U.S. patent application number 12/190470 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-19 for electrical connection between a suspension flexure cable and a head stack assembly flexible circuit.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yiu Sing Ho, Jeffery L. Wang, Li Xing Wu, Liu Jun Zhang.
Application Number | 20090046391 12/190470 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33426286 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090046391 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wu; Li Xing ; et
al. |
February 19, 2009 |
ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN A SUSPENSION FLEXURE CABLE AND A HEAD
STACK ASSEMBLY FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT
Abstract
A method and apparatus for electrically coupling a slider to a
controller circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a
pre-amplifier with an integrated electrical connector (I-connector)
may be connected via an electrical trace to a slider and via a head
stack assembly flexible circuit to a control circuit. The
pre-amplifier may have two parallel series of spring probe claws,
two parallel series of contact pegs, two slots, or a slot and a
rotary cam.
Inventors: |
Wu; Li Xing; (Dongguan City,
CN) ; Ho; Yiu Sing; (Shatin, HK) ; Wang;
Jeffery L.; (Tai Po, HK) ; Zhang; Liu Jun;
(Dongguan City, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KENYON & KENYON LLP
RIVERPARK TOWERS, SUITE 600, 333 W. SAN CARLOS ST.
SAN JOSE
CA
95110
US
|
Assignee: |
SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
Shatin
HK
|
Family ID: |
33426286 |
Appl. No.: |
12/190470 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10754203 |
Jan 9, 2004 |
7411763 |
|
|
12190470 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
360/264.2 ;
G9B/5.182 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 3/325 20130101;
Y10T 29/49147 20150115; H05K 1/189 20130101; G11B 5/4846 20130101;
Y10T 29/49027 20150115; G11B 5/486 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
360/264.2 ;
G9B/5.182 |
International
Class: |
G11B 5/55 20060101
G11B005/55 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 12, 2003 |
CN |
PCT/CN03/00341 |
Claims
1. An actuator circuit assembly, comprising: at least one
electrical trace termination pad electrically coupled to a slider;
a head stack assembly flexible circuit electrically coupled to a
control circuit; and a pre-amplifier with an integrated connector
to electrically connect the at least one electrical trace
termination pad to the head stack assembly flexible circuit.
2. The actuator circuit assembly of claim 1, wherein the
pre-amplifier is coupled to an actuator circuit board mounted on an
actuator arm.
3. The actuator circuit assembly of claim 2, wherein the
pre-amplifier is coupled to the actuator circuit board by a
fastener.
4. The actuator circuit assembly of claim 2, further comprising: at
least one slider spring probe claw protruding from the
pre-amplifier and pressure coupled to the at least one electrical
trace termination pad; and at least one controller spring probe
claw protruding from the pre-amplifier and pressure coupled to an
electrical actuator controller connection tab of the head stack
assembly flexible circuit.
5. The actuator circuit assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least
one slider spring probe claw and the at least one controller spring
probe claw curve inward.
6. The actuator circuit assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least
one slider spring probe claw and the at least one controller spring
probe claw extend outward.
7. The actuator circuit assembly of claim 2, further comprising: at
least one slider contact peg protruding downward from the
pre-amplifier and pressure coupled to the at least one electrical
trace termination pad; and at least one controller contact peg
protruding downward from the pre-amplifier and pressure coupled to
an electrical actuator controller connection tab of the head stack
assembly flexible circuit.
8. The actuator circuit assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a
slider slot into which the at least one electrical trace
termination pad is inserted; and a controller slot into which the
head stack assembly flexible circuit is inserted.
9. The actuator circuit assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a
slider rotary cam into which the at least one electrical trace
termination pad is inserted; and a controller slot into which the
head stack assembly flexible circuit is inserted.
10. A head stack assembly, comprising: an actuator arm to place a
slider above a magnetic storage medium; a control circuit to
control the slider and the actuator arm; at least one electrical
trace termination pad electrically coupled to the slider; a head
stack assembly flexible circuit electrically coupled to the control
circuit; and a pre-amplifier with an integrated connector to
electrically connect the at least one electrical trace termination
pad to the head stack assembly flexible circuit.
11. The head stack assembly of claim 10, wherein the pre-amplifier
is coupled to an actuator circuit board mounted on an actuator
arm.
