Electrical Connection Detail Onto Actuator Arm Patents (Class 360/264.2)
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Publication number: 20100123976Abstract: An actuator for supporting data transfer elements includes an arm, a flexible circuit assembly and a sensor. The flexible circuit assembly includes a stiffener having a mount feature and a turnaround feature. The flexible circuit assembly also includes a flexible cable having a plurality of conductive traces for electrically connecting the data transfer elements to circuitry. The flexible cable has a service loop portion, a mounting portion coupled to the mount feature of the stiffener and a turnaround portion coupled to the turnaround feature of the stiffener. The turnaround portion is configured to couple the mounting portion to the service loop portion. The sensor is in contact with a surface of the arm and is electrically coupled to the flexible cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2008Publication date: May 20, 2010Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Rick Pfahl Freeman, Neal Frank Gunderson, Andrew Robert Motzko, Erik Jon Lindquist
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Patent number: 7706107Abstract: The present invention includes a flexible printed circuit bracket including a crash stop rubber and/or an air block. The air block directs the air flow from the rotating disk surface(s) away from the head gimbal assemblies to minimize positional variance of the read-write heads. The crash stop rubber contacts the crash stop stub on the actuator arm block, stopping actuator assembly swinging away from the disk. The invention includes making an actuator assembly with the invention's flexible printed circuit bracket, as well as making the hard disk drive. The invention includes both the actuator assembly and the hard disk drive as the products of these processes. The invention also includes the actuator assembly and the hard disk drive containing the invention's flexible printed circuit bracket.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2004Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: PACECO Corp.Inventors: Gregory Tran, Tho Pham, Shiao-Hua Chen, Joseph Chang
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Patent number: 7697276Abstract: An exemplary fixing apparatus is for mounting a hard disk drive (HDD) having a plurality of holes defined in sidewalls and includes a bracket, a clip, and a plurality of fixing pins. The bracket includes an end plate, and a pair of side plates extending from opposite ends of the end plate respectively. The side plates are capable of being flexed away from each other for allowing the HDD to be placed therebetween. The clip is pivotably attached to one side plate and detachably locked with the other side plate. The fixing pins are attached to the side plates to engage in the holes of the HDD.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2007Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Wen-Tang Peng, Guang-Yi Zhang, Zhe Zhang
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Publication number: 20100085665Abstract: Method and apparatus for attenuating resonances in a flex circuit which interconnects a stationary element and a moveable element, such as a connector and a head stack assembly (HSA) in a data storage device. An intermediary portion of the flex circuit forms a dynamic loop between the stationary element and the moveable element. A damper member is attached to the flex circuit so as to continuously extend adjacent the stationary element and along less than an overall extent of the dynamic loop. The damper member attenuates resonances excited in the flex circuit during movement of the moveable element.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2008Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventor: Aaron Steve Macpherson
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Patent number: 7684182Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a data storage device with a plurality of mounting holes defined in sidewalls thereof includes a first bracket, a second bracket, and a latch member. The first bracket includes a side sheet and a base sheet perpendicularly connected thereto. The second bracket includes a side sheet, and a base sheet perpendicularly connected thereto. The base sheet of the second bracket is pivotally attached to the base sheet of the first bracket. The latch member is slidably attached to the base sheet of the first bracket and engages with the base sheet of the second bracket. A plurality of fixing pins extends from the side sheets of the first bracket and the second bracket, corresponding to the mounting holes of the data storage device.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2008Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Guang-Yi Zhang, Xiao-Zheng Li, Jian Fu
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Publication number: 20100067150Abstract: A method of utilizing a solder reflow channel in the formation of a hard disk drive is disclosed. The method provides a first hard disk drive component having at least one solder reflow channel, the at least one solder reflow channel for retaining a predeposited solder material. The solder reflow channel is utilized to provide a solder location for coupling the first hard disk drive component and a second hard disk drive component to the predeposited solder material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2008Publication date: March 18, 2010Inventors: Iraj KAVOSH, Russell D. Moates, Jorge Rubio
