US 6,270,375 B1 · Low inductance flex-to-PCB spring connector for a disc drive

Abstract

A low inductance electrical spring connector for a disc drive interconnecting the conductors of a flex circuit support and seal apparatus to conductive traces on a PCB, the electrical spring connector having a dielectric housing with a plurality of spaced-apart insulator portions, and a plurality of conductive spring contacts disposed between the insulator portions. The dielectric housing forms an open ended insertion cavity disposable below the flex circuit support and seal apparatus. First ends of the conductive spring contacts are solderable to conductive traces on the PCB, while second ends of the conductive spring contacts are contact surfaces disposed in the insertion cavity . Inserting the conductors of the flex circuit adjacent the contact surfaces into the insertion cavity causes the contact surfaces to engage the conductors of the flex circuit to secure the flex circuit support and seal apparatus while providing electrical contact between the head-disc assembly and the printed circuit board.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An electrical spring connector interconnecting conductors of a flex circuit support and seal apparatus to conductive traces of a printed circuit board supported on a basedeck of a disc drive, the electrical spring connector comprising:

a dielectric housing having a plurality of spaced apart insulator portions extending from the dielectric housing, the dielectric housing surrounding an open ended insertion cavity disposable below the basedeck;
and
a plurality of conductive spring contacts supported by the dielectric housing between the insulator portions, the conductive spring contacts having first ends extending from the dielectric housing and second ends confined within the dielectric housing, the first ends attachable to the conductive traces of the printed circuit board, the second ends of the conductive spring contacts being pre-load contact portions having contact surfaces disposable in the insertion cavity, the conductors of the flex circuit support and seal apparatus insertable adjacent the contact surfaces into the insertion cavity, the contact surfaces of the pre-load contact portions engaging the conductors of the flex circuit support and seal apparatus to secure the flex circuit support and seal apparatus while providing electrical contact between the flex circuit support and seal apparatus and the printed circuit board.

A disc drive, comprising:

a head-disc assembly comprising a housing which forms an enclosure for a rotatable disc, an actuator assembly which supports a head adjacent the disc, and a flex circuit support and seal apparatus comprising a flex circuit which is affixed to the actuator assembly and routed through a housing aperture in the housing;
and
a printed circuit board affixed to an exterior surface of the housing and having a printed circuit board aperture aligned with the housing aperture, the printed circuit board comprising conductive traces for conducting electrical signals to various electrical components supported by the printed circuit board components, the printed circuit board further comprising an electrical spring connector which interconnects conductors of the flex circuit to the conductive traces of the printed circuit board, the electrical spring connector comprising:
a dielectric housing which is affixed to the printed circuit board and which spans the printed circuit board aperture, the dielectric housing comprising a plurality of spaced apart insulator portions extending from the dielectric housing;
and
a plurality of conductive spring contacts supported by the dielectric housing, each conductive spring contact having a tail portion, a main body portion and a pre-load contact portion with a contact surface, each tail portion affixable to a respective one of the conductive traces on the printed circuit board, each contact surface of the pre-load contact portions extending between an adjacent pair of the spaced apart insulator portions to establish electrical contact between a respective one of the conductors of the flex circuit and the printed circuit board.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low inductance flex-to-PCB spring connector for a disc drive

Life of this patent

Low inductance flex-to-PCB spring connector for a disc drive

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13