Damped magnetic head suspension assembly
OwnerGary R. Oberginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Magnetic head suspension assemblies are improved by adhesively bonding a flexible circuit to a suspension. Damping is provided as well as a reduction in height.
Claims13
A damped magnetic head suspension assembly defining a longitudinal axis, said assembly comprising:
- (a) a load beam having upper and lower ends;
- (b) flexible circuit means for providing electrical connection between said upper end and said lower end of the load beam along the longitudinal axis, said flexible circuit means including a flexible circuit film having a plurality of conductors embedded in a thin, flexible, layer of insulating material and laminated between a first layer comprising a thin, flexible first film layer and a second layer comprising one of a thin, flexible second film layer and a thin, conductive coating layer, said flexible circuit film being adhesively bonded to said load beam in at least one spot along the longitudinal axis by adhesive disposed between said first layer and said load beam;
- wherein said first film layer is of a thickness no greater than 3 mils;
- and
- wherein said adhesive is of a thickness no greater than 6 mils in order to provide damping.
In a magnetic head suspension assembly defining a longitudinal axis, said assembly of the type including a base, a load beam having upper and lower ends, the upper end being attached to the base, the improvement comprising:
- flexible circuit means for providing electrical connection between said upper end to the lower end area of said load beam along the longitudinal axis, said flexible circuit means including a flexible circuit film having a plurality of conductors embedded in a thin, flexible, insulating material and laminated between a first layer comprising a thin, flexible first film layer and a second layer comprising one of a thin, flexible second film layer and a thin, conductive coating layer, said flexible circuit film being adhesively bonded to said load beam in at least one spot along the longitudinal axis between said lower end of said load beam and said base by adhesive disposed between said first layer and said load beam;
- wherein said first film layer is of a thickness no greater than 3 mils;
- and
- wherein said adhesive is of a thickness no greater than 6 mils to provide damping.
A method for providing electrical connections and damping in a magnetic head suspension assembly of the type including a base a load beam having upper and lower ends, the method comprising:
- (a) adhering a flexible circuit to said load beam with an adhesive, said flexible circuit comprising a flexible circuit film having a plurality of conductors embedded in a thin, flexible insulating material and laminated between a first layer comprising a thin, flexible first film layer and a second layer comprising one of a thin, flexible second film layer and a thin, conductive coating layer, said flexible circuit film and adhesive extending across at least 90% of the width of said load beam, said first film layer having a thickness of between about 0.5-3 mils and said adhesive having a thickness in the range of between about 1-6 mils.
In a magnetic head suspension assembly defining a longitudinal axis, said assembly of the type including a base, a load beam having upper and lower ends, the upper end being attached to the base and said load beam defining a preload radius zone, the improvement comprising:
- flexible circuit means for providing electrical connection between said upper end to the lower end area of said load beam along the longitudinal axis, said flexible circuit means including a flexible circuit film having a plurality of conductors embedded in a thin, flexible insulating material and laminated between a thin, flexible, plastic film layer and a conductive layer spaced from said conductors as a ground plane for electromagnetic interference shielding, said flexible circuit film being adhesively bonded to said load beam in at least one spot along the longitudinal axis between said lower end of said load beam and said base, said film and adhesive extending across substantially the entire width of said load beam;
- wherein said flexible circuit film is of a thickness in the range of 0.5-3 mils;
- and
- wherein said adhesive is of a thickness in the range of 1-6 mils to provide damping.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.