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Patent number: 7675713Abstract: A head suspension for a hard disk drive has a base attached to a carriage of the hard disk drive and is turned around a spindle. A load beam includes a rigid part and a resilient part which applies load onto a head at a front end of the load beam to write and read data to and from a disk arranged in the hard disk drive. The rigid part is supported to the base through the resilient part. A flexure is attached to at least the rigid part of the load beam and has read/write wiring patterns connected to the head. A recessed portion or a through-hole portion is formed in at least one of the load beam and the base for avoiding vibration contact of the flexure.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2006Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hidenori Ogawa, Toshiki Ando
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Patent number: 7672082Abstract: A flexible wiring board for a magnetic head assembly is provided. The flexible wiring board includes a wiring pattern connected to a head body at one end and to an external circuit system at the other end, an insulation protection film that protects the wiring pattern, and a base composed of a metal that extends over the insulation protection film and the wiring pattern. The base has a guide through hole that functions as a guide for bending the base. The guide through hole has a plurality of notches disposed at different positions in a length direction of the base. The notches reduce a remaining width of the base in a bend width direction of the base.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2006Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: TDK CorporationInventor: Michiharu Motonishi
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Patent number: 7667931Abstract: A head stack assembly of a disk drive has a hub including a side margin defining a channel for carrying VCM conductors at least partially around an angular offset such that the conductors are contained within a peripheral outline of the hub and the conductors can extend completely within an overmolding thickness. A first portion of a flexible interconnection biases against a side margin of the hub such that a rotation of the HSA causes a length of the first portion to change. A floating portion of length of the flexible extension follows a semicircular path between a first contact position on the hub and a second contact position on the support surface such that a floating loop diameter is defined between the contact positions. The hub and the support surface can be configured for changing the floating loop diameter with rotation to vary resilient biasing torque to the HSA.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2006Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Inventors: David D. Brause, Brian L. Rappel, Chad A. Bogacz
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Patent number: 7661189Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for adjusting static attitude of a thin film magnetic head attached to a flexure of a head arm assembly. The apparatus has an adjusting unit for bending the flexure, a laser emitter unit for irradiating a laser beam to a bent area of the flexure a measuring unit for measuring a static attitude angle of the thin film magnetic head, and a computer system including a CPU and a memory unit in which adjustment conditions corresponding to static attitude angles of the thin film magnetic head are previously ranked and memorized. The CPU is configured to retrieve from the memory unit a particular adjustment condition corresponding to a measured angle supplied from the measuring unit and supply the retrieved adjustment condition to the adjusting unit, enabling the adjusting unit to bend the flexure based on the retrieved adjustment condition supplied from the computer system.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2006Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Osamu Shindo, Toru Mizuno, Takao Torii
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Publication number: 20100027166Abstract: A method of reducing oscillation at the read write element of a hard disk drive, is described. In one embodiment, a flex cable for conducing data signals from a head stack assembly to a connector is provided. One or more weights are then coupled with the flex cable at one or more predetermined locations. The one or more predetermined locations are selected based upon mass distribution along the flex cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2008Publication date: February 4, 2010Inventors: Fu-Ying Huang, Jr-Yi Shen, Jifang Tian
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Patent number: 7652849Abstract: A positioning structure for a flexible cable having a movable portion is provided. In one embodiment, an FPC cable mounted to a base is received within a slit of a fixing plate. The FPC cable is disposed perpendicularly to a bottom surface of a base. On the fixing plate is provided a positioning reference which is spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom surface of the base. When the FPC cable is received into the slit, a part thereof is pushed against the bottom surface of the base to create an elastic force. An upper portion of a reinforcing plate affixed to the FPC cable for reinforcement comes into abutment against the positioning reference to establish a vertical position of the FPC cable.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2006Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Hirofumi Nozaki, Hiroki Kitahori, Hiroshi Matsuda
