Electrical Connection Detail Onto Actuator Arm Patents (Class 360/264.2)
  • Patent number: 11869543
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk device includes a magnetic disk, a magnetic head, a first FPC, and a second FPC. The first FPC includes first terminals. The magnetic head is mounted on the first FPC and electrically connected to at least one of the first terminals. The second FPC includes a surface, second terminals on the surface, and a first ground plane. The second terminals are individually bonded to the corresponding first terminals with a conductive bonding material. The first ground plane covers at least one of the second terminals in a direction orthogonal to the surface. The second terminals include a first read terminal through which an electric signal representing information read from the magnetic disk by the magnetic head passes. The first ground plane is located apart from at least a part of the first read terminal in a direction along the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Kota Tokuda, Nobuhiro Yamamoto, Taichi Okano, Yoshihiro Amemiya, Shinra Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 11741990
    Abstract: In a disk drive having a flexible circuit tail that is routed within a recess in the actuator arm, a dielectric spacer is added to the top of the tail in order to space the circuit traces within the tail further away from the electrically conductive actuator arm, and to make more repeatable that spacing. The added spacing reduces electrical coupling and thus increases the bandwidth of the circuit. The spacer can be in the form of a section of the same viscoelastic material that is used elsewhere as a vibration dampener on the suspension, the viscoelastic material being adhered to the tail before the tail is inserted within the recess. Alternatively, the spacer can be a thickened region of the flexible circuit covercoat in the area where the tail will reside within the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher G. Dunn, Benjapa Tanampee
  • Patent number: 11657841
    Abstract: A hard disk drive flexible printed circuit (FPC) includes a plurality of fingers extending from a main portion, with each finger having a thermally-conductive stiffener, at least one wiring layer over the stiffener, and a cover film over the at least one wiring layer, where the centroid of the stiffener is offset from the centerline of the cover film. Thus, utilizing the heat-sink characteristics of the stiffener, temperature differences among the upper and lower electrical pads of the FPC resulting from a heat-based interconnection procedure can be reduced and the temperatures across the FPC finger made more uniform, damage to the FPC prevented, and soldering yields improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Teruhiro Nakamiya, Kazuhiro Nagaoka, Satoshi Nakamura, Nobuyuki Okunaga
  • Patent number: 11483928
    Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board includes a base film having an insulating property and a conductive pattern laminated on one surface of the base film, and has a terminal connecting area toward one end edge of the conductive pattern, the flexible printed circuit board including a reinforcement member laminated on an opposite surface of the base film and situated at least at a position opposite the terminal connecting area, wherein the reinforcement member has one or more lines of hollow holes aligning with a width direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC PRINTED CIRCUITS, INC., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Adachi, Yoshifumi Uchita, Yoshio Oka
  • Patent number: 11355152
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk device includes a recording medium, a suspension, a magnetic head, an actuator, a circuit board, an FPC, a preamplifier, and an actuator driver. The magnetic head and the actuator are mounted on the suspension. The circuit board includes a control circuit. The FPC is connected to the suspension and the circuit board. The preamplifier is mounted on the FPC, outputs a write signal, to the magnetic head, corresponding to information to be written to the recording medium by the magnetic head, and receives, from the magnetic head, a read signal corresponding to information read from the recording medium by the magnetic head. The actuator driver is mounted apart from the preamplifier on the FPC, the actuator driver that outputs a drive signal for driving the actuator to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichiro Ozeki, Yu Chen, Koichiro Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11294593
    Abstract: A storage system includes a media player including a preamplifier that is adapted to provide data access to a storage cartridge lacking an independent read/write preamplifier. The media player couples to the storage cartridges across an interconnect, and the storage cartridge is adapted to perform data access operations responsive to signals received from the media player through the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Riyan Alex Mendonsa, Jon D Trantham, Peng Peng, Brett R. Herdendorf, Krishnan Subramanian
  • Patent number: 11240919
    Abstract: A connecting device includes a first flexible printed circuit including a bonding end in which a plurality of connecting pads are provided, a first base portion, a junction portion extending between the bonding end and the first base portion, and a plurality of traces extending from the first base portion to the bonding end, a first connector that is mounted on the first base portion, a second flexible printed circuit including a bonding end in which a plurality of connecting pads are provided, a second base portion, a junction portion extending between the bonding end and the second base portion, and a plurality of traces extending from the second base portion to the bonding end, and a second connector that is mounted on the second base portion. The first connector and the second connector are disposed side by side in a same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norio Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10818316
