Laminated structures for a disk drive suspension assembly

An interconnect assembly for attachment to a load beam and for electrically coupling a head assembly to control electronics, the interconnect assembly comprising:

• a first layer of a spring material comprising at least one flat metal plate for adding stiffness to regions of a load beam;
• a third layer of a conductive material comprising at least one elongated trace, the trace having a distal end configured for electrical coupling to a head assembly;
• and
• a thin second layer of a dielectric material comprising at least one panel, the at least one panel placed in between overlapping areas of the first layer and of the third layer.

A gimbal-interconnect assembly for attachment to a load beam in a dynamic data storage device and for electrically coupling a head assembly to a read/write circuitry, the gimbal-interconnect assembly comprising:

• a first layer of a spring material comprising at least one flat support plate;
• a third layer of a conductive spring material comprising at least one elongated trace for coupling to a head assembly, each trace having a load beam region for attachment to a load beam and a gimbal region shaped at least as a portion of a gimbal for providing gimbaling support to a head assembly;
• and
• a flat intermediate second layer of thin insulating material placed in between the first layer and the second layer, the second layer comprising a plurality of panels shaped as the overlapping contact surfaces of the first and third layer.

A gimbal-interconnect assembly for attachment to a distal end of a load beam having a longitudinal axis in a dynamic data storage device and for electrical coupling and providing gimbaling support to a head assembly having a plurality of electrical terminals, the interconnect assembly comprising:

• a first thin layer comprising separate stainless steel plates including
• a load beam plate to extend across a middle region of a load beam,
• a tongue plate, having a proximal end region and a distal end region, wherein the distal end region to extend past the distal end of a load beam, and
• a plurality of smaller support islands adjacent to the tongue plate;
• a third layer comprising a plurality of separate thin beryllium copper elements including
• at least one trace, each trace comprising a elongated conductor and having a distal end configured to electrically couple to an electrical terminal of a head assembly, a proximal end configured to electrically couple to control electronics, and a middle region wherein the traces are for extending past a distal end of a load beam as gimbal spring arms for providing gimbaling support to a head assembly,
• at least one bond pad configured for attachment to a head assembly, the bond pad comprising a flat surface, and
• a load beam plate aligned opposite a region of the load beam plate of the first layer;
• a second layer placed in between the first and the third layer, wherein the second layer bonds and separates the first and the third layers, the second layer comprising a plurality of thin panels of an electrically insulating and adhesive material, wherein the geometry of the panels match the geometry of the areas of common overlap between the plates of the first layer and the elements of the third layer;
• wherein the first and the third layers are shaped so that when joined together by the second layer,
• the load beam plate and a proximal end region of each trace of the third layer attach to the load beam plate of the first layer,
• the bond pads and the distal end region of each trace of the third layer attach to the tongue plate of the first layer,
• wherein the spring arms of the traces are supported by and act as linking elements to the load beam plate, the tongue plate, and the islands of the first layer, and
• wherein the second layer allows the first layer and the third layer to act as the main spring elements of the gimbal-interconnect assembly.

A head suspension assembly for positioning a head assembly over a rotatable data storage device and for electrically coupling the head assembly to control electronics, the head suspension assembly comprising:

• a gimbal-interconnect assembly including:
• a first layer of a spring material comprising at least one flat support plate,
• a third layer of a conductive spring material comprising at least one elongated trace for coupling to the head assembly, each trace having a load beam region for attachment to a load beam and a gimbal region shaped at least as a portion of a gimbal for providing gimballing support to the head assembly, and
• a flat intermediate second layer of thin insulating material placed in between the first layer and the second layer, the intermediate layer comprising a plurality of panels shaped as the overlapping contact surfaces of the first and second layer;
• the load beam including a spring structure having a base region at a proximal end, a spring region adjacent the base region, a rigid region adjacent the spring region, and a distal end region at a distal end and adjacent to the rigid region, wherein the load beam regions of the traces of the gimbal-interconnect assembly attach to a first surface of the load beam;
• a head assembly including a transducer attached to an air-bearing slider and having electrical terminals electrically coupled to the transducer, wherein the head assembly attaches to the gimbal region of the traces of the gimbal-interconnect assembly.