US 6,145,188 A · Fan and fold head lead termination method using flex cable with edge termination pads

Abstract

An actuator structure includes a flexure suspension with a flag appendage having a cantilevered portion extending parallel to the arm-suspension to form a gap therebetween. The flex cable that connects to the device electronics has an elongated portion secured to the side of the arm-suspension assembly presenting termination pads, which extend to the cable edge, along the elongated portion side and in alignment with the gap between arm-suspension and flag. The leads extending from the transducer are fanned out and extend across the gap. The leads are bonded to the arm-suspension and to the lead cantilevered portion immediately adjoining the gap. To terminate the leads, the flag is folded down 90 degrees, bringing the leads into contact with the te nation pads where they are ultrasonically bonded. The flag is then bent toward its original position causing the fine lead wires to separate between the flag cantilever portion bond and the ultrasonically bonded termination. As the flag is bent back, the fragile connections, between flag and flexure, rupture and the flag is separated from the balance of the arm-suspension assembly. In the assembled condition, the bonding of the fanned out lead wires to the arm-suspension provides strain relief.

Claims2

Dependent claims

A method of assembling an actuator arm/load beam flexure (arm/flexure) assembly to arm electronics electrically connected to a flex cable which presents termination pads along the sides thereof using a flag appendage, formed as a unitary part of said flexure and presents a cantilevered portion separated from the arm/flexure assembly for supporting a plurality of lead wires extending from a transducer comprising the steps of:

supporting a terminal portion of said flex cable adjacent said actuator arm to position said termination pads along a gap between said flag appendage cantilevered portion and [the balance] an edge surface of said arm/flexure assembly;
stringing said lead wires across said gap in fanned out orientation to effect alignment with respective termination pads;
bonding said lead wires to said arm/flexure assembly at each side of said gap;
bending said flag appendage from an original orientation to rotate said lead wires respectively into overlying, contacting relation to the termination pads;
electrically connecting said lead wires to the respective aligned termination pads by bonding each of said lead wires to a confronting one of the termination pads;
and
removing said flag appendage from said arm/flexure assembly by rotating said flag appendage toward the original orientation to induce fracture of a connection with the flexure and breaking the lead wires beyond the gap.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fan and fold head lead termination method using flex cable with edge termination pads

Life of this patent

Fan and fold head lead termination method using flex cable with edge termination pads

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims2