# US 5,708,541 A · Termination pad manipulator for a laminated suspension in a data storage system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,708,541 A - Document ID: US5708541A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/664,927 - Filed: 1996-06-07 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1994-05-19 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: A. David Erpelding - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708541A ## CPC - G11B 33/122: {Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches} - G11B 5/484: {Integrated arm assemblies, e.g. formed by material deposition or by etching from single piece of metal or by lamination of materials forming a single arm/suspension/head unit} - G11B 5/486: {with provision for mounting or arranging electrical conducting means or circuits on or along the arm assembly} - G11B 33/121: {the apparatus comprising a single recording/reproducing device} - G11B 5/4846: {Constructional details of the electrical connection between arm and support} - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract A multilayered suspension having a slider end and a termination end, the suspension being suitable for use in an information storage system slider-suspension assembly is provided. The suspension comprises a conductive lead structure having at least one conductor line contained in a patterned conductive layer formed over one or more layers. The conductive lead structure is suitable on the slider end for connection to transducer leads of a slider, and on the termination end for connection to arm-electronics termination pads. The suspension further comprises a fixture, formed from one or more layers, being substantially in the same plane as the termination end of the conductive lead structure and having one or more anchor tabs laminated to a layer of the conductive lead structure. The fixture is suitable for aligning the conductor lines to the termination pads by rotating the termination end of the conductive lead structure in the plane of the termination end. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multilayered suspension being arranged for use in an information storage system slider-suspension assembly, comprising: a conductive lead structure, formed from one or more layers of the multilayered suspension, having a slider end and a termination end and at least one conductor line contained in a patterned conductive layer, the conductive lead structure being arranged on the slider end for connection to transducer leads of a slider, and on the termination end for connection to arm-electronics termination pads; and a fixture, formed from one or more layers of the multilayered suspension, being substantially in the same plane as the termination end of the conductive lead structure and having one or more anchor tabs attached to the conductive lead structure, wherein the fixture aligns the at least one conductor line to at least one termination pad of the termination pads by rotating the termination end of the conductive lead structure relative to the slider end of the conductive lead structure along the plane of the termination end of the conductive lead structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A multilayered suspension according to claim 1, wherein the one or more anchor tabs are detachable from the conductive lead structure such that the fixture is removably attached to the conductive lead structure such that the fixture can be removed from the conductive lead structure after attachment of the at least one conductor line to at least one of the termination pads. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A multilayered suspension according to claim 1, wherein the one or more anchor tabs are detachable from the conductive lead structure by delaminating at least one layer of said one or more anchor tabs from a layer of the conductive lead structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A multilayered suspension according to claim 1, wherein the one or more anchor tabs are detachable from the conductive lead structure by tearing or cutting the one or more anchor tabs in half along a region of reduced cross-sectional area. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A multilayered suspension according to claim 1, wherein at least one anchor tab of the one or more anchor tabs is a flexible anchor tab formed from one or more layers near the termination end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A multilayered suspension according to claim 5, wherein the one or more anchor tabs have a reduced cross section to facilitate buckling when a rotational force in the plane of the termination end is applied to the fixture. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A multilayered suspension according to claim 5, wherein the one or more anchor tabs include two anchor tabs which are spaced such that a first tab of the two anchor tabs will buckle and a second tab of the two anchor tabs will be in tension when a clockwise rotational force is applied to the fixture, and wherein the first tab will be in tension and the second tab will buckle when a counter-clockwise rotational force is applied to the fixture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A multilayered suspension according to claim 1, wherein the fixture includes a hook arm extending along the end of the conductive lead structure at the termination end, the hook arm being removably attached to the end of the at least one conductor line. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A multilayered suspension according to claim 8, wherein the hook arm has a test pad for a respective one of the at least one conductor line fixed to and spaced along the length of the hook arm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A multilayered suspension according to claim 1, wherein the conductive lead structure has a bend region which allows it to be bent along a bend axis, the at least one conductor line running over the conductive lead structure such that the at least one conductor line traverses the bend region approximately perpendicular to the bend axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A multilayered suspension according to claim 10, wherein the bend region is of reduced thickness. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A multilayered suspension according to claim 1, wherein the fixture contains holes arranged for manipulation by a robotic end effector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A multilayered suspension according to claim 1, wherein the conductive lead structure is comprised of a base layer, an insulating layer and the patterned conductive layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A multilayered suspension according to claim 13, wherein the base layer is stainless steel, the insulating layer is polyimide, and the patterned conductive layer is copper. ### Claim 15 An actuator arm assembly for an information storage system, comprising: an actuator arm having arm-electronics termination pads; a multilayered suspension mechanically attached to the actuator arm, said multilayered suspension including a conductive lead structure having a termination end and a slider end, formed from one or more layers of the multilayered suspension, having at least one conductor line contained in a patterned conductive layer, the conductive lead structure being arranged for electrical attachment to transducer leads of a slider at one end, being electrically attached to the actuator arm on the termination end, the at least one conductor line being terminated at the arm-electronics termination pads; and a fixture, formed from one or more layers of the multilayered suspension, being substantially in the same plane as the termination end of the conductive lead structure and having one or more anchor tabs attached to the conductive lead structure, wherein the fixture aligns the at least one conductor line to at least one termination pad of the termination pads by rotating the termination end of the conductive lead structure relative to the slider end of the conductive lead structure along the plane of the termination end of the conductive lead structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 15, wherein the one or more anchor tabs are detachable from the conductive lead structure such that the fixture is removably attached to the conductive lead structure such that the fixture can be removed from the conductive lead structure after attachment of the at least one conductor line to at least one of the termination pads. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 15, wherein the one or more anchor tabs are detachable from the conductive lead structure by delaminating at least one layer of the one or more anchor tabs from a layer of the conductive lead structure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 15, wherein the one or more anchor tabs are detachable from the conductive lead structure by tearing or cutting the one or more anchor tabs in half along a region of reduced cross-sectional area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 15, wherein at least one anchor tab of the one or more anchor tabs is a flexible anchor tab formed from one or more layers near the termination end. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 19, wherein the one or more anchor tabs have a reduced cross section to facilitate buckling when a rotational force in the plane of the termination end is applied to the fixture. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 19, wherein the one or more anchor tabs include two anchor tabs which are spaced such that a first tab of the two anchor tabs will buckle and a second tab of the two anchor tabs will be in tension when a clockwise rotational force is applied to the fixture, and wherein the first tab will, be in intension and the second tab will buckle when a counter-clockwise rotational force is applied to the fixture. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 15, wherein the fixture includes a hook arm extending along the end of the conductive lead structure at the termination end, the hook arm being removably attached to the end of the at least one conductor line. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 22, wherein the hook arm has a test pad for a respective one of the at least one conductor line fixed to and spaced along the length of the hook arm. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 15, wherein the conductive lead structure has a bend region which allows it to be bent along a bend axis, the at least one conductor line running over the conductive lead structure such that the at least one conductor line traverses the bend region approximately perpendicular to the bend axis. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 24, wherein the bend region is of reduced cross-sectional area. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 15, wherein the fixture contains holes arranged for manipulation by a robotic end effector. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 15, wherein the conductive lead structure is comprised of a base layer, an insulating layer and the patterned conductive layer. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 27, wherein the base layer is stainless steel, the insulating layer is polyimide, and the patterned conductive layer is copper. ### Claim 29 An actuator arm assembly for an information storage system, comprising: an actuator arm having arm-electronics termination pads; a multilayered suspension mechanically attached to the actuator arm at an attachment point; a conductive lead structure having at least one conductor line contained in a patterned conductive layer formed over one or more layers of the multilayered suspension, the conductive lead structure having a slider end for connection to transducer leads of a slider and a termination end for connection to the arm-electronics termination pads, the at least one conductor line being terminated at the arm-electronics termination pads, wherein the termination end extends out beyond the attachment point; and a fixture, formed from one or more layers of the multilayered suspension, being substantially in the same plane as the termination end of the conductive lead structure and having one or more anchor tabs attached to the conductive lead structure, wherein the fixture aligns the at least one conductor line to at least one arm-electronics termination pad of the arm-electronics termination pads by rotating the termination end of the conductive lead structure relative to the slider end of the conductive lead structure along the plane of the termination end of the conductive lead structure. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 29, wherein the one or more anchor tabs are detachable from the conductive lead structure such that the fixture is removably attached to the conductive lead structure and can be removed from the conductive lead structure after attachment of the at least one conductor line to at least one of the arm-electronics termination pads. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 30, wherein the one or more anchor tabs are detachable from the conductive lead structure by delaminating at least one layer of the one or more anchor tabs from a layer of the conductive lead structure. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 30, wherein the one or more anchor tabs are detachable from the conductive lead structure by tearing or cutting the one or more anchor tabs in half along a region of reduced cross-sectional area. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 29, wherein at least one anchor tab of the one or more anchor tabs is a flexible anchor tab formed from one or more layers near the termination end. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 29, wherein an anchor tab of the one or more anchor tabs has a reduced cross section to facilitate buckling when a rotational force in the plane of the termination end is applied to the fixture. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 34, wherein the one or more anchor tabs include two anchor tabs which are spaced such that a first tab of the two anchor tabs will buckle and a second tab of the two anchor tabs will be in tension when a clockwise rotational force is applied to the fixture, and wherein the first tab will be in tension and the second tab will buckle when a counter-clockwise rotational force is applied to the fixture. ### Claim 36 (depends on 29) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 29, wherein the fixture includes a hook arm extending along the end of the conductive lead structure at the termination end, the hook arm being removably attached to the end of the at least one conductor line. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 36, wherein the hook arm has a test pad for a respective one of the at least one conductor line fixed to and spaced along the length of the hook arm. ### Claim 38 (depends on 29) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 29, wherein at least one anchor tab of the one or more anchor tabs is a flexible anchor tab formed from one or more layers near the termination end. ### Claim 39 (depends on 29) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 29, wherein the fixture contains holes arranged for manipulation by a robotic end effector. ### Claim 40 (depends on 29) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 29, wherein the conductive lead structure has a bend region which allows it to be bent along a bend axis, the at least one conductor line running over the conductive lead structure such that the at least one conductor line traverses the bend region approximately perpendicular to the bend axis. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 40, wherein the bend region is of reduced thickness. ### Claim 42 (depends on 29) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 29, wherein the conductive lead structure is comprised of a base layer, an insulating layer and the patterned conductive layer. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) An actuator arm assembly according to claim 42, wherein the base layer is stainless steel, the insulating layer is polyimide, and the patterned conductive layer is copper. ### Claim 44 A multilayered suspension arranged for use in an information storage system slider-suspension assembly, said multilayered suspension having an attachment point for connection to an actuator arm, comprising: a conductive lead structure having at least one conductor line contained in a patterned conductive layer formed over one or more layers of the multilayered suspension, the conductive lead structure having a slider end for connection to transducer leads of a slider and a termination end for connection to arm-electronics termination pads, wherein the termination end extends out beyond the attachment point; and a fixture, formed from one or more layers of the multilayered suspension, being substantially in the same plane as the termination end of the conductive lead structure and having one or more anchor tabs attached to the conductive lead structure, wherein the fixture aligns the at least one conductor line to at least one termination pad of the termination pads by rotating the termination end of the conductive lead structure relative to the slider end of the conductive lead structure along the plane of the termination end of the conductive lead structure. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) A multilayered suspension according to claim 44, wherein the fixture includes a hook arm extending along the end of the conductive lead structure at the termination end, the hook arm being removably attached to the end of the at least one conductor line. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) A multilayered suspension according to claim 45, wherein the hook arm has a test pad for a respective one of the at least one conductor line fixed to and spaced along the length of the hook arm. ### Claim 47 (depends on 44) A multilayered suspension according to claim 44, wherein the fixture contains holes arranged for manipulation by a robotic end effector. ### Claim 48 (depends on 44) A multilayered suspension according to claim 44, wherein the conductive lead structure has a bend region which allows it to be bent along a bend axis, the at least one conductor line running over the conductive lead structure such that the at least one conductor line traverses the bend region approximately perpendicular to the bend axis. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) A multilayered suspension according to claim 48, wherein the bend region is of reduced thickness. ### Claim 50 (depends on 44) A multilayered suspension according to claim 44, wherein the conductive lead structure is comprised of a base layer, an insulating layer and the patterned conductive layer. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) A multilayered suspension according to claim 50, wherein the base layer is stainless steel, the insulating layer is polyimide, and the patterned conductive layer is copper. ### Claim 52 (depends on 44) A multilayered suspension according to claim 44, wherein the one or more anchor tabs are detachable from the conductive lead structure such that the fixture is removably attached to the conductive lead structure and can be removed from the conductive lead structure after attachment of the at least one conductor line to at least one of the termination pads. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) A multilayered suspension according to claim 52, wherein the one or more anchor tabs are detachable from the conductive lead structure by delaminating at least one layer of said one or more anchor tabs from a layer of the conductive lead structure. ### Claim 54 (depends on 52) A multilayered suspension according to claim 52, wherein the one or more anchor tabs are detachable from the conductive lead structure by tearing or cutting the one or more anchor tabs in half along a region of reduced cross-sectional area. ### Claim 55 (depends on 44) A multilayered suspension according to claim 44, wherein at least one anchor tab of the one or more anchor tabs is a flexible anchor tab formed from one or more layers near the termination end. ### Claim 56 (depends on 44) A multilayered suspension according to claim 44, wherein an anchor tab of the one or more anchor tabs has a reduced cross section to facilitate buckling when a rotational force in the plane of the termination end is applied to the fixture. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) A multilayered suspension according to claim 56, wherein the one or more anchor tabs include two anchor tabs which are spaced such that a first tab of the two anchor tabs will buckle and a second tab of the two anchor tabs will be in tension when a clockwise rotational force is applied to the fixture, and wherein the first tab will be in tension and the second tab will buckle when a counter-clockwise rotational force is applied to the fixture. ### Claim 58 (depends on 44) A multilayered suspension according to claim 44, wherein at least one anchor tab of the one or more anchor tabs is a flexible anchor tab formed from one or more layers near the termination end.