sides. A total amount of magnetizations of the plurality of magnetic substance layers is approximately zero.

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: Crosstalk from a write signal on wiring on a suspension needs to be reduced since an ESD withstand voltage is decreased due to high sensitivity of a GMR head. In one embodiment, a terminal arrangement on an element-forming surface of a magnetic head slider consists of a ground terminal G, a read terminal R+, a read terminal R?, a write terminal W+ and a write terminal W? in order from the outside. With this terminal arrangement, the wiring order on a suspension consists of a read wire R?, a read wire R+, a ground line G, a write wire W? and a write wire W+ in an arrangement unlike the terminal arrangement. In other words, the ground line G is interposed between the write wires W and the read wires R.

Abstract: A suspension having a magnetic head assembly 1 mounted thereon is provided, wherein the magnetic head assembly comprises: a write head 1-2; a read head 1-1; and a resistive heating element 1-3 for controlling the flying heights of the magnetic heads, wherein the wires HTx and GTx for the resistive heating element is disposed such that they sandwich the wires RxX and RxY for the read head. The wires for the resistive heating element may be disposed between the wires for the write head and the wires for the read head. Furthermore, the waveform of the current or voltage to the resistive heating element has a time constant of 1 ?sec or more, the resistive heating element having wires disposed near the wires of the read head.

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 base layer for a suspension. The base layer includes a structure. The structure has a slider end portion and a tail portion. The structure includes an opening in the tail portion. The opening provides access to a conductive assembly coupleable there with. The structure also includes a strengthening member integrated within said opening.

Abstract: An integrated lead suspension (ILS) or flexure has a connection scheme that allows for coplanar and interleaved conductive traces between read/write circuitry and a read/write head in a magnetic recording disk drive. The flexure has an electrically conductive substrate and insulator layer with the traces formed on the insulator layer. At each end of the flexure there is an island of substrate material with vias in the insulator layer that permit electrical connection to the islands. The conductive traces are grouped into two sets and extend generally parallel along the length of the flexure, with the traces from one set being interleaved with traces from the other set and each set carrying one of the positive or negative signals. At one of the ends, all of the traces from one set are connected through the vias to the island at that end, and at the other end all of the traces from the other set are connected through the vias to the island at that end.

Abstract: A method which enables easy removal of a magnetic head slider soldered to a suspension and easy reuse of the removed parts. In the method for removing the magnetic head slider, heat is applied to a suspension to which at least a part of the magnetic head slider is joined by solder so as to remove the magnetic head slider from the suspension. The heating is locally applied to the junction area of the magnetic head slider and the suspension, which is joined by the solder.

Abstract: An actuator and associated method is provided, the actuator having an arm defining an aperture, an electrical circuit supported by the arm and terminating at a contact, a flexure assembly defining a boss and supporting a second electrical circuit terminating at a second contact, wherein the contacts are resultingly positioned in operable mating engagement with each other placing the electrical circuit in electrical communication with the second electrical circuit when the boss is operably disposed within the aperture and there affixed to the arm.

Abstract: EMR elements and methods of fabricating the EMR elements are disclosed. The EMR structure includes one or more layers that form an active region, such as a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). The EMR structure has a first side surface, having a plurality of lead protrusions that extend outwardly from the main body of the EMR structure, and an opposing second side surface. The lead protrusions are used to form the current and voltage leads for the EMR element. The active region extends through each lead protrusion and is accessible along a perimeter of each of the lead protrusions. Conductive material is formed along the perimeter of each lead protrusion and contacts the active region of the EMR structure along the perimeter. The lead protrusion and the corresponding conductive material contacting the active region of each lead protrusion form leads for the EMR element, such as current leads and voltage leads.

Abstract: A carriage block body is coupled to a support shaft for relative rotation. A carriage arm extends from the carriage block body along an imaginary plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support shaft. A head suspension is attached to the tip end of the carriage arm. A wiring extends outside the contour of the head suspension along the side of the carriage arm. A projection protrudes from the side of the carriage arm. An adhesive is utilized to bond the wiring to the projection. Even though airflow generated along the surface of a rotating disk medium collides against the carriage arm, the wiring is reliably prevented from fluttering outside the contour of the head suspension. The vibration of the wiring is thus significantly suppressed. The carriage arm is prevented from vibrating.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first member, a second member and a flexure. The flexure has a central portion connected to the first member, outer portions connected to the second member and an intermediate portion spaced from the first member and the second member.

Abstract: A disk drive has: a disc-shape information recording medium; a swing arm having a base and a pair of arm sections extended along the surface and backside of the information recording medium; and two opposed connecting boards attached to the arm sections and each having an arm-side conductor pattern. The disk drive further has a circuit board with a signal-processing circuit processing a signal; and a relay board relaying the signal between the circuit board and the swing arm and having one end fixed to the circuit board and the other end provided with a fixed section fixed to the swing arm. The fixed section has a connection piece provided on a leading-end side of the fixed section, sandwiched between the connecting boards in a direction intersecting the connecting boards, and having a circuit-side conductor pattern connected to the arm-side conductor pattern at an edge contacting the connecting board.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a highly reliable hard disk drive (HDD). In an HDD according to an embodiment of the present invention, solder at a solder joint for joining a pad of a head slider and a pad of a transmission wiring comprises the main component of Sn and atomic percent to atomic percent of indium. The solder exhibits they phase within the range of ?150° C. to 120° C. Accordingly, even if the HDD is left at a low temperature for a long time, the solder joint is not broken.

Abstract: A suspension interconnect of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) includes a ground layer; a base layer formed of a dielectric material and disposed on the ground layer; a pair of read traces and a pair of write traces which are formed of a conductive material, disposed on the base layer to extend so as not to short each other; and a cover layer which are formed of a dielectric material, disposed on the base layer and the traces and are to seal the traces, wherein the cover layer includes a read cover layer which is to seal the read traces, and a write cover layer which is separated from the read cover layer and to seal the write traces.

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 flex cable assembly for a head stack assembly of a hard disk drive comprises a flex cable for conducting data signals from the head stack assembly to a connector. The flex cable comprises a dynamic loop section between a termination for the head stack assembly and the connector. A constrained layer damper is attached adjacently to an area of the flex cable that is configured to receive the coupler. The constrained layer damper extends into the dynamic loop section of the flex cable.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing device is a hard disk device which writes information onto a magnetic disk (not shown), or reads information therefrom, and includes: a reproducing head; a recording head; and a magnetic head driving circuit. The magnetic head driving circuit is a circuit, by which driving of the reproducing head and the recording head is controlled, and onto which the reproducing head, a recording head driving circuit, a control unit, and a variable impedance element are integrated. This magnetic head driving circuit is switched on a time division base to a read mode during reproducing operation, and to a write mode during recording operation. The control unit reduces the impedance of the variable impedance element during the write mode.

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.