Multi-actuator interconnector

• US 10,593,358 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2019
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Kraus, Maxwell Reese, Resh, Roger A., Motzko, Andrew R., Mewes, Michael Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brian E
• Application Number:
  US16/552,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20190385639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 203 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4813 Mounting or aligning of arm assemblies, e.g. actuator arm supported by bearings, multiple arm assemblies, arm stacks or multiple heads on single arm G11B5/484 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5578 Multiple actuators addressing the same disk, e.g. to improve data rate or access rate

Abstract

A data storage device includes a first actuator and a second actuator rotatable around a common axis. The data storage device further includes a first electrical connector configured to communicate electrical signals to and from the first actuator via a first flexible circuit. The data storage device further includes a second electrical connector separate from but in a stacked arrangement with the first electrical connector. The second electrical connector is configured to communicate electrical signals to and from the second actuator via a second flexible circuit.

Claims

1. A data storage device comprising:

a first actuator and a second actuator rotatable around a common axis;

a first electrical connector configured to communicate electrical signals to and from the first actuator via a first flexible conductive ribbon extending between the first electrical connector and the first actuator; and

a second electrical connector separate from but in a vertically stacked arrangement with the first electrical connector, the second electrical connector configured to communicate electrical signals to and from the second actuator via a second flexible conductive ribbon that is physically separate from the first flexible conductive ribbon and that extends between the second electrical connector and the second actuator.

2. The data storage device of claim 1, further comprising a support assembly coupled to the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector, the support assembly being configured to secure the first electrical connector and the second connector.

3. The data storage device of claim 2, wherein the support assembly comprises a first support member and a second support member coupled to and configured to secure the first and second electrical connectors.

4. The data storage device of claim 2, further comprising a spacing member located between the first support member and the second support member.

5. The storage device of claim 4, wherein the spacing member is configured to maintain a spacing between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector.

6. The data storage device of claim 1, further comprising a hermetically-sealed body, the hermetically-sealed body including a base deck and a top cover, wherein the second electrical connector is configured to send and receive electrical signals to and from the first actuator and the second actuator through a single aperture in the hermetically-sealed body.

7. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the second electrical connector is configured to communicate electrical signals to and from the second actuator, the first electrical connector, and circuitry located outside of the body through a single aperture in the body.

8. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator operate independently of each other.

9. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is located at a different elevation than the second actuator and wherein the first electrical connector is located at a different elevation than the second electrical connector.

10. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector have a substantially identical profile.

11. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector each have a set of conductive pins.

12. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector is electrically coupled between the first actuator and the second electrical connector.

13. The data storage device of claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector is electrically coupled to the second electrical connector via a flexible circuit.

14. A data storage device comprising:

a base deck;

a first actuator and a second actuator rotatable with respect to the base deck around a common axis;

a support assembly including a first support member and a second support member;

a first electrical connector compressed at least partially between the first support member and the second support member; and

a second electrical connector at least partially compressed between the second support member and the base deck.

15. The data storage device of claim 14, further comprising a spacing member positioned between the first support member and the second support member.

16. The data storage device of claim 14, further comprising a flexible circuit electrically coupled between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector.

17. The data storage device of claim 16, wherein the flexible circuit wraps at least partially around the first support member.

18. The data storage device of claim 16, further comprising a first flexible conductive ribbon electrically coupling the first electrical connector and the first actuator and further comprising a second flexible conductive ribbon electrically coupling the second electrical connector to the second actuator.

19. The data storage device of claim 14, wherein the second electrical connector has more conductive pins than the first electrical connector.

20. The data storage device of claim 14, wherein the second electrical connector extends at least partially within an aperture in the base deck.