Assemblies and methods for slider electrical connection containing through circuit electrical connections

• US 9,171,561 B1
• Filed: 05/14/2014
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Gadbois, Jason B., Ver Meer, Bradley, Matzke, Scott, Shivarama, Ravishankar Ajjanagadde, Unger, Christopher, Stephan, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Blouin, Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/277,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20150332716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 360/234.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2005/0021 Thermally assisted recording using an auxiliary energy source for heating the recording layer locally to assist the magnetization reversal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4853 Constructional details of the electrical connection between head and arm
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/607 using thermal means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/6082 Design of the air bearing surface

Abstract

Assemblies and methods that include a flex circuit having a slider facing surface and an opposing back surface; a slider having a back surface and an opposing air bearing surface (ABS), the slider including an electrical connection region; and a through circuit electrical connection, that is in electrical connection with the electrical connection region of the slider, the back surface of the slider interfacing with the slider facing surface of the flex circuit.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising;

a flex circuit having a slider facing surface and an opposing back surface;

a slider having a back surface and an opposing air bearing surface (ABS), the slider comprising;

a slider body;

an electrical connection region, the electrical connection region being a portion of the slider body; and

a through circuit electrical connection, that is in electrical connection with the electrical connection region of the slider,

the back surface of the slider interfacing with the slider facing surface of the flex circuit.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection region of the slider is electrically connected to the at least one read transducer in the slider.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the slider comprises at least two read transducers.

4. The assembly according to claim 2 further comprising at least one conductive contact disposed on the flex circuit and wherein the through circuit electrical connection electrically connects the at least one read transducer to the at least one conductive contact of the flex circuit.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the slider further comprises a resistive heater and wherein the electrical connection region is electrically connected to the resistive heater.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the through circuit electrical connection electrically connects the resistive heater to ground.

7. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the slider body comprises AlTiC.

8. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a load beam holding the flex circuit the load beam having an opening there through aligned with the through circuit electrical connection.

9. An assembly comprising;

a flex circuit having a slider facing surface and an opposing back surface and a conductive contact;

a slider having a back surface and an opposing air bearing surface (ABS), the slider comprising;

a slider body, and

at least two read transducers disposed within the slider body,

an electrical connection region, the electrical connection region being a portion of the slider body; and

an aperture electrical connection, that is in electrical connection with the electrical connection region of the slider

the back surface of the slider body interfacing with the slider facing surface of the flex circuit and the conductive contact in electrical contact with the aperture electrical connection.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the slider body comprises AlTiC.

11. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the aperture electrical connection is in electrical communication with a ground electrical connection.

12. The assembly according to claim 9 further comprising a load beam holding the flex circuit the load beam having an opening there through aligned with the aperture electrical connection.

13. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the electrical connection region further comprises a backside contact disposed on the slider body, and comprising an electrically conductive material.

14. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the conductive contact is also in electrical contact with a conductive trace.

15. A method comprising:

providing a slider, the slider comprising;

a slider body having a circuit facing surface and an opposing air bearing surface (ABS),

at least one transducing head, and

at least one electrical connection region that is a portion of the slider body;

providing a flexible circuit, the flexible circuit having a slider facing surface, an opposing back surface, and an aperture spanning the slider facing surface and the opposing back surface;

positioning the slider in the proximity of the flexible circuit so that the aperture is positioned adjacent the at least one electrical connection region; and

delivering an electrically conductive material into the aperture to form a through circuit electrical connection.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein positioning the slider in proximity of the flexible circuit comprises positioning the flexible circuit over the slider so that the aperture is aligned with the electrical connection region of the slider.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein delivering the electrically conductive material into the aperture is accomplished using a jetting system.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the jetting system delivers solder into the aperture.

19. The method according to claim 15 further comprising forming an additional connection between the slider and the flexible circuit.