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Patent number: 7649718Abstract: The present invention is a dampening device for a flex circuit of a disk drive. The dampening device engages the flex circuit to alter is vibrational effect generated by the moment of the flex circuit that adversely affects post seek oscillations performance of the drive. The dampening device lowers the first resonant frequency of the flex circuit and reduces the magnitude of the post seek off track oscillations.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2005Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventor: John Robert Edwards
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Patent number: 7649717Abstract: Embodiments suppress a fluttering phenomenon of a wiring structure portion for signal transmission between a head and an FPC. In one embodiment, an actuator has a support portion which accommodates a wiring structure portion. The wiring structure portion is provided at a rear end portion thereof with a wide tab, the tab having pads for connection with the FPC. The support portion has a convex wall portion formed so as to overlap a front end portion of the tab. An air current occurs at an end portion of a magnetic disk in the vertical direction. When the head accesses a track present on the inner periphery side of the magnetic disk, the tab approaches the disk end portion. Since the convex wall portion protects the tab against the air current, it is possible to suppress fluttering of the wiring structure portion and improve the head positioning accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2005Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Satoshi Hayakawa, Kohichi Takeuchi, Takeshi Chawanya, Eiji Soga
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Patent number: 7646567Abstract: A FOS is provided for electrically connecting a data transfer head with a PCCA. The FOS comprises a polymeric layer supporting an electrical trace. The electrical trace comprises an uninsulated pad surface configured for electrically engaging a solder interconnect of the PCCA. The polymeric layer comprises a continuous portion covering the pad and opposing the pad surface. A method is provided comprising providing the FOS comprising the electrical trace and the polymeric covering, contactingly engaging the pad surface portion of the trace with the solder interconnect portion of the PCCA, and conducting heat through the polymeric covering to reflow the solder interconnect, thereby electrically connecting the FOS to the PCCA.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2005Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: David Daniel Backlund, Rick Pfahl Freeman, Andrew Robert Motzko, Erik Jon Lindquist
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Publication number: 20090290262Abstract: A carriage arm assembly includes: a carriage arm that holds a head slider and a head IC communicating with the head slider and has a first engagement part between the head slider and the head IC; a signal relay member that are provided on the carriage arm and relays signals between the head slider and the head IC; and a presser member that has a second engagement part engaged with the first engagement part and is attached to the carriage arm by engaging the first and second engagement parts with each other, the signal relay member being held by a projection provided in one of the carriage arm and the presser member and a recess that is provided in the other and is engaged with the projection.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2009Publication date: November 26, 2009Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventor: Yasuo Suzuki
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Patent number: 7616408Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) with an efficient connection between a flexible printed circuit and an actuator arm. The structure includes a flexible printed circuit having the flexible printed circuit and a stiffener for supporting the flexible printed circuit, and an actuator arm to which the flexible printed circuit is connected. An alignment hole, an alignment pin inserted into the alignment hole, a guide groove having one opened side, and a guide protrusion fitted into the guide groove are formed in the flexible printed circuit and the actuator arm, and the alignment hole and the alignment pin are fixed to each other through a soldering process.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2005Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Byoung-gyou Choi, Ki-tag Jeong
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Patent number: 7606005Abstract: An actuator of a hard disk drive (HDD). The actuator includes an actuator arm installed to be rotatably connected to a base plate of the HDD and having a pivot hole, a VCM (voice coil motor) coil connected to a rear portion of the actuator arm, upper and lower yokes respectively installed upper and lower the VCM coil, a VCM motor having a magnet provided therebetween; and a flexible printed circuit for driving the actuator. Here, a boss is formed at the actuator arm to be face the base plate and to be connected to the flexible printed circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2005Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Sang-chul Shin
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Patent number: 7600310Abstract: A method for mounting a head stack assembly (HSA) circuit assembly is disclosed. A flexible circuit substrate may be coupled to a stiffener. The stiffener may be a metal, such as aluminum, or some other stiff and durable material. The flexible circuit substrate may be made of an organic material and may have a series of electronic leads embedded in the flexible circuit substrate. The flexible substrate may be coupled to the stiffener by an adhesive or laminated onto the stiffener. The stiffener may be mounted onto the actuator arm by soldering or by laser welding.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2006Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Lts.Inventors: Yiu Sing Ho, Hiroshi Fukaya, Kam Fung Yip, Satoshi Yamaguchi, Jeffery L. Wang, Can Hua Chen