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an actuator assembly includes a head actuator including an actuator block having a first surface, a second surface intersecting the first surface, and a first groove provided on the second surface, and a suspension assembly supporting a magnetic head and a wiring board including a plate arranged on the first surface, a flexible printed circuit board provided on the plate, and an IC chip provided on the flexible printed circuit board, wherein the plate comprises a first engaging portion engaging with the first groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Yousuke Hisakuni, Kota Tokuda, Nobuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10373635
    Abstract: A magnetic head suspension assembly includes a support plate coupled to a magnetic head, and a flexible wiring member disposed on the support plate. The flexible wiring member includes a metal plate fixed to the support plate, an insulating layer disposed on the metal plate, a conductive layer disposed on the insulating layer and forming a plurality of conductive lines and connection terminals, and a cover layer on the conductive layer. The connection end portion includes a plurality of the connection terminals, and each of the connection terminals includes a center hole, a first terminal surface that is a surface of the conductive layer and is covered with the cover layer so that the first terminal surface is not exposed during a solder-joining process performed on the connection terminals, and a second terminal surface that is a surface of the conductive layer and faces away from the first terminal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Takafumi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10333435
    Abstract: A motor control module provides control of a plurality of different motor types, such as a 1-phase DC Brush motor, a 3-phase brushless DC motor, and a 2-phase step motor. The module includes a digital amplifier that is configurable to drive the plurality of different motor types. A motor control unit, coupled to the digital amplifier, controls a motor type driven by the digital amplifier via a command signal to the digital amplifier. The motor control unit also monitors status information about the motor control module, including status information about the digital amplifier. A motor coil interface is coupled to the digital amplifier and configured to connect with the plurality of different motor types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Performance Motion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Peng Li, Peter Fransiscus Vandermeulen, Emanuel Gustav Lewin, David Chanan Horovitch Shmelzer, Ahmad Radey Shouman
  • Patent number: 10332552
    Abstract: A suspension baseplate is stamped at its distal end to which the load beam is mounted. The stamping operation smoothes out roughness in the edge of the baseplate and lowers its height slightly so that, along the line on the baseplate which last contacts the load beam as the load beam is leaving the baseplate, that line on the baseplate is smooth and free of burrs and similar defects. By eliminating burrs on the surface to which the load beam is mounted, variations in the pitch and twist of the load beam are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation
    Inventor: Keith A. Vanderlee
  • Patent number: 10154579
    Abstract: A first insulating layer is formed on a support substrate. The first insulating layer includes a first portion and a second portion. The second portion has a thickness smaller than that of the first portion. A ground layer having electric conductivity higher than that of the support substrate is formed on the second portion of the first insulating layer. The ground layer is electrically connected to the support substrate. A second insulating layer is formed on the first insulating layer to cover the ground layer. A write wiring trace is formed on the second insulating layer to overlap with the first portion and the second portion of the first insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Yamauchi, Hiroyuki Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9899048
    Abstract: A flexible printed circuit for a storage drive assembly is provided. The flexible printed circuit includes a stiffener layer having a first stiffener region, and a second stiffener region separated from the first stiffener region by a hinge region, a first insulation layer disposed on the stiffener layer, a conductive electrode layer disposed on the first insulation layer; and a second insulation layer disposed on the conductive electrode layer, wherein the hinge region is formed from the first insulation layer, the conductive electrode layer and the second insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Mukund Vijay
  • Patent number: 9819129
    Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus that includes a housing that defines an interior cavity. The housing also includes a feedthrough aperture. The apparatus also includes an electrical connector that is coupled to the housing over the feedthrough aperture. The electrical connector includes a base, a plurality of pins extending through the base, and a skirt positioned about a periphery of the base. The pins extend from a location external to the housing to a location within the interior cavity of the housing. Further, an inner surface of the base is co-planar with an outer end of the feedthrough aperture. The apparatus also includes solder positioned on the housing and against an entire periphery of the skirt to seal the electrical connector to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Noritaka Otake, Hiroshi Matsuda, Katsumasa Nakatsukasa, Kouki Uefune
