A conductor assembly electrically connects a transducer supported on an E-block to a flex circuit mounted to the E-block. A conductor strip has a plurality of electrical conductors connected to the transducer. A fin is coupled to the plurality of conductors. The fin engages a slot on the E-block, and a plurality of conductive tabs are electrically connected to respective ones of the electrical conductors. The tabs extend from the slot and rigidly engage tabs on the flex circuit to prevent the fins from disengaging the slot.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/057,955, filed Sep. 5, 1997 for "Ultra High Performance Disc Drive" by Kent J. Forbord and from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/063,322, filed Oct. 27, 1997 for "Ultra High Performance Disc Drive" by Kent J. Forbord.
An arm assembly for a disk drive device in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of arms arranged in parallel to each other, one end of each of said arms supporting a read/write head, and each of said arms having an extended plate which cantilevers from one of side edges of said arm, said extended plate being capable of deflecting in a direction which is vertical to a plane of said arm, and rotationally gimbal to a limited degree about two axes in the plane of said arm, a plurality of first connecting pads provided on each of said extended plates, said first connecting pads being connected to said read/write head, a circuit board which engages with said cantilevered extended plate and is provided with a plurality of second connecting pads characterized in that the plane of said circuit board is approximately orthogonal to said extended plate and is so located with respect to said extended plates of said plurality of arms to align said second connecting pads to said first connecting pads on each of said extended plates.
An interconnect apparatus for connecting a transducer to a flexible connector in an actuator assembly of a data storage device. The actuator assembly has a moveable actuator body and an arm extending from the body. The body defines a longitudinal opening aligned with the arm and associated with the placement of the interconnect apparatus. The interconnect apparatus includes a proximal end fixed to the actuator body and electrically connected to the flexible connector; a distal end fixed to the arm and electrically connected to the transducer; a medial portion electrically connecting the ends, a segment of the medial portion disposed within the actuator body opening; and a retaining member interposed between the medial portion and the actuator body within the opening, fixing the medial portion to the actuator body without using a bonding material.
A disc drive is provided with rotatable discs and an actuator assembly having heads adjacent the discs. A flex circuit assembly providing electrical connection between the heads and the disc drive circuitry comprises flex strips routed on the actuator assembly from the heads and a flex affixed on the actuator assembly. A flex support snubber mounted on the side of the actuator assembly has a body portion with a plurality of arms extending therefrom. Each pair of the arms form a groove so that the arms are disposed above and below discs while the discs extend into the grooves. A plurality of slits are interposed between the grooves to support the flex strips therein. An opposite end of the flex support snubber curves to form a U-shaped snubber bend for turning and guiding a dynamic portion of the flex.
A disc drive has actuator servo-controls and signal processing electronics positioned on, and electrically connected to, a flex printed circuit board positioned on a top surface of a base along with the actuator assembly and the spindle motor of the disc drive. A power combo chip is also positioned on the flex printed circuit board that is positioned on the top surface of the base. A top cover is attached to the base to form an enclosed space. The actuator assembly and the spindle motor are within the enclosed space and the actuator servo-controls and signal processing electronics are outside the enclosed space.
A disc drive has an improved electrical interconnect assembly mated to a suspension assembly for coupling one or more conductive paths leading from a read/write head to control circuitry located off the suspension assembly. The interconnect assembly has a portion that extends along an edge of the suspension assembly that is oriented towards the outer diameter of a disc on the disc drive. The suspension may be made of a laminate material and may include a trench formed in the suspension that is configured to mount a portion of the interconnect assembly. Positioning a portion of the interconnect assembly on the edge of the suspension towards the disc outer diameter and mounting another portion of the interconnect assembly in a trench formed in the suspension assembly reduces windage-induced vibrations of the suspension assembly and, consequently, the head.