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Patent number: 7538981Abstract: There is provided a head stack assembly (HSA) for a disk drive. The head stack assembly includes an actuator, a flex cable attached to the actuator, and a head gimbal assembly (HGA) attached to the actuator. The HGA includes a read head and a flexure attached to the read head. The flexure includes a dielectric layer and a plurality of patterned conductive traces on the dielectric layer. The flexure terminates in a flexure tail including a flexure tail hole. The flexure tail includes at least three fingers that project radially inward into the flexure tail hole. There is also provided methods of attaching the flex cable assembly to the flexure.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2006Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Tzong-Shii Pan
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Patent number: 7525768Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrically coupling a slider to a controller circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pre-amplifier with an integrated electrical connector (I-connector) may be connected via an electrical trace to a slider and via a head stack assembly flexible circuit to a control circuit. The pre-amplifier may have two parallel series of spring probe claws, two parallel series of contact pegs, two slots, or a slot and a rotary cam.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2006Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.Inventors: Li Xing Wu, Yiu Sing Ho, Jeffery L. Wang, Liu Jun Zhang
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Patent number: 7525767Abstract: In a hard disk drive, suspension termination pads meet the flex cable termination pads at an intersecting angle. The width of these pads is approximately the same width as the conductor widths. Alignment robustness is attained by choosing an intersection angle that coincides to the arc that the wireless suspension termination pad array normally traverses during alignment.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventor: A. David Erpelding
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Patent number: 7522384Abstract: A method for mounting a head stack assembly (HSA) circuit assembly is disclosed. A flexible circuit substrate may be coupled to a stiffener. The stiffener may be a metal, such as aluminum, or some other stiff and durable material. The flexible circuit substrate may be made of an organic material and may have a series of electronic leads embedded in the flexible circuit substrate. The flexible substrate may be coupled to the stiffener by an adhesive or laminated onto the stiffener. The stiffener may be mounted onto the actuator arm by soldering or by laser welding.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2004Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.Inventors: Yiu Sing Ho, Hiroshi Fukaya, Kam Fung Yip, Satoshi Yamaguchi, Jeffery L. Wang, Can Hua Chen
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Patent number: 7518832Abstract: A coil assembly of a disk device includes a support frame on which a voice coil is fixed and a board unit connected to the support frame. The board unit has a main FPC extending from a base portion and a connecting portion extending from one side of an extended end portion of the main FPC. The connecting portion comprises a first connecting portion which extends in a longitudinal direction of the main FPC and has a plurality of first connection pads, a junction portion extending from the first connecting portion, and a second connecting portion which extends in the longitudinal direction of the main FPC from the junction portion and has a plurality of second connection pads. The first and second connecting portions are fixed to first and second support surfaces, respectively, of the support frame.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2006Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Akitoshi Suzuki
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Patent number: 7497006Abstract: A method for mounting a head slider of the type having terminal pads to a wireless disk drive head suspension flexure including a slider mounting region, lead contact pads, and a deflectable and resilient slider engagement member for releasably mounting a head slider to the slider mounting region. The method includes engaging and deflecting the slider engagement member and positioning the head slider onto the slider mounting region and between the lead contact pads and the slider engagement member while the slider engagement member is deflected. The method further includes disengaging the slider engagement member and causing the slider engagement member to force the head slider into frictional engagement with the lead contact pads and the slider engagement member with the lead contact pads in mechanical and electrical contact with the head slider terminal pads.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Hutchinson Technology IncorporatedInventors: Michael W. Davis, Galen D. Houk, Ajay Sharma, Kia Moh Teo
