Integrated lead suspension with multiple trace configurations

• US 8,169,746 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Rice, Alexander J., Hentges, Reed T., VanHecke, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANS, JEFFERSON A
• Application Number:
  US12/099,523
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 360/245.8, 360/245.9, 360/246
• US Class Current: 360/245.9
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/486 with provision for mounting or arranging electrical conducting means or circuits on or along the arm assembly

Abstract

An integrated lead head suspension flexure includes a mounting region, a gimbal extending distally from the mounting region and having bond pads, and a tail extending proximally from the mounting region and having terminal pads. First trace sections having a first structural configuration, such as interleaved traces, are electrically connected to the terminal pads and extend across the tail and mounting region. Second trace sections having a second structural configuration different than the first structural configuration, such as ground plane traces, are electrically connected to the bond pads and extend across the gimbal. Transition structures electrically connect the first trace sections to the second trace sections. The first and second trace sections impedance match the different impedances at the bond pads and terminal pads.

Claims

1. An integrated lead head suspension flexure having a plurality of regions including a tail and a gimbal, including:

first trace sections having a first structural configuration on a first region of the flexure, wherein the first trace sections have a first structural configuration from the set including interleaved traces, stacked traces and ground plane traces;

second trace sections having a second structural configuration different than the first configuration on a second region of the flexure, the second trace sections electrically connected to the first trace sections and wherein the second trace sections have a second structural configuration from the set including interleaved traces, stacked traces and ground plane traces;

one or more transition structures electrically connecting the first trace sections to the second trace sections;

wherein at least one of the first and second trace sections include interleaved traces; and

the transition structure to the interleaved traces includes a pair of plated conductive legs extending over an insulating layer edge.

2. The integrated lead head suspension flexure of claim 1 wherein the first and second trace sections are substantially impedance matched.

3. The integrated lead head suspension flexure of claim 2 and further including:

bond pads on the gimbal having a first impedance; and

terminal pads on the tail having a second impedance that is different than the first impedance, and wherein the first and second trace sections substantially impedance match the first and second impedances.

4. An integrated lead head suspension flexure having a plurality of regions including a tail and a gimbal, including:

first trace sections having a first structural configuration on a first region of the flexure;

second trace sections having a second structural configuration different than the first configuration on a second region of the flexure, the second trace sections electrically connected to the first trace sections;

one or more transition structures electrically connecting the first trace sections to the second trace sections;

wherein at least one of the first and second trace sections include interleaved traces; and

the transition structure to the interleaved traces includes a pair of plated conductive legs extending over an insulating layer edge.

5. The integrated lead head suspension flexure of claim 4 wherein:

the first trace sections include interleaved traces; and

the second trace sections include stacked traces.

6. The integrated lead head suspension flexure of claim 4 wherein:

the first trace sections include stacked traces; and

the second trace sections include interleaved traces.

7. An integrated lead head suspension flexure having a plurality of regions including a tail and a gimbal, including:

first trace sections having a first structural configuration on a first region of the flexure;

second trace sections having a second structural configuration different than the first configuration on a second region of the flexure, the second trace sections electrically connected to the first trace sections;

wherein the first trace sections include interleaved traces; and

the second trace sections include ground plane traces.

8. An integrated lead head suspension flexure having a plurality of regions including a tail and a gimbal, including:

first trace sections having a first structural configuration on a first region of the flexure;

second trace sections having a second structural configuration different than the first configuration on a second region of the flexure, the second trace sections electrically connected to the first trace sections;

wherein the first trace sections include stacked traces; and

the second trace sections include ground plane traces.

9. An integrated lead head suspension flexure having a plurality of regions including a tail and a gimbal, including:

first trace sections having a first structural configuration on a first region of the flexure;

second trace sections having a second structural configuration different than the first configuration on a second region of the flexure, the second trace sections electrically connected to the first trace sections, wherein the first trace sections are substantially impedance matched to the second trace sections;

bond pads on the gimbal having a first impedance; and

terminal pads on the tail having a second impedance that is different than the first impedance, and wherein the first and second trace sections substantially impedance match the first and second impedances.

10. The integrated lead head suspension flexure of claim 9 and further including a transition structure electrically connecting the first trace sections to the second trace sections over an insulating layer edge.

11. An integrated lead head suspension flexure including:

a mounting region;

a gimbal extending distally from the mounting region and having bond pads;

a tail extending proximally from the mounting region and having terminal pads;

first trace sections having a first structural configuration electrically connected to the terminal pads and extending over at least a portion of the tail, wherein the first trace sections extend over substantially all of the tail and mounting region;

second trace sections having a second structural configuration different than the first structural configuration electrically connected to the bond pads and extending over at least a portion of the gimbal, wherein the second trace sections extend over substantially all of the gimbal; and

transition structures electrically connecting the first trace sections to the second trace sections, wherein the transition structures directly electrically connect the first and second trace sections;

wherein the first trace sections have a first structural configuration from the set including interleaved traces, stacked traces and ground plane traces; and

the second trace sections have a second structural configuration from the set including interleaved traces, stacked traces and ground plane traces.

12. The integrated lead head suspension flexure of claim 11 wherein:

at least one of the first and second trace sections include interleaved traces; and

the transition structure to the interleaved traces includes a pair of plated conductive legs extending over an insulating layer edge.

13. The integrated lead head suspension flexure of claim 12 wherein:

the first and second traces are substantially impedance matched; and

the flexure has a first impedance at the bond pads that is different than the second impedance at the terminal pads.

14. An integrated lead head suspension flexure including:

a mounting region;

a gimbal extending distally from the mounting region and having bond pads;

a tail extending proximally from the mounting region and having terminal pads;

first trace sections having a first structural configuration electrically connected to the terminal pads and extending over at least a portion of the tail;

second trace sections having a second structural configuration different than the first structural configuration electrically connected to the bond pads and extending over at least a portion of the gimbal; and

transition structures electrically connecting the first trace sections to the second trace sections;

wherein at least one of the first and second trace sections include interleaved traces; and

the transition structures includes a pair of plated conductive legs extending over an insulating layer edge.

15. An integrated lead head suspension flexure including:

a mounting region;

a gimbal extending distally from the mounting region and having bond pads;

a tail extending proximally from the mounting region and having terminal pads;

first trace sections having a first structural configuration electrically connected to the terminal pads and extending over at least a portion of the tail;

second trace sections having a second structural configuration different than the first structural configuration electrically connected to the bond pads and extending over at least a portion of the gimbal; and

transition structures electrically connecting the first trace sections to the second trace sections;

wherein the first and second traces are substantially impedance matched; and

the flexure has a first impedance at the bond pads that is different than the second impedance at the terminal pads.

16. The integrated lead head suspension flexure of claim 15 wherein:

at least one of the first and second trace sections include interleaved traces; and

the transition structures includes a pair of plated conductive legs extending over an insulating layer edge.

17. An integrated lead head suspension flexure including:

a mounting region;

a gimbal extending distally from the mounting region and having bond pads;

a tail extending proximally from the mounting region and having terminal pads;

first trace sections having a first structural configuration electrically connected to the terminal pads and extending over at least a portion of the tail;

second trace sections having a second structural configuration different than the first structural configuration electrically connected to the bond pads and extending over at least a portion of the gimbal; and

transition structures electrically connecting the first trace sections to the second trace sections; and

wherein the transition structure includes a plating layer extending over an insulating layer edge.