  • Patent number: 9658419
    Abstract: A media conversion system for converting electrical video signals to optical video signals and vice versa. The media conversion system includes one or more pluggable media conversion modules. Each pluggable media conversion module converts between one or more optical video signals and one or more electrical video signals. Each pluggable media conversion module typically includes an electrical video signal conditioning circuit that includes one or more of a cable driver, an equalizer and a reclocker. The media conversion system also includes a printed circuit board for receiving the one or more pluggable media conversion modules. The printed circuit board includes one or more signal paths for transporting the one or more electrical video signals between the one or more pluggable media conversion modules and one or more electrical cable connectors. Each of the one or more signal paths is completely passive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Evertz Microsystems Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Fankhauser, Daniel Baldor, Sarkis Abrahamian
  • Patent number: 9633680
    Abstract: A head gimbal assembly has a laminate flexure that includes a metallic conductive layer that includes a plurality of electrically conductive traces that are elongated and narrow and electrically connected to the read head, and a metallic structural layer that is stiffer than the conductive layer. A first dielectric layer is disposed between the structural layer and the conductive layer. A second dielectric layer substantially covers the conductive layer in a flexure tail bonding region that overlaps a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The structural layer includes a plurality of flexure bond pads that are aligned with, facing, and bonded to corresponding FPC bond pads. The flexure bond pads in the structural layer are electrically connected to the electrically conductive traces in the conductive layer by vias through the first dielectric layer. In certain embodiments, the flexure tail is folded upon itself in the flexure tail bonding region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tzong-Shii Pan
  • Patent number: 9538655
    Abstract: An electronic assembly includes an electronic module, a rigid board, a first flexible board, a second flexible board and a conductive adhesive layer. The first flexible board extends from the electronic module and has a first connection end and a first pad arrangement at the first connection end. The first pad arrangement has a plurality of first pads. The second flexible board is connected to the rigid board and has a second connection end and a second pad arrangement at the second connection end. The second pad arrangement has a plurality of second pads. The first pads are structurally and electrically connected to the second pads through the conductive adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Hsin-Chih Liu, Ying-Yen Cheng, Yu-Jing Liao
  • Patent number: 9324345
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a suspension assembly includes a base plate having a securing plate portion protruding outwardly from a side edge of the base plate, a load beam secured on a first surface of the base plate and extending from the base plate, and a wiring member. The wiring member includes a distal side portion attached to the load beam and the first surface of the base plate, and a proximal side portion extending outwardly from the side edge of the base plate and extending in a direction opposite to the load beam along the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kasiha Toshiba
    Inventor: Shigeru Juman
  • Patent number: 9324346
    Abstract: A novel head stack assembly (HSA) is disclosed and claimed. The HSA includes a flexible printed circuit (FPC) having a mouth with an upper mouth edge and a lower mouth edge. The FPC includes a first plurality of conductive terminals immediately adjacent the upper mouth edge and a second plurality of conductive terminals immediately adjacent the lower mouth edge. The mouth defines and is bisected by a mouth centerline disposed equidistant from the upper mouth edge and the lower mouth edge. The mouth centerline is substantially parallel to and substantially equidistant from first and second actuator arms of the HSA. A first plurality of conductive traces of a first head gimbal assembly (HGA) is electrically connected to the first plurality of conductive terminals, and a second plurality of conductive traces of a second HGA is electrically connected to the second plurality of conductive terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tzong-Shii Pan, Shufun Ho
  • Patent number: 9196266
    Abstract: An interconnect between the read/write circuitry and the read/write head in a magnetic recording hard disk drive (HDD) for two-dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) has the read sensor signal lines located on a lower level of a bi-level structure of conductive lines. Common return lines are located on an upper level above the signal lines and on the lower level between the signal lines. All of the return lines on the upper level are connected to one another by cross-connect lines, and vias are located along the interconnect and connect the upper return lines with the lower return lines and with the ground plane of the interconnect's electrically conductive substrate. The interconnect is a coaxial-like interconnect because the return lines are located around each signal line and thus shield each signal line from the other signal lines, much like the outer conductive shield of a coaxial cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: John Contreras, Albert John Wallash, Rehan Ahmed Zakai
