IP Library Granted Patent US 8,488,279
Granted Patent B1
US 8,488,279 · App. 13/302,979 · Granted Jul 16, 2013

Disk drive suspension assembly with flexure having stacked interleaved traces

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,488,279
App. No.
13/302,979
Granted
Jul 16, 2013
Kind
B1
Abstract

A disk drive suspension assembly has a laminated flexure that includes a structural layer, first and second conductive layers, a first dielectric layer disposed between the structural layer and the first conductive layer, and a second dielectric layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The first conductive layer includes at least a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace, and the second conductive layer includes at least a third conductive trace and a fourth conductive trace. The first conductive trace is electrically connected to the fourth conductive trace by a first conductive via through the second dielectric layer, and the second conductive trace is electrically connected to the third conductive trace through a second conductive via through the second dielectric layer. The third conductive trace overlies the first conductive trace, and the fourth conductive trace overlies the second conductive trace.

Claims (55)

1. A suspension assembly comprising:

a load beam;

a laminated flexure attached to the load beam, the laminated flexure including:

a structural layer;

a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer;

a first dielectric layer disposed between the structural layer and the first conductive layer; and

a second dielectric layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer;

wherein the first conductive layer includes at least a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace, and the second conductive layer includes at least a third conductive trace and a fourth conductive trace;

wherein the first conductive trace is electrically connected to the fourth conductive trace by a first conductive via through the second dielectric layer, and the second conductive trace is electrically connected to the third conductive trace through a second conductive via through the second dielectric layer; and

wherein the third conductive trace overlies the first conductive trace, and the fourth conductive trace overlies the second conductive trace.

2. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second dielectric layers comprises polyimide and has a thickness in the range of 4 microns to 20 microns.

3. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the structural layer comprises stainless steel and has a thickness in the range of 10 microns to 20 microns.

4. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second conductive layers comprises copper and has a thickness in the range of 5 microns to 15 microns.

5. The suspension assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of apertures in the structural layer, each of the plurality of apertures underlying the first trace and the second trace.

6. The suspension assembly of claim 1 further comprising a third dielectric layer overlying the second conductive layer.

7. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the first conductive trace is further electrically connected to the fourth conductive trace by a third conductive via through the second dielectric layer, and the second conductive trace is further electrically connected to the third conductive trace through a fourth conductive via through the second dielectric layer.

8. The suspension assembly of claim 7 wherein the third conductive trace overlies the first conductive trace, and the fourth conductive trace overlies the second conductive trace, in an overlap region that lies between the first and third conductive vias, and that lies between the second and fourth conductive vias.

9. The suspension assembly of claim 8 wherein the laminated flexure includes a tongue having a head mounting surface, and the laminated flexure includes an elongated flexure tail that extends away from the tongue to a tail terminus, and wherein the first and second conductive vias are disposed closer to the tongue than to the tail terminus, and the third and fourth conductive vias are disposed closer to the tail terminus than to the tongue.

10. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the first conductive trace is laterally spaced from the second conductive trace by a lateral spacing in the range of 10 microns to 30 microns.

11. A head gimbal assembly (HGA) comprising:

a head; and

a suspension assembly comprising:

a load beam;

a laminated flexure attached to the load beam, the laminated flexure including:

a structural layer;

a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer;

a first dielectric layer disposed between the structural layer and the first conductive layer; and

a second dielectric layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer;

wherein the first conductive layer includes at least a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace, and the second conductive layer includes at least a third conductive trace and a fourth conductive trace;

wherein the first conductive trace is electrically connected to the fourth conductive trace by a first conductive via through the second dielectric layer, and the second conductive trace is electrically connected to the third conductive trace through a second conductive via through the second dielectric layer; and

wherein the third conductive trace overlies the first conductive trace, and the fourth conductive trace overlies the second conductive trace.

12. The HGA of claim 11 wherein the first and second conductive traces are electrically coupled to a write transducer of the head.

13. The HGA of claim 11 wherein the first conductive trace is further electrically connected to the fourth conductive trace by a third conductive via through the second dielectric layer, and the second conductive trace is further electrically connected to the third conductive trace through a fourth conductive via through the second dielectric layer.

14. The HGA of claim 13 wherein the third conductive trace overlies the first conductive trace, and the fourth conductive trace overlies the second conductive trace, in an overlap region that lies between the first and third conductive vias, and that lies between the second and fourth conductive vias.

15. The HGA of claim 14 wherein the laminated flexure includes a tongue to which the head is bonded, and the laminated flexure includes an elongated flexure tail that extends away from the tongue to a tail terminus, and wherein the first and second conductive vias are disposed closer to the tongue than to the tail terminus, and the third and fourth conductive vias are disposed closer to the tail terminus than to the tongue.

16. A disk drive comprising:

a disk drive base,

a spindle rotably attached to the disk drive base;

a disk mounted to the spindle,

a head stack assembly (HSA) pivotably attached to the disk drive base, the HSA including an actuator arm and a flexible printed circuit that includes a preamplifier chip; and

a head gimbal assembly (HGA) attached to the actuator arm, the HGA including a head; and

a suspension assembly comprising:

a load beam;

a laminated flexure attached to the load beam, the laminated flexure including:

a structural layer;

a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer;

a first dielectric layer disposed between the structural layer and the first conductive layer; and

a second dielectric layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer;

wherein the first conductive layer includes at least a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace, and the second conductive layer includes at least a third conductive trace and a fourth conductive trace;

wherein the first conductive trace is electrically connected to the fourth conductive trace by a first conductive via through the second dielectric layer, and the second conductive trace is electrically connected to the third conductive trace through a second conductive via through the second dielectric layer; and

wherein the third conductive trace overlies the first conductive trace, and the fourth conductive trace overlies the second conductive trace.

17. The disk drive of claim 16 wherein the first and second conductive traces are electrically coupled to a write transducer of the head.

18. The disk drive of claim 16 wherein the first conductive trace is further electrically connected to the fourth conductive trace by a third conductive via through the second dielectric layer, and the second conductive trace is further electrically connected to the third conductive trace through a fourth conductive via through the second dielectric layer.

19. The disk drive of claim 18 wherein the third conductive trace overlies the first conductive trace, and the fourth conductive trace overlies the second conductive trace, in an overlap region that lies between the first and third conductive vias, and that lies between the second and fourth conductive vias.

20. The disk drive of claim 19 wherein the laminated flexure includes a tongue to which the head is bonded, and the laminated flexure includes an elongated flexure tail that extends away from the tongue to a tail terminus that is attached to the flexible printed circuit, and wherein the first and second conductive vias are disposed closer to the tongue than to the tail terminus, and the third and fourth conductive vias are disposed closer to the tail terminus than to the tongue.

Assignments (8)
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 →
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 038710 FRAME 0845 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC; WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058965/0445 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2019
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 050450/0582 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
Reel/Frame 045501/0158 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038710/0845 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0675 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0755 →