12. The head stack assembly of claim 11, wherein the pre-amplifier
is coupled to the actuator circuit board by a fastener.
13. The head stack assembly of claim 11, further comprising: at
least one slider spring probe claw protruding from the
pre-amplifier and pressure coupled to the at least one electrical
trace termination pad; and at least one controller spring probe
claw protruding from the pre-amplifier and pressure coupled to an
at least one electrical actuator controller connection tab of the
head stack assembly flexible circuit.
14. The head stack assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one
slider spring probe claw and the at least one controller spring
probe claw curve inward.
15. The head stack assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one
slider spring probe claw and the at least one controller spring
probe claw extend outward.
16. The head stack assembly of claim 11, further comprising: at
least one slider contact peg protruding downward from the
pre-amplifier and pressure coupled to the at least one electrical
trace termination pad; and at least one controller contact peg
protruding downward from the pre-amplifier and pressure coupled to
at least one electrical actuator controller connection tab of the
head stack assembly flexible circuit.
17. The head stack assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a
slider slot into which the at least one electrical trace
termination pad is inserted; and a controller slot into which the
head stack assembly flexible circuit is inserted.
18. The head stack assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a
slider rotary cam into which the at least one electrical trace
termination pad is inserted; and a controller slot into which the
head stack assembly flexible circuit is inserted.
19. A hard disk drive, comprising: a magnetic storage medium to
store data; a base to support the magnetic storage medium; an
actuator arm to place a slider above a magnetic storage medium; a
pivot to move the actuator arm in relation to the magnetic storage
medium; a printed circuit board to control the slider and the
actuator arm; at least one electrical trace termination pad
electrically coupled to the slider; a head stack assembly flexible
circuit electrically coupled to the control circuit; and a
pre-amplifier with an integrated connector to electrically connect
the at least one electrical trace termination pad to the head stack
assembly flexible circuit.
20. The hard disk drive of claim 19, wherein the pre-amplifier is
coupled to an actuator circuit board mounted on an actuator
arm.
21. The hard disk drive of claim 20, wherein the pre-amplifier is
coupled to the actuator circuit board by a fastener.
22. The hard disk drive of claim 20, further comprising: at least
one slider spring probe claw protruding from the pre-amplifier and
pressure coupled to the at least one electrical trace termination
pad; and at least one controller spring probe claw protruding from
the pre-amplifier and pressure coupled to at least one electrical
actuator controller connection tab of the head stack assembly
flexible circuit.
23. The hard disk drive of claim 22, wherein the at least one
slider spring probe claw and the at least one controller spring
probe claw curve inward.
24. The hard disk drive of claim 22, wherein the at least one
slider spring probe claw and the at least one controller spring
probe claw extend outward.
25. The hard disk drive of claim 20, further comprising: at least
one slider contact peg protruding downward from the pre-amplifier
and pressure coupled to the at least one electrical trace
termination pad; and at least one controller contact peg protruding
downward from the pre-amplifier and pressure coupled to at least
one electrical actuator controller connection tab of the head stack
assembly flexible circuit.
26. The hard disk drive of claim 19, further comprising: a slider
slot into which the at least one electrical trace termination pad
is inserted; and a controller slot into which the head stack
assembly flexible circuit is inserted.
27. The hard disk drive of claim 19, further comprising: a slider
rotary cam into which the at least one electrical trace termination
pad is inserted; and a controller slot into which the head stack
assembly flexible circuit is inserted.
28. A method, comprising: electrically coupling at least one
electrical trace termination pad to a slider; electrically coupling
a head stack assembly flexible circuit to a control circuit; and
electrically coupling the at least one electrical trace termination
pad to the head stack assembly flexible circuit with a
pre-amplifier with an integrated connector.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising coupling the
pre-amplifier to an actuator circuit board mounted on an actuator
arm.
30. The method of claim 29, further comprising coupling the
pre-amplifier to the actuator circuit board by a fastener.
31. The method of claim 29, further comprising: pressure coupling
the pre-amplifier to the at least one electrical trace termination
pad using at least one slider spring probe claw protruding from the
pre-amplifier; and pressure coupling the pre-amplifier to at least
one electrical actuator controller connection tab of the head stack
assembly flexible circuit using at least one controller spring
probe claw protruding from the pre-amplifier.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one slider spring
probe claw and the at least one controller spring probe claw curve
inward.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one slider spring
probe claw and the at least one controller spring probe claw extend
outward.
