Shorted magnetoresistive head leads for electrical overstress and electrostatic discharge protection during manufacture of a magnetic storage system

A magnetoresistive head assembly for subsequent assembly with other components in a magnetic storage system, comprising:

• a magnetoresistive sensor element;
• and
• conductor means connecting each end of said magnetoresistive sensor element together for providing a low resistance conductive path bypassing said magnetoresistive sensor element for discharging static electrical charge, said conductor means being removed thereby .opening said low resistance conductive path at a desired processor assembly step prior to completion of said subsequent assembly in a magnetic storage system.

A method for providing electrostatic discharge protection for a magnetoresistive sensor during fabrication of said magnetoresistive sensor and subsequent handling of and assembly of said magnetoresistive sensor in a magnetic storage system, comprising the steps of:

• electrically connecting conductor means between the lead terminals of the magnetoresistive sensor element of said magnetoresistive sensor for providing a low resistance conductive path bypassing said magnetoresistive sensor element during discharge of static electric charge;
• and
• opening said conductor means at a desired process or assembly step prior to the completion of said subsequent handling of and assembly of said magnetoresistive sensor in a magnetic storage system.

In a magnetic data transducer and air bearing slider assembly for subsequent assembly in a magnetic storage system, said transducer including at least one magnetoresistive read element and carried on an end surface of said slider, said magnetoresistive read element and other transducer elements having conductive lead terminals formed on an exposed surface of said slider, a method for providing electrostatic discharge protection, comprising the steps of forming an electrically conductive film on said exposed surface electrically connecting together at least the conductive lead terminals for said magnetoresistive read element, and removing at least a portion of said electrically conductive film thereby opening the electrical connection between said conductive leads for said magnetoresistive read element at a selected time prior to the final assembly of said transducer and air bearing slider assembly in a magnetic storage system.

In a magnetic data transducer, slider and suspension assembly for subsequent assembly in magnetic storage systems, said transducer including at least one magnetoresistive read element and one inductive write element, said magnetoresistive read element and other transducer elements having conductive lead connection pads formed on an exposed surface of said slider, a flex cable for electrically coupling said magnetic data transducer to external circuitry, said flex cable comprising:

• a plurality of conductors, each conductor electrically connected to a conductive lead connection pad, respectively, for an associated transducer element for coupling said transducer elements to said external circuitry;
• and
• shorting means electrically connected to said plurality of conductors shorting said plurality of conductors together for electrically shorting together all of said transducer elements, said shorting means being removed at a desired time prior to completion of manufacture and assembly of said transducer, slider and suspension assembly in a magnetic storage system.