  • Patent number: 9095064
    Abstract: A base insulating layer is formed on a suspension body, and write wiring traces and read wiring traces are formed on the base insulating layer. The write wiring trace and the read wiring traces are formed on a body region of the base insulating layer, and the write wiring trace is formed on an auxiliary region of the base insulating layer. The base insulating layer is bent along a bend portion. This causes the write wiring trace to be positioned above the write wiring trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Oosawa, Naoyuki Tanaka, Mitsuru Honjo
  • Patent number: 9036306
    Abstract: A flexible cable assembly (FCA) has a stiffener layer positioned in electrical contact with an electrical ground feature of the FCA, and a head stack assembly (HSA) may include a suspension tail electrically connected to the stiffener layer of the FCA, thus providing a robust ground path between the read/write head and the arm or E-block of the HSA. Additional efficient grounding techniques may include directly electrically connecting the suspension tail to the arm via a conductive adhesive, directly electrically connecting the FCA stiffener layer to the arm via a conductive screw, and/or directly electrically connecting the ground feature and the stiffener layer of the FCA to the arm using a ground post or screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Nobumasa Nishiyama, Yuji Soga, Kazuhiro Nagaoka, John Contreras, Albert Wallash
  • Patent number: 9036305
    Abstract: A multiple-segment transmission line in a hard disk drive enables a wider optimization range of the slope, duration and amplitude of the transmission line overshoot (TLO) wave shape. There is a first segment with two traces for connection to the write driver circuitry, an end segment with two traces for connection to the write head and at least two intermediate segments. The number of traces in a segment is different from the number of traces in the segments to which the segment is immediately connected. There is an even number of traces in each segment and the traces in each segment are interleaved. The number of segments and the number of traces in each segment can be selected to achieve the desired impedance levels for the different segments to achieve the desired wave shape for the TLO. All of the traces on the transmission line are preferably coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: John Thomas Contreras, Nobumasa Nishiyama, Eiji Soga, Kazuhiro Nagaoka, Rehan Zakai
  • Patent number: 9001470
    Abstract: Described herein is a magnetic storage device that includes at least one magnetic disk, at least one armature rotatably movable relative to the at least one magnetic disk, and a transducer head coupled to the armature. The magnetic storage device further includes a stiffener that is coupled to the armature. The stiffener includes at least one arm having a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) portion and a deflection portion angled relative to the FPCB portion. The magnetic storage device also includes an FPCB coupled to the stiffener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Andre Chan, Raymond Quines, Edgar Rothenberg, Taeyong Yoon
  • Patent number: 8934201
    Abstract: A flexure includes a substrate layer, a dielectric layer formed thereon, and a conducting layer formed on the dielectric layer, the conducting layer includes multiple conductive traces and multiple bonding pads arranged in a first direction and adapted for connecting with a PCB, each bonding pad includes a first portion and a second portion, a first window is opened on the substrate layer, and a second window is opened on the dielectric layer to expose the bonding pads, wherein the substrate layer includes multiple first protuberances extending from at least one side wall of the first window along a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction to cover the first portion of each bonding pad, and the second portion of each bonding pad includes at least one notch or hole. The flexure is applicable to connected with a PCB by soldering jetting process or hot bar process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Xian Wen Feng, Tan Tian
  • Patent number: 8842505
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a first magnetic head is used to record or reproduce data on or from the first disk surface and includes a first two-terminal element including a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal. A second magnetic head is used to record or reproduce data on or from the second disk surface and includes a second two-terminal element including a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal. A current control unit includes a first current terminal which is commonly connected to the first positive terminal and the second negative terminal and a second current terminal that is commonly connected to the first negative terminal and the second positive terminal and can switch a current polarity between the first current terminal and the second current terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yuuichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8837261
    Abstract: Approaches to an electrical contact to electrically connect a laser module and a suspension that houses a head slider, in the context of a hard disk drive, involves a laser sub-mount electrical contact that includes a metal barrier layer underneath an electrode layer, where the barrier layer material has a lower heat transfer coefficient than the sub-mount material. Consequently, during the soldering process the diffusion of heat to the sub-mount is inhibited and the wettability of the solder is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kenichi Murata, Tatsumi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8837137
