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.

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.

Abstract: A hard disk drive including a housing, at least one disk mounted to the housing, an actuator mounted to the housing and being movable relative to the at least one disk, a conductive component support coupled with the actuator and extending the first surface, the conductive component support having a support wall attaching the conductive component support to the actuator, and a boss coupled with a first surface of the actuator and the support wall, the boss having a first end facing a flat coil side of the actuator and a second end facing a head gimbal assembly side of the actuator, wherein the first end extends further toward the flat coil side than the conductive component entrance portion of the conductive component support such that a portion of the boss overlaps a portion of the conductive component support.

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.

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.

Abstract: An assembly tool is provided. The assembly tool comprises a body, a first vacuum channel defined within the body, and a first locating pin attached to the body. The first locating pin has a shaft portion arranged within a surrounding portion of the body. The first locating pin is configured to engage a first alignment feature of a hard drive component at a first contact area to align the hard drive component with the assembly tool. The body is configured to couple the first vacuum channel to a vacuum source and to facilitate particle evacuation from the first contact area via the first vacuum channel when a vacuum is applied by the vacuum source.

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.

Abstract: A novel head stack assembly (HSA) includes a flex cable with a first side and an opposing second side, and having a hole therethrough. The HSA also includes a head gimbal assembly (HGA) having a load beam, a laminated flexure attached to the load beam, and a head attached to the laminated flexure. The laminated flexure includes a flexure tail with a snap-through feature. The snap-through feature has a plurality of windows in the flexure tail, a snap-through feature central portion that is centric to the plurality of windows, and a plurality of lobes. Each lobe extends out from the snap-through feature central portion radially into one of the plurality of windows. The laminated flexure overlies and contacts the flex cable on its first side, but the snap-through feature is disposed through the hole so that each of the plurality of lobes contacts the flex cable on its second side.

Abstract: A slider is formed by a three-step ion milling process with an ABS topography that provides aerodynamic stability at sub-nanometer flying heights. The ABS design significantly eliminates the accumulation of lubricant and removes whatever lubricant does accumulate by use of a shallow dam at the trailing edge. In addition, a junction between a down-track channel and a cross-track channel directs airflow towards a center pad in which a transducer is embedded so that the pressure at the pad is enhanced even under high altitude conditions. The slider ABS is divided into two portions by a transverse deep air channel, but the channel is bridged by the cross-track channel which crosses the deep air channel with sides of unequal height. This dual height bridge allows variations in skew angle to be compensated so that pressure variations across the disk tracks are significantly reduced.

Abstract: A novel head stack assembly (HSA) is disclosed and claimed. The HSA includes an actuator including an actuator body and an actuator arm extending from the actuator body, and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) adjacent the actuator body. The FPC includes a slit therethrough. A head gimbal assembly (HGA) is attached to the actuator arm. The HGA includes a load beam, a laminated flexure attached to the load beam, and a head attached to the laminated flexure. The laminated flexure has a flexure tail that includes an intermediate region that is disposed adjacent the actuator arm, and a terminal region that is electrically connected to the FPC. The terminal region is substantially orthogonal to the intermediate region. The intermediate region of the flexure tail extends into the slit, interferes with the slit, and contacts and deforms the FPC adjacent the slit.

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

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

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board has a flexible dynamic region, and relatively rigid static regions between which the dynamic region extends. Portions of a base layer, a patterned conductive layer extending on the base layer, and a cover layer covering the conductive layer make up the dynamic region. Extensions of the base layer, the conductive layer, and the cover layer, and portions of a metal layer to which the base layer is attached make up each of the static regions. The metal layer enhances the rigidity of the flexible printed circuit board at the static regions. The metal layer also has rounded corners at sides of each of the boundaries between the dynamic region and each of the static regions to minimize stress concentrations at the boundaries. The conductive layer is made up of real traces through which electrical signals are transmitted, and dummy traces.

Abstract: A plurality of wiring traces are formed on a base insulating layer, and a metal layer is formed on the opposite surface of the base insulating layer. Two adjacent wiring traces constitute a transmission line pair. The width of the wiring trace is set to not more than 250 ?m, and the distance between the adjacent wiring traces is set to not less than 8 ?m. The thickness of the base insulating layer is selected to cause differential impedance of the transmission line pair to be not less than 10? and not more than 50?.

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

Abstract: A system and method for the production level screening of low flying magnetic heads in the manufacture of disk drive head disk assemblies (HDAs) is disclosed. A test disk is provided and has a plurality of bumps extending from at least one surface thereof. The test disk is rotated to fly a head of a head gimbal assembly selected from the group adjacent the surface of the test disk. An interaction of the head with one or more of the plurality of bumps may be sensed and the head gimbal assembly may be screened out from the group in response to the sensing of the interaction.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for grounding a flexure of a head suspension assembly to a moving support such as an actuator arm or an E block close to a preamplifier, write driver or other wiring such as a flexible circuit located on the moving support in a disk drive assembly, including connecting a metal substrate layer of the flexure to a ground on the moving support closely adjacent the preamplifier or flexible circuit to minimize ground loop interference with signals on the traces. The invention includes a variety of arrangements to secure the metal substrate layer to the moving support.

