Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Head mounting – Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-08
2001-01-30
Renner, Craig A. (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Head mounting
Disk record
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181526
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to disk drive suspensions of the type having a load beam and flexure combination for supporting a read-write head carrying slider in operating proximity to a disk. In such suspensions a flexible circuit electrical connector may be used to form the electrical connection between the slider and the read-write circuitry beyond the load beam. While a typical flexible circuit connector comprises multiple conductors within an insulating encapsulant, in the present invention the multiple conductors within the resin encapsulant are referred to as a conductive layer, and this conductive layer is laminated to a metal base layer, typically a stainless steel band that may be attached to the flexible circuit to add body to the flexible circuit and for other purposes. The metal band-laminated flexible circuit will be referred to herein as a laminated flexible circuit or laminated flexible circuit connector when a distinction is being made from flexible circuit having no laminated base layer.
2. Related Art
Flexible circuit electrical connector has been supported on load beam-flexure combinations by adhesive attachment at distributed locations. The use of adhesives in electronic assembly is sometimes problematical, however, as outgassing of resin constituents may occur in use with adverse effects on operation of the device incorporating the assembly. Flexible circuit laminated with stainless backing is known and used in suspensions in circumstances where the greater stiffness of the laminate is acceptable. Such laminates have been fixed in place with adhesives, also, and thus there remains the need to provide suspensions that are capable of being welded in place, i.e. held without the use of adhesives, when using flexible circuit type conductors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object therefore to provide an improved disk drive suspension. It is another object to provide a disk drive suspension using flexible circuit electrical connector. It is a further object to provide a suspension in which flexible circuit is welded to the suspension load beam and/or flexure rather than adhered with synthetic organic resin adhesive, so as to avoid potential outgassing problems. Still another object is to provide a modified flexible circuit electrical connector with minimum base layer for minimum stiffness. It is yet another object to provide for weld-attachment of a flexible circuit by using a laminated metal band base layer as the source of weld material; substantially the balance of the band being removed in preferred modes of the invention. A further object comprises arranging the disposition and configuration of laminated flexible circuit electrical connector on a load beam and flexure combination such that welding of the flexible circuit to the load beam or flexure is achievable from either side of the combination, and particularly from the flexible circuit-bearing side of the combination.
These and other objects of the invention are realized in a disk drive suspension comprising a load beam, a flexure attached to the load beam for carrying a slider in operating proximity to a disk, and a laminated flexible circuit electrical connector comprising a conductive layer having a plurality of conductors encapsulated with insulating resin and a metal band base layer to which the conductive layer is laminated, the load beam defining a locus of weld-attachment to the electrical connector, the electrical connector metal band base layer being reduced to a portion dimensioned to be opposite only the weld attachment locus and substantially coextensive only therewith for weld attachment of the electrical connector to the load beam by welding the base band portion laminated to the encapsulated conductors to the load beam, substantially the balance of the electrical connector being free of the metal band base layer.
In this and like embodiments, typically, the load beam has a reduced cross-section at the locus of weld attachment in laser welding facilitating relation, the electrical connector defines a port for cooling gas delivery proximate to the weld attachment locus, and the electrical connector is welded to the load beam at the weld attachment locus.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a disk drive suspension comprising a load beam, a flexure attached to the load beam for carrying a slider in operating proximity to a disk, and a laminated flexible circuit electrical connector comprising a conductive layer having a plurality of conductors encapsulated with insulating resin and a metal band base layer to which the conductive layer is laminated, the flexure defining a locus of weld-attachment to the electrical connector, the electrical connector metal band base layer being reduced to a portion dimensioned to be opposite only the weld attachment locus and substantially coextensive only therewith for weld attachment of the electrical connector to the load beam by welding the metal base band portion laminated to the encapsulated conductors to the load beam, substantially the balance of the electrical connector being free of the metal base band layer.
In this and like embodiments, typically, the electrical connector defines a port for cooling gas delivery proximate to the weld attachment locus, the load beam has a reduced cross-section at the locus of weld attachment in laser welding facilitating relation, the electrical connector is welded to the load beam at the weld attachment locus.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a disk drive suspension comprising a load beam, a flexure attached to the load beam for carrying a slider in operating proximity to a disk, and a laminated flexible circuit electrical connector comprising a conductive layer having a plurality of conductors encapsulated with insulating resin and a metal band base layer to which the conductive layer is laminated, the load beam and the flexure each defining a locus of weld-attachment to the electrical connector, the electrical connector metal band base layer being reduced to portions dimensioned to be opposite only each the weld attachment locus and substantially coextensive only therewith for weld attachment of the electrical connector to the load beam and flexure by welding the base band portion laminated to the encapsulating conductors to the load beam, substantially the balance of the electrical connector being free of the metal band base layer.
In this and like embodiments, typically, the electrical connector conductive layer insulating resin encapsulant is locally apertured adjacent the metal band base layer portion freely of interruption of the conductors and their insulating resin encapsulation, the locally apertured insulating resin encapsulant defines a port for cooling gas delivery proximate to each the weld attachment locus, the electrical connector is welded to the load beam at the weld attachment locus, the area of the electrical connector metal band base layer is not more than five times the area of the weld between the metal band base layer and the load beam or flexure at the locus for weld attachment, the load beam has a reduced cross-section at the locus of weld attachment in laser welding facilitating relation, the load beam reduced cross section is defined by a surface recess in the load beam, the load beam recess opens toward and receives the metal band base layer portion for weld attachment to the load beam, or the load beam recess opens away from the metal band base layer portion.
In a still further embodiment, the invention provides a load beam and flexure combination with a flexible circuit, the flexible circuit having a laminated pad of metal band base layer dimensioned for welding to a load beam or flexure, the flexible circuit being weld-attached to either or both of the load beam and the flexure, the pad area not exceeding five times the area of the weld.
In this and like embodiments, typically, the flexure has laterally projecting tabs, the tabs supporting the flexible circuit in weld-attached relation, the load beam and
Bachand Louis J.
Magnecomp Corp.
Renner Craig A.
LandOfFree
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