Disk drive actuator arm assembly with unitary flex cable
AssigneeMaxtor Corporation
InventorDavid W. Chew
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuator arm assembly for a disk drive is disclosed. The actuator arm assembly includes at least two actuator arms, each having a corresponding suspension and read/write head. A one-piece flex cable is attached to the upper or lower surface of each of these actuator arms, and includes at least one preamp. The flex cable provides an electrical interconnection between the read/write heads of these two actuator arms and a drive electronics board. Both of these actuator arms may be detachably interconnected with a spacer via at least one snap-lock type interconnection to allow for a “no tools” assembly/disassembly of the actuator arm assembly.
Claims17
A disk drive actuator arm assembly, comprising:
- a first actuator arm comprising a first actuator arm upper surface and an oppositely disposed first actuator arm lower surface;
- a first suspension attached to and extending from said first actuator arm;
- a first transducer attached to said first suspension;
- a second actuator arm comprising a second actuator arm upper surface and an oppositely disposed second actuator arm lower surface, wherein said first and second actuator arms are disposed in spaced relation and are at least generally vertically aligned;
- a second suspension attached to and extending from said second actuator arm;
- a second transducer attached to said second suspension;
- and
- a flex cable that is electrically connectable with an electronics board and that comprises first, second, and third flex cable sections, wherein said first flex cable section is attached to said first actuator arm upper surface and is electrically interconnected with said first transducer, wherein said second flex cable section is attached to said second actuator arm lower surface and is electrically interconnected with said second transducer, and wherein said third flex cable section interconnects said first and second flex cable sections and is integrally formed with each of said first and second flex cable sections such that there is no mechanical joint between said first and third flex cable sections, and such that there is no mechanical joint between said second and third flex cable sections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.