Apparatus for attaching a printed circuit cable to an actuator arm in a disc drive assembly utilizing alignment pins

In a disc drive, an apparatus for electrically connecting a printed circuit board to an actuator arm having read/write heads and a motor coil comprising:

• first and second alignment pins disposed on and extending radially from a central pivot of said actuator arm, said first alignment pin adjacent to at least one pivot bonding pad disposed on said pivot and said second alignment pin opposing said first alignment pin and facing said printed circuit board;
• and
• a printed circuit cable including a conductive portion embedded in a nonconductive support portion, said conductive portion having at least one trace wire terminated in at least one cable bonding pad, said printed circuit cable further including attachment means for connecting said printed circuit cable to said first alignment pin, such that said printed circuit cable is mechanically, electrically and non-rotatably attached to said actuator arm at said pivot without utilizing adhesives, said cable further including a grounding means for providing an electrical ground reference signal from said pivot to said printed circuit board of said disc drive, said grounding means comprises;
• an aperture having a concentric soldering pad located on said printed circuit cable;
• a ground trace in said printed circuit cable, said ground trace contacting and electrically connected to said soldering pad;
• a first grounding pin serving as said second alignment pin, said first grounding pin integral to and extending radially from said pivot, whereby upon mounting of said printed circuit cable on said pivot, said first grounding pin passes through and protrudes beyond said aperture;
• and
• connecting means for electrically connecting said protruding first grounding pin to said printed circuit cable at said pad.