FLY CAPABLE SLIDER TEST SOCKET

• US 20120008226A1
• Filed: 08/09/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xyratex Technology Limited (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Xyratex Technology Limited (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Boutaghou, Zine-Eddine, Crane, Peter, Goglia, Peter R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,300,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/31
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/455 Arrangements for functional testing of heads; Measuring arrangements for heads

Abstract

The present application is directed to a slider supporting apparatus for flying a slider of a hard disk drive in the manufacturing process to provide electrical performance characteristics. The present invention discloses an integrated design including the electrical interconnect, the gimballing mechanism, the preload mechanism and the slider supporting mechanism integrated into a single supporting structure.

Claims

1. A head suspension assembly for a slider tester, comprising:

a load stem having a first end affixed to a preload spring assembly;

a gimbal assembly affixed to a second end of the load stem;

a socket coupled to the gimbal assembly, the socket adapted to releasably secure a slider through a closed curved spring beam wherein a surface of a dimple of the gimbal assembly transfers a preload from the load stem to a surface of the socket; and

an electrical interconnect adapted to couple to the slider when the slider is secured in the socket, wherein the electrical interconnect includes flexible electrical contacts having a contact surface that is substantially parallel to a contact surface of solder pads, the solder pads operable to transport signals from the slider to remote circuitry.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the flexible electrical contacts is configured in a u shaped spring configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the socket includes a contact region formed on the closed curved spring beam and wherein the contact region biases the slider against the electrical interconnect.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the socket includes a plurality of closed curved beam springs in a stacked configuration, the plurality of closed curved beam springs configured to apply a preload onto the slider.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the socket includes openings to constrain movement the socket during the slider insertion and release.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the socket includes locating features for pinning the socket to a fixture plate for loading and unloading the slider.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the closed curved spring beam is shaped so that a middle part is convex to provide flexibility under load and wherein the closed curved spring beam has a single curve.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the preload spring assembly is limited to deflection in a single dimension

9. A head suspension assembly for a slider tester, comprising:

a suspension load beam assembly including a load beam and a gimbal;

a socket coupled to the gimbal, the socket adapted to releasably secure a slider with a closed curved spring beam; and

an electrical interconnect adapted to couple to the slider when the slider is secured in the socket, wherein the electrical interconnect includes outer rigid electrical contacts and inner flexible electrical contacts, the inner flexible electrical contacts having a contact surface that is substantially parallel to a contact surface of solder pads, the solder pads operable to transport signals from the slider to remote circuitry.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the contact surface of the solder pads is substantially orthogonal to a top surface of outer rigid electrical contacts.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the socket includes a contact region formed on the closed curved spring beam and wherein the contact region urges the slider against the flexible electrical interconnect.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the socket includes a plurality of closed curved beam springs in a stacked configuration, the plurality of closed curved beam springs configured to apply a preload onto the slider.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the socket includes openings to constrain the socket during the slider insertion and release.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the closed curved spring beam extends around a periphery of at least three sides of the slider and wherein the closed curved spring beam has a single continuous curve in a form of an arc.

15. An assembly for a slider tester, comprising:

a socket assembly adapted to releasably secure a slider through a closed curved spring beam wherein a surface of a dimple of a gimbal assembly coupled to the socket assembly transfers a preload from a load stem to a surface of the socket; and

an electrical interconnect adapted to couple to the slider when the slider is secured in the socket, wherein the electrical interconnect includes flexible electrical contacts having a contact surface that is substantially parallel to a contact surface of solder pads, the solder pads operable to transport signals from the slider to remote circuitry through the flexible electrical contacts.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the contact surface of the solder pads is substantially parallel to an axis of the load stem.

17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein each of the flexible electrical contacts are mounted on a spring.

18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein each flexible electrical contact is isolated by an insulator.

19. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the flexible electrical contacts are disposed between outer rigid electrical contacts.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein alignment pins are disposed outside each of the outer rigid electrical contacts, and wherein the alignment pins are electrically isolated from the outer rigid electrical contacts.