Electrical connections to a microactuator in a hard disk drive suspension
US8570688B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 1, 2011 |
| Grant date | Oct 29, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L2224/40
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a disk drive suspension circuit, an electrical contact from a flexible circuit to a face of a PZT microactuator is provided by a mechanical bias to press a contact pad of the flexible circuit against the PZT surface. The mechanical bias is provided by a piece of stainless steel that is welded to a nearby point or points on the suspension, and which biases the electrical contact pad carrying the PZT driving voltage against the PZT. The piece of stainless steel may be in the form of a flat piece welded on one or more sides of the contact pad, and may include a dimple for pressing against the contact pad. Additional insulation material may be provided between the dimple and the contact pad to prevent the dimple from penetrating through the flexible circuit's cover layer and shorting the driving voltage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.