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a chassis and a tray installed in the chassis. The tray includes a base plate which defines an opening. A limiting standoff protrudes from an inner surface of the chassis and extends through the opening of the base plate. A locking module includes a pivotable member pivotally attached to the base plate which rotates about an axis perpendicular to the base plate. When the pivotable member is rotated to a first position, the limiting standoff locks the pivotable member to prevent the tray from sliding out from the chassis. When the pivotable member is rotated to a second position, the limiting standoff unlocks the pivotable member to allow the tray sliding out from the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiu-Zhong Yin, Xiu-Quan Hu, Yu-Wei He
  • Patent number: 8730621
    Abstract: An electrical connection between a first element and a second element formed by a solder ball bridge having at least three solder balls in physical contact with each other extending to electrically connect the first element and the second element. The solder ball bridge is particularly suitable for a disc drive system, to form an electrical connection between two elements such as between a piezoelectric microactuator element and the suspension assembly. Methods of making a solder ball bridge are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jackson William Brandts, Kevin J. Schulz, Christopher Michael Unger
  • Patent number: 8702998
    Abstract: A novel method to manufacture a flexible cable for a disk drive is disclosed. The method includes providing a flexible laminar sheet. The flexible laminar sheet has a dielectric substrate layer and an electrically conductive layer contacting a first side of the dielectric substrate layer. A portion of the electrically conductive layer is etched away to define a first plurality of electrically conductive traces and to expose an etched surface of the first side of the dielectric substrate layer. A second plurality of electrically conductive traces is deposited on the etched surface of the first side of the dielectric substrate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert J. Guerini
  • Patent number: 8699187
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a head-stack assembly. The method includes preparing a head-stack assembly. The method further includes placing a connection pad forming surface of a connector tab formed on an end of the trace so as to be positioned opposite to an edge of a circuit board; sliding an elastic component along a backside of the connection pad forming surface; and, stopping the elastic component on the backside and pressing the backside with the elastic component so as to press the connection pad forming surface against the edge. In addition, the method includes metal-joining the connector tab and a connection pad of the circuit board by applying heat to a connection pad of the connector tab and the connection pad on the circuit board while pressing the connection pad forming surface against the edge with the elastic component; and, removing the elastic component after the metal-joining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nakamura, Takahiro Sakai, Masahiko Katoh, Yasushi Inoue, Tetsuya Nakatsuka, Satoshi Kaneko, Masashi Okubo
  • Patent number: 8665566
    Abstract: A method of assembling a head stack assembly of a magnetic storage drive is provided. The method includes attaching a flexible printed circuit (FPC) with a suspension tail of a head gimbal assembly, wherein the suspension tail includes a plurality of discrete segments positioned within a bonding area and other portions of a structural layer outside of the bonding area, and pressing tail bond pads of the suspension tail against corresponding ones of FPC bond pads of the FPC by bringing a single flat surface of a thermode in contact with each of the discrete segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tzong-Shii Pan, Yih-Jen D. Chen
  • Patent number: 8611052
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an alignment comb and a subassembly of a head stack assembly for a hard disk drive using the alignment comb. The subassembly includes a flexible printed circuit (FPC) having a plurality of first apertures, a flexure configured to be coupled to the FPC, the flexure having a second aperture configured to overlap a corresponding one of the first apertures, and an alignment comb including a plurality of fingers configured to align the FPC with the flexure, the plurality of fingers being spaced apart in a first direction and a finger of the plurality of fingers configured to extend into the corresponding one of the first apertures and the second aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tzong-Shii Pan, Shufun Ho
  • Patent number: 8605390
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a suspension, a head, and a conductor trace on the suspension, including one end portion electrically connected to the head and the other end portion includes a terminal area. The conductor trace includes a thin metal plate, a base insulating layer on the thin metal plate, a trace pattern on the base insulating layer, including a plurality of conductors and a plurality of first and second connection terminals continuous with the conductors, and a cover insulating layer on the base insulating layer, configured to cover the trace pattern. The terminal area includes an opening including two opposite side edges, the first connection terminals extend into the opening from one of the side edges thereof, and the second connection terminals extend into the opening from the other side edge thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takafumi Kikuchi, Yasutaka Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8576676