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Patent number: 7495866Abstract: A fixing member is spaced from a head actuator by a predetermined distance. A flexible printed circuit board extends at least from the head actuator to the fixing member. The flexible printed circuit board is superposed on the surface of the fixing member. A viscoelastic layer and a protecting layer are overlaid on the surface of the flexible printed circuit board. A clip clips all the fixing member, the flexible printed circuit board, the viscoelastic layer and the protecting layer together. When a head slider is positioned, the head actuator changes its attitude relative to a recording disk. The inertial force based on the rotation causes the first flexible printed circuit board to vibrate when the actuator block stops rotating. The viscoelastic layer serves to absorb this residual vibration of the first flexible printed circuit board. Vibration of the flexible printed circuit board can be suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2004Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Mitsuhiro Izumi, Mitsuaki Yoshida, Hisashi Kaneko, Tsuneyori Ino, Yukihiro Komura, Shinji Fujimoto, Kei Funabashi
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Publication number: 20090046391Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrically coupling a slider to a controller circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pre-amplifier with an integrated electrical connector (I-connector) may be connected via an electrical trace to a slider and via a head stack assembly flexible circuit to a control circuit. The pre-amplifier may have two parallel series of spring probe claws, two parallel series of contact pegs, two slots, or a slot and a rotary cam.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2008Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.Inventors: Li Xing Wu, Yiu Sing Ho, Jeffery L. Wang, Liu Jun Zhang
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Publication number: 20090046390Abstract: A hard disk drive has a flexible cable and a flexible cable damper positioned adjacent to but separate from the flexible cable. The damper is a thin film loop with a damper patch that is completely independent of the flexible cable. The damper strip is a non-signal carrying substrate and has the constraint layer attached to it opposite the flexible cable. Both the damper and flexible cable extend in an arcuate configuration from the base to an integrated lead suspension tail extending from the actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2007Publication date: February 19, 2009Inventors: Fu-Ying Huang, Jr-Yi Shen, Jifang Tian
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Patent number: 7492586Abstract: 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 fixing plate, a bracket, and a transverse bar. The bracket includes a second fixing plate, and a bezel assembly attached to a first end of the second fixing plate. Each of the first fixing plate and the second fixing plate include a plurality of fixing members formed at inside walls thereof to engage in the holes of the disk drive. The first fixing plate is pivotally attached to a free end of the bezel assembly. One end of the transverse bar is pivotally attached to a second end of the second fixing plate opposite to the first end and the other end of the transverse bar detachably engages with the first fixing plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2007Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Wen-Tang Peng, Xin-Hu Gong
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Publication number: 20090009912Abstract: A printed circuit cable assembly for top down installation in a disc drive or the like in which a printed circuit cable supporting electrical conductor paths has a body portion, a flex portion and an insertion tab connecting the body portion and flex portion. A PCC support member having a support ramp extending into a slotted gap supports the printed circuit cable with the insertion tab extending into the slotted gap so that the flex portion is extended for attachment to a moveable article, such as the head stack assembly of a disc drive. Preferably, the PCC support member has an indexing bore, and the PCC support member with the supported printed circuit cable is mounted to a support member having an indexing post, the PCC support member positioned so that indexing bore is positioned over the indexing post.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Applicant: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Cheng Siong Chin, Wai Onn Chee
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Patent number: 7453691Abstract: A mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device that has a protrusion protruding from a sidewall thereof includes a mounting board, and a bracket. The mounting board includes a depressed portion for holding the data storage device. The depressed portion includes a first side wall. The bracket includes a leg member with an end pivotably mounted to the first side wall of the depressed portion of the mounting board. A first receiving slot for receiving the protrusion of the data storage device is defined in a bottom of the leg member. A drive portion is formed at a side of the receiving slot away from the end of the leg member, for cooperating with a corresponding protrusion of the data storage device when installing the data storage device.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2006Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Peng Zhao, Chun-Chi Liang, Chien-Li Tsai, Ke-Cheng Lin
