Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head mounting – Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-18
2004-06-29
Evans, Jefferson (Department: 3632)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head mounting
Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
active
06757138
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to suspension assemblies for supporting a head in disc drives, and more particularly to an apparatus to reduce windage-induced vibration of the head by routing an interconnect assembly along a leading edge of the suspension assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a disc drive system, air currents are induced when one or more discs are rotating at high speeds. The air currents, or windage, cause undesirable effects, such as causing components in the system to vibrate. Such vibration is undesirable because it can introduce errors in the performance of the disc drive. One component that is adversely affected by this windage-induced vibration is the suspension assembly. The suspension assembly is used to support/suspend a recording/reading head, and is mated with an interconnect assembly, which is used to electrically connect the recording/reading head to disc drive electronics which are disposed away from the recording/reading head and off the suspension assembly.
One type of interconnect assembly is a flex on suspension, or flex circuit. Flex circuit type of interconnect assemblies are a separately fabricated printed circuit that is subsequently assembled to the suspension assembly, e.g., using an adhesive material. The flex circuit is relatively less expensive and easier to manufacture than the other types of interconnect assemblies.
Other types of interconnect assemblies are twisted wires, trace suspension assemblies and circuit integrated suspension. Twisted wires assemblies are a bundle of wires glued to the suspension assembly. A trace suspension assembly includes a unitary steel gimbal with electrical traces that is welded onto the suspension assembly. A circuit integrated suspension assembly deposits traces directly onto the suspension assembly by a sputtering process.
In general, the flex circuit is mated to a finished suspension assembly. The flex circuit is quite flexible along its entire length. The head portion of the flex circuit is attached to the suspension. However, the tail portion of the flex circuit is generally not attached to the suspension and hangs freely.
FIG. 1
shows a partial view of a disc drive system
110
of the prior art, including a suspension assembly
120
mated to an interconnect assembly
118
. The suspension assembly
120
includes a windward edge
130
oriented towards the incoming direction A of airflow induced by a rotating disc
112
and also includes a leeward, or trailing, edge
132
oriented opposite the incoming direction A of airflow. Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the interconnect assembly
118
is mated to the suspension assembly
120
, and has a tail
143
that runs along the leeward edge
132
of the suspension assembly
120
. The interconnect assembly
118
electrically couples a head
122
supported by the suspension assembly
120
to a control circuit
116
located remotely from the head
122
. An overhang section
121
of the tail
143
is located adjacent to the leeward edge
132
of the suspension assembly
120
and extends transversely from the leeward edge
132
. This arrangement allows for the interconnect assembly
118
to connect with control circuitry
116
located off the suspension assembly
120
.
As the data density on the disc is continually increasing, it becomes more critical to eliminate or reduce factors that introduce error into the head reading and writing data. Since vibration of the suspension assembly is one factor that affects the operation of the head, a need exists for reducing windage-induced vibration of the head caused by the suspension assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Against this backdrop the present invention has been developed. In one example embodiment, the invention is directed to an apparatus for reducing windage-induced vibration in a disc drive having a rotating disc, wherein the disc has an inner and an outer diameter. The apparatus includes a suspension assembly supporting a head and having a first and a second edge, the first edge being oriented towards the disc inner diameter when the suspension assembly is assembled into the disc drive. The apparatus further includes an interconnect assembly mated to the suspension assembly. The interconnect assembly includes a tail and the tail includes an overhang section located adjacent to and extending transversely from the first edge of the suspension assembly.
In another example embodiment, the invention is directed to a disc drive system including a rotating disc having an inner and an outer diameter, and a suspension assembly supporting a head and having a first edge disposed towards the disc inner diameter and a second edge disposed towards the disc outer diameter. The system further includes an interconnect assembly for electrically connecting the head to electronic control circuitry, wherein the interconnect assembly includes a tail having an overhang section located adjacent to and extending transversely from the first edge of the suspension assembly.
Another example embodiment is directed to a system for reducing windage-induced vibration of a suspension assembly, wherein the suspension assembly includes a windward edge. The system includes a head supported on the suspension assembly, with the head being in electrical contact with electronic control circuitry. The system further includes means for reducing windage-induced vibration located on the windward edge of the suspension assembly, with the means containing a conductive path between the head and the electronic control circuitry.
These and various other features as well as advantages which characterize the present invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5311384 (1994-05-01), Johnson
patent: 5583720 (1996-12-01), Ishida et al.
patent: 5661896 (1997-09-01), Erpelding
patent: 5864445 (1999-01-01), Bennin et al.
patent: 6014290 (2000-01-01), Supramaniam et al.
patent: 6154343 (2000-11-01), Khan et al.
patent: 6477014 (2002-11-01), Erpelding
patent: 6515832 (2003-02-01), Girard
patent: 6636383 (2003-10-01), Chew
Evans Jefferson
Seagate Technology LLC
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