Abstract: A disc unit includes a head that records information onto and/or reproduces information from a disc, a suspension that includes a top surface and a side surface, and supports the head on the top surface, a flexible printed circuit board attached to the side surface of the suspension through an air gap, the flexible printed circuit board transmitting a signal indicative of the information to and from the head, and a damper that damps oscillation of the flexible printed circuit board.

Abstract: A hard disk drive including a flexible printed circuit (FPC) in which a base layer and a cover layer are arranged with a circuit layer therebetween. In addition, a damping material is coupled at a predetermined portion of the signal patterns in the circuit layer so as to cross the signal patterns. The hard disk drive reduces vibration energy over an entire frequency band to minimize the effect of vibration on servo control and improve the performance of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: A fabricating method effective in affixing FPC with high accuracy, simplifying a supporting mechanism of a head supporting member, avoiding mechanical damage to a load beam or a flexible member and promoting performance of adhering FPC to the load beam. Before bending a load beam included in a head supporting member, FPC is affixed on a face of the head supporting member. Thereafter, the load beam is bent.

Abstract: A head slider is related to an actuator block. A flexible printed circuit board is received on the surface of the actuator block. A head IC is mounted on the surface of the flexible printed circuit board. A heat conductive member is mounted on the head IC. The heat resistance of the heat conductive member is set smaller than that of the flexible printed circuit board. A larger amount of heat can be transmitted from the head IC to the actuator block. The actuator block is made of a metal material such as aluminum. The heat resistance of the actuator block is apparently smaller than that of the flexible printed circuit board. A larger amount of heat can be radiated from the actuator block as compared with the flexible printed circuit board. The head IC is thus reliably prevented from a rise in the temperature.

Abstract: A new fixture which is capable of holding an HSA throughout all processes is invented so that Quasi-Static Test can be done before swaging. Handling operations are reduced and rework is made much easier. The invention further provides a process for testing the HSA by means of the fixture.

Abstract: A load balancing circuit which operates to balance the output voltages of a dual polarity power supply with single polarity voltage regulation. The power supply outputs a positive voltage at a positive voltage with respect to a reference level and a negative voltage with respect to the reference level. The power supply further applies voltage regulation to a selected one of the positive and negative voltages and leaves the remaining one of the positive and negative voltages in an unregulated state. Positive and negative loads are coupled to receive the positive and negative voltages. The load balancing circuit detects a change in impedance of a selected one of the positive and negative loads and applies a corresponding impedance to the power supply to maintain the power supply in a nominally balanced state.

Abstract: A head slider is related to an actuator block. A flexible printed circuit board is received on the surface of the actuator block. A head IC is mounted on the surface of the flexible printed circuit board. A heat conductive member is mounted on the head IC. The heat resistance of the heat conductive member is set smaller than that of the flexible printed circuit board. A larger amount of heat can be transmitted from the head IC to the actuator block. The actuator block is made of a metal material such as aluminum. The heat resistance of the actuator block is apparently smaller than that of the flexible printed circuit board. A larger amount of heat can be radiated from the actuator block as compared with the flexible printed circuit board. The head IC is thus reliably prevented from a rise in the temperature.

Abstract: A disc drive has an improved electrical interconnect assembly mated to a suspension assembly for coupling one or more conductive paths leading from a read/write head to control circuitry located off the suspension assembly. The interconnect assembly has a portion that is located adjacent to and transversely extending from an edge of the suspension assembly located towards the inner diameter of a disc on the disc drive. The suspension optionally includes a cross-over section of the interconnect assembly to electrically couple the head on the suspension to the control circuitry located away from the suspension assembly. Locating the interconnect assembly on the edge of the suspension towards the disc inner diameter reduces windage induced vibrations of the suspension assembly and, consequently, the head.

Abstract: An actuator arm for a disk drive includes a flat sheet of material having a predetermined configuration. This arm lies pivotally mounted to a base of the disk drive; and it supports a coil assembly and cable segments as well as other components such as a pre-amp and a damper. The method of making this actuator arm includes the steps of cutting a flat sheet of material to a predetermined configuration and then securing the various components to it.