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Publication number: 20080225439Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a magnetic head actuator assembly comprises a magnetic head assembly, a suspension for supporting the magnetic head assembly at one end thereof, a circuit board fixed to the suspension at one end thereof for providing a circuit connection to the magnetic head assembly, the circuit board having a plurality of terminals and an engaging portion at the other end thereof and a carriage for supporting the suspension at the other end of the suspension, the carriage having a connecting circuit board having a groove for receiving a part the circuit board where the plurality of terminals are formed, a plurality of connecting terminals, and an engaged portion, wherein the engaging portion of the circuit board is engaged to the engaged portion of the connecting circuit board so as to align the terminals with the connecting terminals, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventor: Yukihiro Komura
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Patent number: 7414814Abstract: A suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a load beam and a flexure. The flexure has a first end including a plurality of bond pads for electrical connection to a slider and a second end having a tail for attachment to a flexible cable. The tail includes a support layer having a free end defining cutouts forming a plurality of peninsula-shaped regions, such that a plane oriented perpendicular to the support layer and disposed between the peninsula-shaped regions and extending beyond the free end of the tail does not cut through any support layer material. An insulating layer may be disposed on the support layer. A connection pad may be disposed on the insulating layer on each of the peninsula-shaped regions. Conductive traces may be disposed on the insulating layer to electrically connect each connection pad to a corresponding bond pad. A head is coupled to the bond pads.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Tzong-Shii Pan
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Patent number: 7414813Abstract: A method and apparatus for damping vibration in a flexible cable for use in a magnetic disk drive apparatus. The vibration damping mitigates resonant oscillation of the flexible cable which would otherwise cause tracking errors by forcing the actuator of the away from the desired data track on a magnetic disk. A layer vibration damping material and one or more electrical leads are enclosed within a surrounding electrical insulator, the damping material being completely enclosed, while the leads have selected portions exposed to allow electrical connection devices.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2003Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventor: Duane Q. Huynh
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Patent number: 7411763Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrically coupling a slider to a controller circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pre-amplifier with an integrated electrical connector (I-connector) may be connected via an electrical trace to a slider and via a head stack assembly flexible circuit to a control circuit. The pre-amplifier may have two parallel series of spring probe claws, two parallel series of contact pegs, two slots, or a slot and a rotary cam.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2004Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.Inventors: Li Xing Wu, Yiu Sing Ho, Jeffery L. Wang, Liu Jun Zhang
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Publication number: 20080180854Abstract: A latching mechanism for a flex cable bracket. The latching mechanism includes a position limiter. The position limiter prevents movement of an actuator assembly installed thereon. The latching mechanism also includes a spring clip. The spring clip has spring functionality and a cantilever beam to retain the actuator assembly when installed thereon. The latching mechanism further includes an orientation position limiter. The orientation position limiter prevents a rocking motion of the actuator assembly. The position limiter and the spring clip and the orientation position limiter are integrated into structure of the flex cable bracket.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Inventors: Jen-Yuan Chang, Ta-Chang Fu, Edgar D. Rothenberg, Russell D. Moates
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Patent number: 7400472Abstract: A guide pin is set in common in first and second voids defined in the peripheries of first and second flexible printed wiring boards. The second void has the shape identical to the shape of the first void. When the guide pin rotates around a rotation axis so as to bring the guide pin in contact with the peripheries of the first and second flexible printed wiring boards inside the first and second voids, the first and second flexible printed wiring boards can be arranged. This leads to arrangement of the first and second flexible printed wiring boards at a time in a facilitated manner.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2006Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Yukihiro Komura, Mitsuhiro Izumi, Hiroshi Ishiyama
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Patent number: 7385788Abstract: A carriage assembly of a hard disk drive is constructed so that the bonding of flying leads of a long tail suspension circuit board and bonding terminals of a flexible printed circuit board can be carried out uniformly and reliably, and the problem of the flying leads breaking when the flying leads are pulled off the bonding terminals does not occur. The flexible printed circuit board is attached to a reinforced part by an adhesive in which spacers with a substantially equal particle diameter are mixed, and the flying leads and the bonding terminals are bonded together by ultrasonic bonding by applying ultrasonic vibration in a state where the flying leads are pressed onto the bonding terminals. In addition, an insulating film is provided on an opposite surface of the flying leads to the surface bonded to the bonding terminals, and during the ultrasonic bonding, ultrasonic vibration is applied in a state where the flying leads are pressed via the insulating film onto the bonding terminals.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2004Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Takashi Kubota, Kenji Kobae
