Gimbal flexure and electrical interconnect assembly
First Claim
1. A method of manufacture for a gimbal flexure and electrical interconnect assembly for attachment to a disk drive suspension assembly which positions a floating head assembly over selected tracks on the surface of a rotating data storage device, wherein said suspension assembly includes a load beam having a first surface and a distal end portion shaped and arranged for supporting a gimbal flexure, the method of manufacture, comprising:
- manufacturing a set of traces out of a single layer sheet of spring material, the set of traces including one or more elongated substrateless low-profile conductors, the set of traces having a load beam portion shaped and arranged to extend over and to match the surface topology of at least a section of the first surface of the load beam, and a gimbal portion located at a distal end of the set of traces shaped and arranged as a gimbal flexure means for mechanically coupling with the distal end portion of the load beam, providing gimballing support for the floating head assembly, and electrically coupling to electrical terminals on the head assembly;
coating at least part of the set of traces with a thin dielectric material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for manufacturing a head suspension including separately manufacturing a load beam and a set of traces. The traces are formed from a sheet of conductive material and include an elongated conductor portion and a gimbal portion. Portions of the traces which are configured to be mounted to the load beam are coated with dielectric before being mounted to the load beam. The gimbal portion of the traces provides both mechanical and electrical connections to the conductor portion.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of manufacture for a gimbal flexure and electrical interconnect assembly for attachment to a disk drive suspension assembly which positions a floating head assembly over selected tracks on the surface of a rotating data storage device, wherein said suspension assembly includes a load beam having a first surface and a distal end portion shaped and arranged for supporting a gimbal flexure, the method of manufacture, comprising:
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manufacturing a set of traces out of a single layer sheet of spring material, the set of traces including one or more elongated substrateless low-profile conductors, the set of traces having a load beam portion shaped and arranged to extend over and to match the surface topology of at least a section of the first surface of the load beam, and a gimbal portion located at a distal end of the set of traces shaped and arranged as a gimbal flexure means for mechanically coupling with the distal end portion of the load beam, providing gimballing support for the floating head assembly, and electrically coupling to electrical terminals on the head assembly; coating at least part of the set of traces with a thin dielectric material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of manufacture for a head suspension assembly for positioning a head assembly over a rotating data storage device and for transmitting electrical signals to and from the head assembly, said method of manufacture, comprising the steps of:
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providing a head assembly having a slider transducer and a plurality of electrical terminals; manufacturing a suspension assembly including a load beam having a first surface and a distal end portion shaped and arranged for supporting a gimbal flexure; manufacturing a set of traces out of a single layer sheet of spring material, the set of traces including one or more pre-shaped elongated substrateless low-profile conductors, the set of traces having a load beam portion shaped and arranged to extend over and to match the surface topology of at least a section of the first surface of the load beam, and a gimbal portion located at a distal end of the set of traces shaped and arranged as a gimbal flexure means for mechanically coupling with the distal end portion of the load beam, providing gimballing support for the floating head assembly, and electrically coupling to the electrical terminals on the head assembly; coating at least part of the set of traces with a thin dielectric material; attaching the set of traces to the load beam, forming an interconnect/suspension assembly; attaching the head assembly to the gimbal portion of the set of traces; and electrically coupling the gimbal portion of the set of traces to the electrical terminals on the head assembly.
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Specification