Hard disk drives with electrical connectors comprising a flexible circuit extending through an opening in the base and related methods
First Claim
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1. A hard disk drive, comprising:
- a housing comprising a base and a cover;
at least one disk for storage of data within the housing;
an actuator for reading and recording of the data on the at least one disk; and
an electrical connector comprising a flexible circuit embedded within the base of the hard disk drive and flexibly extending through an opening in the base and providing electrical contact between electronics external to the housing and one or more components within the hard disk drive.
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Abstract
An improved hard disk drive of the invention comprises a housing, which comprises a base and a cover. The hard disk drive further internally comprises at least one disk for storage of data within the housing and an actuator for reading and recording of the data on the at least one disk. An electrical connector comprising a flexible circuit extends through an opening in the base and provides electrical contact between electronics external to the housing and one or more components within the hard disk drive. Methods for forming the improved hard disk drives are also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hard disk drive, comprising:
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a housing comprising a base and a cover; at least one disk for storage of data within the housing; an actuator for reading and recording of the data on the at least one disk; and an electrical connector comprising a flexible circuit embedded within the base of the hard disk drive and flexibly extending through an opening in the base and providing electrical contact between electronics external to the housing and one or more components within the hard disk drive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A hard disk drive, comprising:
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a housing comprising a base and a cover; at least one disk for storage of data within the housing; an actuator for reading and recording of the data on the at least one disk; and an electrical connector comprising a flexible circuit embedded within and extending through an opening in the base and providing electrical contact between electronics external to the housing and one or more components within the hard disk drive, wherein the embedded flexible circuit comprises a tortuous path through the base. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A hard disk drive, comprising:
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a housing comprising a base and a cover, wherein the base comprises plastic; at least one disk for storage of data within the housing; an actuator for reading and recording of the data on the at least one disk; and an electrical connector comprising a flexible circuit embedded within and extending through an opening in the base and providing electrical contact between electronics external to the housing and one or more components within the hard disk drive, wherein the flexible circuit is embedded within the base by overmolding the plastic base around the flexible circuit.
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18. A hard disk drive, comprising:
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a housing comprising a base and a cover; at least one disk for storage of data within the housing; an actuator for reading and recording of the data on the at least one disk; and an electrical connector comprising a flexible circuit embedded within and extending through an opening in the base and providing electrical contact between electronics external to the housing and one or more components within the hard disk drive, wherein the embedded flexible circuit comprises a labyrinth path through the base.
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19. A hard disk drive, comprising:
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a housing comprising a base and a cover; at least one disk for storage of data within the housing; an actuator for reading and recording of the data on the at least one disk; and an electrical connector comprising a flexible circuit embedded within and extending through an opening in the base and providing electrical contact between electronics external to the housing and one or more components within the hard disk drive, wherein the embedded flexible circuit comprises a serpentine path through the base.
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20. A hard disk drive, comprising:
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a housing comprising a base and a cover; at least one disk for storage of data within the housing; an actuator for reading and recording of the data on the at least one disk; and an electrical connector comprising a flexible circuit extending through an opening in the base and providing electrical contact between electronics external to the housing and one or more components within the hard disk drive, wherein the opening extends essentially transversely from an exterior of the hard disk drive to approximately a midpoint of the base in an essentially linear manner, at which point the opening changes direction, extending essentially longitudinally within the base before changing direction and exiting the base essentially transversely toward an interior of the hard disk drive.
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Specification