IP Library Granted Patent US 8,233,241
Granted Patent B2
US 8,233,241 · App. 12/183,407 · Granted Jul 31, 2012

Positioning weight assemblies along a dynamic loop section of a flex cable to reduce flex cable oscillation

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,233,241
App. No.
12/183,407
Granted
Jul 31, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of reducing oscillation at the read write element of a hard disk drive, is described. In one embodiment, a flex cable for conducting data signals from a head stack assembly to a connector is provided. One or more weights are then coupled with the flex cable at one or more predetermined locations. The one or more predetermined locations are selected based upon mass distribution along the flex cable.

Claims (43)

1. A flex cable assembly comprising:

a flex cable for conducting data signals from a head stack assembly to a connector, said flex cable having a dynamic loop section between a termination for said head stack assembly and said connector, said dynamic loop section comprising:

a top and bottom edge;

a first side coupled with said termination for said head stack assembly; and

a second side coupled with said connector;

one or more weight assemblies coupled with said dynamic loop section of said flex cable at a location to reduce flex cable oscillation, each of said weight assemblies comprising:

a weight coupled with a first surface of a pressure sensitive adhesive; and

a second surface of said pressure sensitive adhesive coupled with said dynamic loop, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive is a damping layer and is positioned along at least one of said top edge and bottom edge of said dynamic loop section such that said one or more weight assemblies coupled with said dynamic loop section re-distributes mass along said flex cable.

2. The flex cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein said damping layer is selected from the group of damping layer materials consisting of:

acrylic adhesive, LA-50/100, ISD-110, ISD-120, ISD-142, and KAPTON.

3. The flex cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein each weight assembly of said one or more weight assemblies has a same measurement.

4. The flex cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein each weight assembly of a first portion of a set of said one or more weight assemblies has a same measurement, and each weight assembly of a second portion of said set of said one or more weight assemblies has a different measurement.

5. The flex cable assembly of claim 1 , wherein each weight assembly of said one or more weight assemblies has a different measurement.

6. A hard disk drive comprising:

a flex cable for conducting data signals from a head stack assembly to a connector, said flex cable having a dynamic loop section between a termination of said head stack assembly and said connector, said dynamic loop section comprising:

a top and bottom edge;

a first side coupled with said termination for said head stack assembly; and

a second side coupled with said connector; and

one or more weight assemblies coupled with said dynamic loop section of said flex cable at a location to distribute mass of said flex cable, each of said one or more weight assemblies comprising:

a weight coupled with a first surface of a pressure sensitive adhesive; and

a second surface of said pressure sensitive adhesive coupled with said dynamic loop section, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive is a damping layer and is positioned along at least one of said top edge and bottom edge of said dynamic loop section such that said one or more weight assemblies coupled with said dynamic loop section re-distributes mass along said flex cable.

7. The hard disk drive of claim 6 , wherein said damping layer is selected from the group of damping layer materials consisting of:

acrylic adhesive, LA-50/100, ISD-110, ISD-120, ISD-142, and KAPTON.

8. The hard disk drive of claim 6 , wherein each weight assembly of said one or more weights has a same measurement.

9. The hard disk drive of claim 6 , wherein each weight assembly of a first portion of a set of said one or more weight assemblies has a same measurement, and each weight assembly of said set of a second portion of said one or more weight assemblies has a different measurement.

10. The hard disk drive of claim 6 , wherein each weight assembly of said one or more weight assemblies has a different measurement.

11. A method of reducing oscillation at a read write element of a hard disk drive, said method comprising;

providing a flex cable for conducting data signals from a head stack assembly to a connector, said flex cable having a dynamic loop section between a termination for said head stack assembly and said connector, said dynamic loop section comprising:

a top and bottom edge;

a first side coupled with said termination for said head stack assembly; and

a second side coupled with said connector; and

coupling one or more weights with said flex cable, via a pressure sensitive adhesive at one or more predetermined locations along said at least one of said top edge and said bottom edge of said dynamic loop section, said pressure sensitive adhesive being a damping layer, said one or more predetermined locations selected based upon mass distribution along said flex cable.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

coupling a first surface of said pressure sensitive adhesive with each of said one or more weights; and

coupling a second surface of said pressure sensitive adhesive with said dynamic loop section of said flex cable.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said damping layer is selected from the group of damping layer materials consisting of:

acrylic adhesive, LA-50/100, ISD-110, ISD-120, ISD-142, and KAPTON.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining said location on said flex cable of said one or more weights according to a modal shape of said dynamic loop section.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining said location on said flex cable of said one or more weights based on a rate of oscillation of said dynamic loop section.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

coupling said one or more weights with said flex cable, wherein said one or more weights have different measurements.

Assignments (7)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052915 FRAME 0566 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 059127/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2020
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 052915/0566 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2016
From: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040826/0821 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 25, 2012
From: HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS B.V.
To: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 029341/0777 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2008
From: HUANG, FU-YING; SHEN, JR-YI; TIAN, JIFANG
To: HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 021409/0557 →