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Patent number: 7370406Abstract: A thin film magnetic head is described, the magnetic head having an insulating layer and a protrusion which has an upper portion and a base portion, and the upper portion has an extended portion. The insulating layer is present under the extending part. A method of manufacturing the magnetic head includes forming a first insulating layer around the lower core layer; simultaneously forming a coil layer by plating the lower core layer with a coil insulating underlayer interposed between the lower coil layer and a coil lead layer connected to the coil layer on the first insulating layer; forming a coil insulating layer of an inorganic material on the coil layer and the coil lead layer; and, simultaneously forming a first plating underlayer for forming an upper core layer by plating, a second plating underlayer on the first coil lead layer exposed through the plating-forming opening, and a current-carrying lead layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2004Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: TDK CorporationInventor: Hisayuki Yazawa
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Patent number: 7372669Abstract: Terminals of a flexible printed circuit board and terminals of a wiring trace in a head suspension assembly are to be connected with each other by soldering without causing a soldering defect. In an embodiment, a terminal structure of a multi-connector in a wiring trace which includes an insulating layer and a conductor pattern portion formed on a surface of the insulating layer is provided with exposed portions of terminals exposed from apertures formed in part of the insulating layer and is also provided with lining portions adjacent to the exposed portions in a longitudinal direction of the conductor pattern portion and bonded to the insulating layer. Even if terminals of the multi-connector are cracked when soldered, not only conductivity is ensured, but also it is possible to strengthen the terminals, because the lining portions of the terminals are bonded to the insulating layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2005Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Takaaki Deguchi, Toshiyuki Katoh, Katsumi Kiguchi, Nobuo Sasaoka, Kohichi Suzuki, Shingo Tsuda
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Patent number: 7362545Abstract: Connecting a head gimbal assembly with a controlling circuit, including the steps of facing connecting terminals of the head gimbal assembly and the connecting terminal of the controlling circuit to contact with each other and fastening the head gimbal assembly with the controlling circuit to maintain a touch connection of the terminals thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2004Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.Inventors: YiuSing Ho, GuoHong Lu, CanHua Chen
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Publication number: 20080088978Abstract: An actuator assembly for a hard disk drive having an actuator arm; a carrier plate of a thermally conductive material mounted onto the actuator arm; a circuitry substrate mounted onto the carrier plate, the substrate comprising a stiffener layer made of conductive material and electrical circuitry; a preamp wire-bond chip bonded to the stiffener layer and contact wires connected between the preamp and the electrical circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2006Publication date: April 17, 2008Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATIONInventors: Voon Yee Ho, Szu-Han Hu
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Patent number: 7355818Abstract: A method for attaching a printed circuit card assembly to an actuator assembly in a disc drive comprises forming one or more pins integrally with the actuator assembly, inserting each pin through a corresponding pin opening in the printed circuit card assembly, and attaching the pins to the printed circuit card assembly. The pins may be attached to the printed circuit card assembly by a soldering process, or alternatively, pressure may be applied to a top surface of the pins to cause them to deform over the printed circuit card assembly, thereby securing the printed circuit card assembly to the actuator assembly. A disc drive in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention has an actuator assembly with one or more integral pins and a printed circuit card assembly attached to the integral pins.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2004Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Dave Paul McReynolds, David Ray Lapp, Frank William Bernett
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Patent number: 7342749Abstract: A method for removing a lead-free solder from a slider pad is provided to permit re-utilization of a head/slider used in a magnetic disk drive. In one embodiment, a slider pad formed on a head/slider and a lead pad are connected to each other through a lead-free solder fillet. A cutting tool is heated beforehand to a temperature near the melting point of the lead-free solder. The cutting tool is moved in parallel with a surface of the slider pad to cut the solder fillet while softening the solder fillet. The solder fillet is removed so as not to impose a stress on the slider pad and in a state in which the head/slider can be re-utilized.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2005Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Nobuyuki Hashi, Yuhsuke Matsumoto, Takuya Satoh, Tatsushi Yoshida
