Disk drive head suspension distal non-op shock limiter with branched arms
View Patent ↗A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a load beam extending from a load beam supported end to a load beam distal end, and a laminated flexure supported by the load beam. The laminated flexure includes a structural layer having a head mounting tongue, a conductive layer having a plurality of patterned traces, and a dielectric layer between the structural layer and the conductive layer. The structural layer of the laminated flexure includes a distal limiter that has a first limiter arm and a second limiter arm adjoining at a distal apex. The distal apex is disposed closer to the load beam distal end than is the head mounting tongue. Each of the first and second limiter arms splits into a plurality of branches.
1. A head suspension assembly comprising:
a load beam extending from a load beam supported end to a load beam distal end;
a laminated flexure supported by the load beam, the laminated flexure including
a structural layer having a head mounting tongue,
a conductive layer having a plurality of patterned traces leading to connection terminals adjacent the tongue,
a dielectric layer between the structural layer and the conductive layer;
wherein the structural layer of the laminated flexure includes a distal limiter that has a first limiter arm and a second limiter arm, the distal limiter being disposed closer to the load beam distal end than is the head mounting tongue; and
wherein each of the first and second limiter arms includes an opening that has a closed periphery and is adjacent the connection terminals.
2. The head suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the load beam further includes a dimple having a dimple contact location where the load beam and head mounting tongue contact each other.
3. The head suspension assembly of claim 1 further comprising a mounting plate that includes an annular raised swage boss and that is attached to the load beam supported end.
4. The head suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the structural layer comprises stainless steel, the dielectric layer comprises polyimide, and the conductive layer comprises copper.
5. The head suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second limiter arms splits into a plurality of branches and the opening is defined by a gap between two of the plurality of branches that rejoin beyond the opening.
6. The head suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the first limiter arm and the second limiter arm adjoin at a distal apex.
7. A disk drive comprising:
a disk drive base;
a spindle attached to the disk drive base;
a disk mounted on the spindle;
an actuator attached to the disk drive base and having an actuator arm;
a head gimbal assembly (HGA) comprising:
a mounting plate attached to a distal end of the actuator arm;
a load beam extending from the mounting plate to a load beam distal end;
a laminated flexure supported by the load beam, the laminated flexure including
a structural layer having a tongue,
a conductive layer having a plurality of patterned traces leading to connection terminals adjacent the tongue,
a dielectric layer between the structural layer and the conductive layer;
a read head attached to the tongue and electrically connected to the connection terminals of the laminated flexure; and
a head loading ramp attached to the disk drive base, the head loading ramp including a bearing surface and a lower shelf;
wherein the structural layer of the laminated flexure includes a distal limiter that has a first limiter arm and a second limiter arm, the load beam distal end contacting the bearing surface and the distal limiter overlying the lower shelf with the disk drive in a non-operating condition; and
wherein each of the first and second limiter arms includes an opening therethrough that has a closed periphery and is adjacent the connection terminals.
8. The disk drive of claim 7 wherein the head loading ramp further comprises an upper shelf overlying the load beam distal end with the disk drive in a non-operating condition.
9. The disk drive of claim 7 wherein the HGA further includes a dimple having a dimple contact location where the load beam and laminated flexure tongue contact each other.
10. The disk drive of claim 7 wherein the mounting plate includes an annular raised swage boss.
11. The disk drive of claim 7 wherein the structural layer comprises stainless steel, the dielectric layer comprises polyimide, and the conductive layer comprises copper.
12. The disk drive of claim 7 wherein each of the first and second limiter arms splits into a plurality of branches, the opening being defined by a gap between two of the branches that rejoin beyond the opening.
13. The disk drive of claim 7 wherein the first limiter arm and the second limiter arm adjoin at a distal apex that is disposed closer to the load beam distal end than is the tongue.