Abstract: A hard disk drive is formed of head signal patterns, voltage patterns, a ground pattern, and a current pattern, and characterized in having a flexible printed circuit (FPC) with a hole between the head signal patterns, and the voltage patterns, the ground pattern, and the current pattern. The effect of noise on the head signal patterns is reduced in the provided hard disk drive, and vibration energy at a specific low frequency band is reduced to minimize effects on a servo control and to improve overall performance of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: A hard disk drive including a flexible printed circuit (FPC) in which a base layer and a cover layer are arranged with a circuit layer therebetween. In addition, a damping material is coupled at a predetermined portion of the signal patterns in the circuit layer so as to cross the signal patterns. The hard disk drive reduces vibration energy over an entire frequency band to minimize the effect of vibration on servo control and improve the performance of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: A printed circuit cable (PCC) connector attachment assembly is provided for a disc drive. The PCC connector attachment assembly includes alignment pins and a compressive member. The alignment pins help to align a PCC connector for assembly and help to prevent lateral movement of the PCC connector with respect to the base deck after assembly. In one embodiment, the alignment pins are located on the PCC connector and align with pinholes provided in a base deck of the disc drive. The compressive member has a height selected such that the compressive member pressingly engages the PCC connector when a cover is attached to the base deck with cover screws. Grounding pads are located between the PCC connector and the base deck, so that the grounding pads provide a grounding path from the PCC connector to the base deck.

Abstract: A floppy disk drive comprising a magnetic head, a flexible printed circuit, and a plurality of connecting lands. The magnetic head is adapted to move in a radial direction of a recording medium which is rotated by a spindle motor for recording and reproducing an information on and from the recording medium. The flexible printed circuit is provided on a carrier for moving the magnetic head. The plurality of connecting lands is provided on the flexible printed circuit for respective lead wires which have been drawn out from the magnetic head. The connecting lands are apart from each other and located in a direction where the lead wires are drawn from the magnetic head and the connecting lands are electrically connected to each other. End portions of the lead wires are selectively connected to the connecting lands.

Abstract: An actuator assembly including one or more actuator arms, wherein each of the actuator arms defines a clasp hole and a clamp-opening hole and a slot running between the clasp hole and clamp-opening hole, and optionally, a second slot running from the clasp hole to a distal end of the actuator arm, thereby creating two clasp fingers. A flex suspension assembly is included with a protrusion, such as a boss and a head on a distal end. The flex suspension assembly is coupled to the actuator arm by resiliently increasing the diameter of the clasp hole so as to allow the boss on the flex suspension assembly to be inserted into the clasp hole. With the boss is inserted, the clasp hole is allowed to revert to its original diameter, thereby clamping the boss in the clasp hole. A method for assembly is also provided.

Abstract: In a flexible printed circuit board, a terminal formation portion has a base portion extending a connection portion with a circuit pattern from an end, and a bend portion, bent along a bending line in a direction of insertion into an attachment hole of a printed circuit board, from the base portion, such that terminals are exposed outside. The flexible printed circuit board is attached to the printed circuit board by inserting the bend portion and the base portion into the attachment hole of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A head suspension for supporting a head slider over a rigid disk in a dynamic storage device having a component that includes a compliant feature adapted to engage a first pin and a datum engaging surface spaced from the compliant feature. The component being locatable relative to a datum by manipulation of the component with respect to the datum and a first pin to cause the first pin to engage and deflect the compliant feature when the datum engaging surface of the component is engaged and positioned with respect to the datum. The head suspension also including a second component having a pin engaging feature and possibly a datum engaging surface alignable with the compliant feature and datum engaging surface of the first component, respectively. The pin engaging feature of the second component being compliant or non-compliant.

Abstract: A conductor trace array includes an electrically insulative support substrate and a plurality of pairs of electrical signal conductor traces and a plurality of pairs of passive electrical conductor traces. All of the traces are formed along substantially parallel paths in a single layer on the substrate. Each pair of the electrical signal conductor traces is arranged on the support substrate such that they are positioned in a space defined between each pair of passive electrical conductor traces. As a result, each pair of signal conductor traces has a passive electrical conductor trace positioned immediately adjacent thereto. The passive conductor traces generally follow a geometry of the signal conductor traces and thereby form a capacitive coupling relationship therebetween. This capacitive coupling relationship increases the characteristic impedance of the signal conductor traces.

Abstract: A disk drive having a connection structure between a head and a main flexible printed circuit sheet, allowing a signal to be supplied to and taken out of a head in response to size reduction and thickness reduction of the disk drive. The disk drive includes an actuator arm rotatably mounted in a housing, and a suspension having a base end portion fixed to a front end portion of the actuator arm and a front end portion for supporting the head. The main flexible printed circuit sheet is fixed at its one end portion to the actuator arm. An interconnection flexible printed circuit sheet is mounted along one side surface of the actuator arm so as to extend substantially parallel to the upper surface of the actuator arm, and connects terminals of the suspension and terminals of the main flexible printed circuit sheet.