34. The method of claim 29, further comprising: pressure coupling
the pre-amplifier to the at least one electrical trace termination
pad using at least one slider contact peg protruding downward from
the pre-amplifier; and pressure coupling the pre-amplifier to at
least one electrical actuator controller connection tab of the head
stack assembly flexible circuit using at least one controller
contact peg protruding downward from the pre-amplifier.
35. The method of claim 28, further comprising: inserting the at
least one electrical trace termination pad into a slider slot; and
inserting the head stack assembly flexible circuit into a
controller slot.
36. The method of claim 28, further comprising: inserting the at
least one electrical trace termination pad into a slider rotary
cam; and inserting the head stack assembly flexible circuit into a
controller slot.
Description
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0001] The present invention relates to magnetic hard disk drives.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of
electrically connecting the actuator and micro-actuator to a
control circuit.
[0002] In the art today, different methods are utilized to improve
recording density in hard disk drives. FIG. 1 provides an
illustration of a typical disk drive. The typical disk drive has a
head gimbal assembly (HGA) configured to read from and write to a
magnetic hard disk 101. The HGA and the magnetic hard disk 101 are
mounted to the base 102 of a main board 103. The disk 101 is
rotated relative to the base 102 by a spindle motor 104. The HGA
typically includes an actuator arm 105 and a suspension 106. The
HGA supports and positions a magnetic read/write slider 107 above
the magnetic hard disk 101. The slider may contain transducers to
perform the read/write function. The HGA is rotated relative to the
base 102 along the axis of a pivot bearing assembly 108 by an
actuator frame 109. The actuator frame 109 contains an actuator
coil 110 driven by a magnet 111. A relay flexible printed circuit
112 connects a board unit 113 to the transducer of the magnetic
read/write slider 107. The signal from the transducer is amplified
by the preamplifier 114 before being transmitted along the relay
flexible printed circuit.
[0003] FIG. 2 provides one illustration of an actuator as practiced
in the prior art. The suspension 106, which supports the slider
107, may include a flexure 201 attached to a base plate 202 that
suspends a load beam 203 coupled to the slider 107. The slider 107
may be electronically coupled by electrical traces 204 that run
along the suspension 106 and actuator arm 105 to an actuator board
205. The actuator board 205 runs the signals from the slider 107
through a pre-amplifier 114 before sending them through the relay
flexible printed circuit 112. The electrical traces 204 may be
coupled to the actuator board 205 by a set of termination pads 206
at the end of the electrical traces 204.
[0004] FIG. 3 provides one illustration of the electrical
connection between the slider 107 and the relay flexible printed
circuit 112 as practiced in the prior art. The electrical trace 204
coupled to the suspension 106 may electrically connect the slider
107 to the termination pads 206. The termination pads 206 may be
coupled to a set of contact pads 301 on the actuator board 205. The
signal is then sent through a pre-amplifier to the relay flexible
printed circuit 112.
[0005] In order to carry out previous methods of establishing an
electrical connection, the flex cable on the suspension must be
aligned properly to the pads of the actuator board 205. If
soldering is used to connect the pads, the solder bump must be
preliminarily formed on the pads for solder bonding. Laser or
ultrasonic bonding can be prohibitively expensive and time
consuming due to the necessary calibration work.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 provides an illustration of a typical disk drive.
[0007] FIG. 2 provides one illustration of an actuator as practiced
in the prior art.
[0008] FIG. 3 provides one illustration of the electrical
connection between the slider and the relay flexible printed
circuit as practiced in the prior art.
[0009] FIG. 4 provides an illustration of one embodiment of an
actuator with an electrical connection as constructed in the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 provides an illustration of one embodiment of the
electrical connection as constructed in the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 6 provides an illustration one embodiment of a
pre-amplifier with an I-connector.
[0012] FIG. 7 provides an illustration in a cross-section one
embodiment of the pre-amplifier with I-connector as used in
creating an electrical connection.
[0013] FIG. 8 provides an illustration in a side view of one
embodiment of the electrical connection.
