Method and apparatus for electrically coupling components in a removable cartridge

An apparatus comprising an information storage cartridge which includes:

• a port;
• an information storage medium having an information storage surface thereon;
• structure operable to transfer information between said port and said surface, including a head operable to effect at least one of reading information from and writing information to said surface, said head and said storage medium being supported for relative movement in a manner causing said head to move with respect to said surface while remaining adjacent thereto, said structure including an actuator which controls at least one component of said movement of said head relative to said surface, and a single flex circuit which effects all electrical coupling between said port and each of said head and said actuator;
• and
• an integrated circuit supported on said single flex circuit with said single flex circuit effecting all electrical coupling between said integrated circuit and said port, said integrated circuit having information therein which can be read out through said flex circuit and said port.

A method for operating an information storage cartridge which includes a port, an information storage medium having an information storage surface thereon, a head operable to effect at least one of reading information from and writing information to said surface, an actuator operatively coupled to said head, and a single flex circuit which electrically couples said port to each of said head and said actuator, said method comprising the steps of:

• supporting said head and said storage medium for relative movement in a manner causing said head to move with respect to said surface while remaining adjacent thereto, said actuator controlling at least one component of said movement of said head relative to said surface;
• transmitting through said single flex circuit all electrical signals traveling between said port and each of said head and said actuator;
• and
• providing an electrostatic protection buffer on said single flex circuit;
• wherein said transmitting step includes the step of transmitting through said flex circuit and said buffer all electrical signals traveling between said head and said port.

A method for operating an information storage cartridge which includes a port, an information storage medium having an information storage surface thereon, a head operable to effect at least one of reading information from and writing information to said surface, an actuator operatively coupled to said head, and a single flex circuit which electrically couples said port to each of said head and said actuator, said method comprising the steps of:

• supporting said head and said storage medium for relative movement in a manner causing said head to move with respect to said surface while remaining adjacent thereto, said actuator controlling at least one component of said movement of said head relative to said surface;
• transmitting through said single flex circuit all electrical signals traveling between said port and each of said head and said actuators and
• providing an integrated circuit on said single flex circuit;
• wherein said transmitting step includes the step of transmitting through said single flex circuit all electrical signals traveling between said integrated circuit and said port.

An apparatus comprising an information storage cartridge which includes:

• a port;
• an information storage medium having an information storage surface thereon;
• a motor drivingly coupled to said storage medium for effecting movement of said storage medium;
• and
• structure which includes a single flex circuit that effects all electrical coupling between said port and said motor.