    Abstract: A flexible cable is provided. The flexible cable includes a base film having a band shape, a plurality of wiring layers disposed on the base film and extending in one direction, and a plurality of elasticity-adjusting patterns attached to a portion of the base film and partially adjusting the elasticity of the flexible cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Korea Corporation
    Inventors: Young-bin Kim, Young-sun Jung
  • Patent number: 8553366
    Abstract: An actuator pivot bearing is disposed at least partially within a bore in the body of a disk drive head actuator. The actuator pivot bearing includes a lubricant wetting a first surface, and a coating on a second surface. The coating has a surface energy such that the lubricant does not wet the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick J. Hanke
  • Patent number: 8547663
    Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting board; an insulating layer formed on the metal supporting board having an opening penetrating in the thickness direction formed therein; and a conductive pattern formed on the insulating layer including an external-side terminal electrically connected to an external board. The external-side terminal is filled in the opening of the insulating layer. In the metal supporting board, a support terminal electrically insulated from the surrounding metal supporting board and electrically connected to the external-side terminal is provided. The suspension board with circuit includes a metal plating layer formed below the support terminal and an electrically-conductive layer interposed between the support terminal and the metal plating layer having a thickness of 10 nm or more to 200 nm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventor: Yuu Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8526141
    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 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 components, respectively, wherein the U-shaped components is elastically deformed in such a way that the pair of edge components come closer together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsumura, Takao Suzuki, Tomoki Hiramatsu, Kohji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8514523
    Abstract: A flexible-printed-circuit (FPC) voice-coil assembly configured for integration in a voice-coil motor. The FPC voice-coil assembly includes at least one FPC voice coil. The FPC voice coil includes a coil including at least one coil turn, and a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate is coupled to the coil to form a flexible printed circuit. The FPC voice coil is configured for integration in a voice-coil motor. A voice-coil motor and a disk drive including the FPC voice-coil assembly are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kenji Suzuki, Mutsuro Ohta, Takaaki Deguchi, Fu-Ying Huang, Shinsuke Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8508889
    Abstract: An electrical connection structure connects a piezoelectric element to a flexure with a conductive adhesive. An electrode surface is formed on the piezoelectric element, and a terminal surface is formed on the wiring member and is smoother than the electrode surface. A gold plate layer is formed on the terminal surface and is connected to the electrode surface with the conductive adhesive. At least one recess is formed by laser processing on the conductive terminal surface layer. The electrical connection structure substantially equalizes the surface roughness of the terminal surface with the gold plate layer to that of the electrode surface, improves a bonding strength on the terminal surface nearly to that on the electrode surface, enhances the reliability of electrical connection between the electrode surface and the terminal surface, maintains electrical characteristics of the terminal surface, and prevents contamination around the terminal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuhiro Kin
  • Patent number: 8493728
    Abstract: To reduce vibration in the rotation direction acting on the hard disk drive with a part of the hard disk drive as the rotation center. The disk unit comprises a hard disk drive comprising a drive mechanism which rotates and drives a plurality of disk media, an arm rotatably supported on a pivot and placed as movable in the rotation area of the disk media, and an actuator which performs positioning control of the magnetic head fixed to the arm to a target position on the disk media, a frame supporting the hard disk drive, and a dynamic absorber placed in the hard disk drive or in the frame, wherein the dynamic absorber absorbs vibration in the rotation direction acting on the hard disk drive with a part of the hard disk drive as the rotation center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Wada, Toshihiro Arisaka, Daisuke Matsuka
  • Patent number: 8472145
    Abstract: An arm coil assembly includes a drive arm having at least two grounding pins formed on a mounting region thereof and a voice coil fixed on the tailing end of the drive arm for controlling the drive arm. The grounding pins are provided for electrically connecting with a flexible printed cable assembly by extending through at least two mounting holes formed on the flexible printed cable assembly. Each grounding pin has a slot formed thereon to clamp the flexible printed cable assembly. The arm coil assembly of the present invention having grounding pins with slot structure to clamp the flexible printed cable assembly which is mounted on the drive arm to form an arm flexible cable assembly, thus, the flexible printed cable assembly can be pre-mounted onto the arm coil assembly without using any additional fixtures or tools, therefore simplifying the mounting process and reducing the manufacturing cost thereof. The invention also discloses an arm flexible cable assembly and a disk drive unit including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd
    Inventors: Yiusing Ho, Canhua Chen, Guohong Lu
  • Patent number: 8467151
    Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head actuated over the disk, a preamp, and an interconnect for coupling the head to the preamp. The interconnect comprises a first transmission line stacked with a second transmission line, and a dielectric between the first transmission line and second transmission line. The transmission lines form an approximation of at least one inductor/capacitor ladder network and an approximation of at least one inductor/capacitor lattice network. The lattice network comprises a first leg and a second leg, and a cross-over hub for interconnecting the first leg and the second leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Huber
  • Patent number: 8467153
    Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for a disk drive includes a read head and a suspension assembly. The suspension assembly includes a load beam and a laminate flexure. The laminate flexure includes a structural layer, a dielectric layer, and a conductive layer. The laminate flexure includes a tongue portion that connects to the read head and a flexure tail that extends away from the tongue portion. The flexure tail includes a plurality of flexure bond pads. Each of the plurality of flexure bond pads is folded upon itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tzong-Shii Pan, Fernando A. Magsombol
  • Patent number: 8462466
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Huber
  • Patent number: 8446696
    Abstract: A suspension for a head gimbal assembly comprises a flexure having a flexure having a tail with a plurality of electrical traces and a plurality of bonding terminals adapted for connecting with a flexible printed circuit formed thereon. Each of the bonding terminals comprises a connecting pad and a hole formed at one end of the connecting pad for electrically and mechanically connecting the connecting pad to the flexible printed circuit by bonding material. And the connecting pad has a bonding portion adjacent to the hole and an exposed portion for testing. The invention also discloses a head gimbal assembly and a disk drive unit with the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Xianwen Feng, Jugang Zhang, Tan Tian
  • Patent number: 8427787
    Abstract: A hard disk drive of the invention comprises a housing comprising a base and a cover; at least one disk for storage of data within the housing; an actuator for reading and recording of the data on the at least one disk; and an electrical connector extending through an exiting portion of the base. The exiting portion comprises a recessed portion within the base providing an enlarged opening through which the electrical connector may exit the hard disk drive without direct constraint by the base. The electrical connector also provides electrical contact between electronics external to the housing and one or more component within the hard disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: entrotech, inc.
    Inventor: James E. McGuire, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8426738
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) of a spindle motor. The flexible PCB includes a solder part, an upper reinforcing plate, a lower reinforcing plate, and a soldering part. The solder part has a through hole so that a coil extending from a stator core passes through the solder part, and has a separation part which is open or closed only in one direction along with the through hole. The upper reinforcing plate supports the upper portion of the separation part. The lower reinforcing plate supports the lower portion of the solder part, and has an elliptical through hole which partially overlaps with the through hole so that the coil passes through the lower reinforcing plate. The soldering part is formed to enable the coil to be secured to the solder part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Sup Shin, Bum Cho Kim
  • Patent number: 8422174
    Abstract: An HSA comprises at least an HGA, a controlling circuit for controlling the HGA, and an actuator coil assembly comprising at least one top surface for mounting the HGA and a side surface for mounting the controlling circuit. The HGA has a first connection region parallel to the top surface, the first connection region has multiple first terminal pads formed thereon; the controlling circuit has a second connection region with multiple second terminal pads formed thereon, the second terminal pads are arranged in at least one row which is parallel to the top surface and the side surface, the first terminal pads are bonding to the corresponding second terminal pads to implement an electrical connection. The HSA has a compact structure as so to save space, and the connection way of the HGA and the controlling circuit is simple and solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yiusing Ho, Canhua Chen, Guohong Lu
  • Patent number: 8385023
    Abstract: A printed circuit cable assembly (PCCA) for a hard disk drive (HDD) is disclosed. The PCCA includes a stiffener portion having an elongated shape that includes an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The PCCA also includes a flexible portion extending from the elongated stiffener portion, wherein the PCCA is configured to be mountable on a headstack of the HDD such that an entire footprint of the IC chip overlays a metallic portion of the headstack of the HDD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Ramlah Binte Abdul Razak