[0014] FIG. 9 provides an illustration in a top view of one
embodiment of the electrical connection.
[0015] FIGS. 10a-d provide an illustration of alternate embodiments
of the pre-amplifier with I-connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] A method and apparatus for electrically coupling a slider to
a controller circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a
pre-amplifier with an integrated electrical connector (I-connector)
may be connected via an electrical trace to a slider and via a head
stack assembly flexible circuit to a control circuit. The
pre-amplifier may have two parallel series of spring probe claws,
two parallel series of contact pegs, two slots, or a slot and a
rotary cam.
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of an actuator with an
electrical connection as constructed in the present invention. The
pre-amplifier 401 of the actuator board 205 may have a built in
I-connector. The termination pads 206 of the electrical traces 204
may be directly connected to the pre-amplifier with I-connector
401. An alignment pin 402 extending up from the actuator board 205
may allow the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 to be position. A
screw 403 or other coupling device may be used to couple the
I-connector to the actuator board 205.
[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of the electrical
connection. The pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 may be coupled
to an actuator board 205 by using an alignment pin 402 and a screw
403 or other coupling device. The termination pads 206 of the
electrical traces 204 may be directly coupled to the pre-amplifier
with I-connector 401. The head stack assembly flexible circuit 112
may be coupled to the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 by a
direct connection 501 or by terminating in a controller connection
tab that connects to the pre-amplifier with I-connector.
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a pre-amplifier with an
I-connector 401. Two parallel rows of spring probe claws 601 may
line the bottom of the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401. The
spring probe claws 601 may bend inwards towards the center of the
pre-EXPRESS amplifier with I-connector 401. An alignment slot 602
may be used to align the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 with
the alignment pin 402. A screw hole 603 may allow the pre-amplifier
with I-connector 401 to be coupled to the actuator board by a screw
403 or other coupling device.
[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates in a cross-section one embodiment of the
pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 as used in creating an
electrical connection. The pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 may
be aligned to the actuator board 205 by an alignment pin extending
up from the actuator arm 105 through the actuator board 205 and the
alignment slot 602 of the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401. The
pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 may then be coupled to the
actuator board 205 and arm 105 by a screw 403 or other coupling
device. The screw 403 or other coupling device may cause the spring
probe claws 601 to be in contact with the contact pads 301 of the
actuator board 205. The contact pads 301 may be electrically
coupled to the head stack assembly flexible circuit 112.
[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates in a side view one embodiment of the
electrical connection. One series of spring probe claws 601 may be
in contact with the contact pads 301 of the actuator board 205. The
other series of spring probe claws 601 may be in contact with the
termination pads 206 of the electrical traces 204. The termination
pads 206 may be affixed to the actuator board 205 by adhesive or
other coupling methods. Alternatively, the termination pads 206 may
be held in place by the pressure generated by coupling the
pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 to the actuator board 205.
[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates in a top view the same embodiment of the
electrical connection. The alignment pin 402 may keep the spring
probe claws 601 aligned with the termination pads 206 and the
contact pads 301. The screw 403 or other coupling device may be
adjusted to create the proper amount of pressure to keep the
termination pads 206 in contact with the spring probe claws
601.
[0023] FIGS. 10a-d illustrate alternate embodiments of the
pre-amplifier with I-connector 401. FIG. 10a shows an embodiment of
the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 with spring probe claws 1001
that bend toward the outside of the pre-amplifier with I-connector
401. FIG. 10b shows an embodiment of the pre-amplifier with
I-connector 401 with two parallel series of contact pegs 1002
instead of two series of spring probe claws 601. FIG. 10c shows an
embodiment of the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 with a slot
1003 on each side. The head stack assembly flexible circuit 112 may
be inserted into one of the slots 1003 and the electrical trace 204
may be inserted into the other slot. FIG. 10d shows an embodiment
of the pre-amplifier with I-connector 401 with a slot 1003 on one
side and a rotary cam 1004 on the other side. The head stack
assembly flexible circuit 112 may be inserted into the slot 1003.
The termination pads 206 of the electrical traces 204 are coupled
to the rotary cam 1004.
[0024] Although several embodiments are specifically illustrated
and described herein, it will be appreciated that modifications and
variations of the present invention are covered by the above
teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without
departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.
* * * * *