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Publication number: 20080037177Abstract: A recording apparatus including a recording head having an actuator and operable to perform recording on a recording medium by an operation of the actuator, a head holder holding the recording head, a circuit board having a heat-conductive substrate and provided on the head holder, a drive circuit operable to drive the actuator, a flexible wiring member on which the drive circuit is mounted and which connects the circuit board and the actuator such that a signal outputted from the circuit board is transmitted to the actuator via the drive circuit, and a radiator plate provided on the head holder, held in heat conductive contact with the drive circuit, and also held in heat conductive contact with the circuit board.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2007Publication date: February 14, 2008Inventor: Isao Kobayashi
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Publication number: 20080019054Abstract: A head stack assembly of a hard disk drive includes a swing arm having a prong at its leading end, an actuator for rotating the swing arm, and a head gimbal having a head slider including a read/write head for reading/writing data from/onto a disk. The head gimbal supported is supported by the swing arm such that the head slider protrudes from the prong of the swing arm. The swing arm is configured to prevent the head gimbal from being vibrated due to windage. In particular, the swing arm defines a slot in one side of the prong, and a flexure of the head gimbal is received in the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Sung-Chul HUR
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Publication number: 20070279807Abstract: A first flexible printed wiring board is attached to the supported end of a carriage. First terminals are exposed on the first flexible printed wiring board. A second flexible printed wiring board extending from a head slider toward the supported end of the carriage. The second flexible printed wiring board is overlaid on the first flexible printed wiring board. Second terminals are exposed on the second flexible printed wiring board. The second terminals are bonded to the first terminals. A step defines a wall surface facing the edge of the second flexible printed wiring board on the first flexible printed wiring board. A depression is defined on the first flexible printed wiring board. The second flexible printed wiring board is received in the depression, the second terminal can accurately be positioned on the first terminal in a facilitated manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2006Publication date: December 6, 2007Inventors: Hiroaki Kobayashi, Kouichi Tokairin, Hirofumi Suzuki, Hideki Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 7287315Abstract: The present invention provides a measurement apparatus for obtaining a suitable position on a suspension where a more miniature magnetic head slider is to be mounted to the suspension, the apparatus including a front camera having a photographing optical axis within a plane parallel to a plane of extension of a suspension and directed to the suspension, and a side camera having a photographing optical axis within the parallel plane and which is different from that of the front camera. Coordinates of a top portion of a convex surface of a dimple formed in the suspension are obtained with these cameras. The resultant coordinates and coordinates of the deepest portion of a recess surface of the dimple are correlated with each other, whereby in actual mounting of the magnetic head slider, the deepest portion of the recess surface of the dimple which is readily recognized is measured.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2004Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: TDK CorporationInventors: Kenichi Hayami, Masaaki Kaneko
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Patent number: 7245458Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for improving the electrical connection of a hard drive relay flexible circuit assembly to a head-gimbal assembly (HGA) flexure cable. In one embodiment, a flexible circuit assembly is attached to a hard drive coil carriage via a U-shaped connector and is electrically coupled to the HGA flexure cable by a bonding agent, such as an Anisotropic Conductive Film (ACF).Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2004Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.Inventors: Liu Jun Zhang, Guo Hong Lu, Can Hua Chen, Yiu Sing Ho, Jeffery L. Wang
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Patent number: 7227725Abstract: A head stack assembly for a disk drive. The head stack assembly includes an actuator defining an axis of rotation. The actuator includes an actuator arm defining a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the axis of rotation. The actuator includes an actuator body formed of overmolded plastic. The actuator includes first and second locking pins extending from the actuator body orthogonal to the axis of rotation. The flex cable includes a first opening engaged with the first locking pin in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis for retaining the flex cable. The flex cable includes a second opening engaged with the second locking pin in a direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation for retaining the flex cable.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2004Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Inc.Inventors: Ken L. Chang, Chunjer C. Cheng