Method and system for providing electrostatic discharge protection for flex-on suspension, trace-suspension assembly, or cable-on suspension

A suspension assembly for use with a magnetoresistive (MR) head including an MR sensor, the MR sensor having a first end and a second end, the suspension assembly comprising:

• a first lead coupled with the first end of the MR sensor, the first lead including a first end;
• a second lead coupled with the second end of the MR sensor, the second lead including a first end;
• an insulating film substantially supporting the first lead and the second lead;
• a resistor coupled directly between the first lead and the second lead, the resistor being sufficiently large to damp a transient current in the MR sensor, the resistor being coupled with the first end of the first lead;
• and
• a second resistor coupled with the first end of the second lead, the resistor and the second resistor being coupled to ground, the second resistor being sufficiently large to damp the transient current in the MR sensor.

A suspension assembly for use with a magnetoresistive (MR) head including an MR sensor, the MR sensor having a first end and a second end, the suspension assembly comprising:

• a first lead coupled with the first end of the MR sensor, the first lead including a first end;
• a second lead coupled with the second end of the MR sensor, the second lead including a second end;
• an insulating film substantially supporting the first lead and the second lead;
• a resistor coupled directly between the first lead and the second lead, the resistor being sufficiently large to damp a transient current in the MR sensor, the resistor including a first end and a second end, the first end of the resistor being coupled with the first end of the first lead;
• and
• a second resistor including a first end and a second end, the first end of the second resistor being coupled with the first end of the second lead, the second end of the second resistor being coupled with the second end of the resistor, the second resistor being sufficiently large to damp the transient current in the MR sensor.

A method for providing a suspension assembly coupled with an MR head having an MR sensor, the MR sensor having a first end and a second end, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a first lead coupled with the first end of the MR sensor;
• (b) providing a second lead coupled with the second end of the MR sensor;
• (c) providing an insulating film supporting the first lead and the second lead;
• and
• (d) providing a resistor coupled directly between the first lead and the second lead, the resistor being sufficiently, large to damp a transient current in the MR sensor, the resistor coupling the first lead to ground;
• wherein either the first lead or the second lead can carry current to the MR sensor.

A method for providing a suspension assembly coupled with an MR head having an MR sensor, the MR sensor having a first end and a second end, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a first lead coupled with the first end of the MR sensor, the first lead including a first end;
• (b) providing a second lead coupled with the second end of the MR sensor, the second lead including a first end;
• (c) providing an insulating film supporting the first lead and the second lead;
• (d) providing a resistor coupled directly between the first lead and the second lead, the resistor being sufficiently, large to damp a transient current in the MR sensor, the resistor being coupled with the first end of the first lead;
• and
• (e) providing a second resistor coupled with the first end of the second lead, the resistor and the second resistor being coupled to ground, the second resistor being sufficiently large to damp the transient current in the MR sensor.

A method for providing a suspension assembly coupled with an MR head having an MR sensor, the MR sensor having a first end and a second end, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a first lead coupled with the first end of the MR sensor, the first lead including a first end;
• (b) providing a second lead coupled with the second end of the MR sensor, the second lead including a first end;
• (c) providing an insulating film supporting the first lead and the second lead;
• and
• (d) providing a resistor coupled directly between the first lead and the second lead, the resistor being sufficiently, large to damp a transient current in the MR sensor, the resistor including a first end and a second end, the first end of the resistor being coupled with the first end of the first lead;
• (e) a second resistor including a first end and a second end, the first end of the second resistor being coupled with the first end of the second lead, the second end of the second resistor being coupled with the second end of the resistor, the second resistor being sufficiently large to damp the transient current in the MR sensor.