Disc drive head disc assembly and printed circuit board connected with flexible connectors

• US 6,057,982 A
• Filed: 03/30/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology plc (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Kloeppel, Klaus D.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANS, JEFFERSON A
• Application Number:
  US09/050,705
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 360/97.01, 360/98.01, 360/105, 360/106
• US Class Current: 360/97.01
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/043 using rotating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/122 Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches

Abstract

A disc drive has a head disc assembly and a printed circuit board. The head disc assembly has a first connector block with a plurality of first conductors, transmitting signals to and from the head disc assembly. The printed circuit board has a plurality of first electrical pads and a first cutout, the printed circuit board connected to the head disc assembly. A first flexible connection means electrically connects the first conductors of the first connector block of the head disc assembly to the first electrical pads of the printed circuit board, with the first cutout providing wiggle space and permitting accessing, positioning and mating of the first flexible connection means with the first connector block. In a specific embodiment, the first flexible connection means includes a third connector block and a first alignment means. The preferred embodiment of the first alignment means includes a pair of eyelets on the third connector block, a pair of first connector threaded holes on the first connector block and a pair of fasteners to align and fasten the third connector block and the first connector block. An alternate embodiment of first alignment means includes a first positioning pin attached to the third connector block, a first connector hole in the first connector block corresponding to the first positioning pin to receive the first positioning pin and align the third connector block with the first connector block.

Claims

1. A disc drive having:

a head disc assembly having a first connector block with a plurality of first conductors, said plurality of first conductors transmitting signals to and from said head disc assembly;

a printed circuit board having a plurality of first electrical pads and a first cutout, said printed circuit board connected to said head disc assembly and

a first flexible connection means electrically connecting said first conductors of said first connector block to said first electrical pads of said printed circuit board, said first cutout providing wiggle space and permitting the accessing, positioning and mating of said first flexible connection means with said first connector block.

2. A disc drive as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first flexible connection means further including:

a third conductor block having a plurality of third conductors, said third conductors electrically connected to said first conductors of said first connector block and

a first flexible printed circuit cable having plurality of first PCC conductors, first end of said plurality of first PCC conductors connected to said plurality of third conductors of said third connector block, second end of said plurality of first PCC conductors connected to said plurality of first electrical pads of said printed circuit board.

3. A disc drive as claimed in claim 1 further including a first alignment means to align said first flexible connection means to said first connector block.

4. A disc drive as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first alignment means includes

a pair of first eyelets on said third connector block;

a pair of first connector threaded holes on said first connector block and

a pair of fasteners to align and fasten said third connector block and said first connector block.

5. A disc drive as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first alignment means includes

a first positioning pin attached to said third connector block and

a first connector hole in said first connector block corresponding to said first positioning pin to receive said first positioning pin and align said third connector block with said first connector block.

6. A disc drive as claimed in claim 1 wherein

said head disc assembly further including a second connector block with plurality of second conductors, said plurality of second conductors transmitting signals to and from the head disc assembly;

said printed circuit board having a plurality of second electrical pads and a second cutout and

a second flexible connection means electrically connecting said plurality of second conductors of said second connector block to said second electrical pads of said printed circuit board, said second cutout providing wiggle space and permitting the accessing, positioning and mating of said second flexible connection means with said second connector block.

7. A disc drive as claimed in claim 6 wherein said second flexible connection means further including:

a fourth conductor block having a plurality of fourth conductors, said fourth conductors electrically connected to said second conductors of said second connector block and

a second flexible printed circuit cable having plurality of second PCC conductors, first end of said plurality of second PCC conductors connected to said plurality of fourth conductors of said fourth connector block, second end of said plurality of second PCC conductors connected to said plurality of second electrical pads of said printed circuit board.

8. A disc drive as claimed in claim 6 further including a second alignment means to align said second flexible connection means to said second connector block.

9. A disc drive as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second alignment means includes

a pair of second eyelets on said fourth connector block;

a pair of second connector threaded holes on said second connector block and

a pair of fasteners to align and fasten said fourth connector block and said second connector block.

10. A disc drive as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first alignment means includes

a second positioning pin attached to said fourth connector block and

a second connector hole in said second connector block corresponding to said positioning pin to receive said second positioning pin and align said fourth connector block with said second connector block.