Hard disk drive suspension tail having narrowing tip
A hard disk drive suspension includes a suspension tail configured to electrically connect to a read-write transducer at a distal end and extending in a proximal direction toward a tapered tip at a proximal end, where the tapered tip comprises a decreasing taper that narrows in the proximal direction. Hence, structural overlap among adjacent suspension tails in misalignment scenarios and consequent marginalized electrical connections between the suspension tail and a corresponding flexible printed circuit are inhibited. The most proximal electrical pads of the suspension tail may be configured with a different aspect ratio, or in a fewer number of lines, from other adjacent electrical pads, thereby fitting within the narrowest portion of the tapered tip.
1. A head stack assembly (HSA) comprising:
a plurality of read-write transducers each configured to read from and to write to at least one corresponding recording medium;
a flexible printed circuit (FPC); and
a plurality of suspensions each comprising a suspension tail electrically coupled to a respective read-write transducer of the plurality of read-write transducers and extending in a direction from the read-write transducer toward a tapered tip, of the suspension tail, formed by a series of multiple structural steps spanning a plurality of electrical pads coupled with the tapered tip.
2. The HSA of claim 1 , wherein the tapered tip comprises a decreasing taper that narrows in the direction along at least a portion of a proximal side of a fold area of the suspension tail.
3. The HSA of claim 1 , wherein each suspension further comprises the plurality of electrical pads coupled with the tapered tip and each electrically coupled to a corresponding electrical pad of the FPC.
4. A hard disk drive comprising the HSA of claim 3 .
5. The HSA of claim 3 , wherein:
the tapered tip comprises a decreasing taper that narrows, in the direction, along at least a portion of a proximal side of a fold area of the suspension tail; and
at least one electrical pad of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension has a different aspect ratio than an aspect ratio of an adjacent, opposing the direction, electrical pad of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension.
6. The HSA of claim 5 , wherein the at least one electrical pad is longer, in the direction, than the adjacent electrical pad.
7. The HSA of claim 5 , wherein the at least one electrical pad is thinner, in a direction normal to the direction, than the adjacent electrical pad.
8. The HSA of claim 3 , wherein:
the tapered tip comprises a decreasing taper that narrows, in the direction, along at least a portion of a proximal side of a fold area of the suspension tail;
a first portion of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension is configured in pairs along a first portion of the suspension; and
a second portion of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension is configured individually along a second portion of the suspension nearer an end of the tapered tip than the first portion of the suspension.
9. The HSA of claim 3 , wherein:
the tapered tip comprises a decreasing taper that narrows, in the direction, along at least a portion of a proximal side of a fold area of the suspension tail; and
each of a pair of electrical pads of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension has a different aspect ratio than an aspect ratio of each of an adjacent, in the direction, pair of electrical pads of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension.
10. A hard disk drive suspension comprising:
a suspension tail configured to electrically connect to a read-write transducer at a distal end and extending in a proximal direction toward a tapered tip at a proximal end, wherein the tapered tip comprises multiple structural steps forming a decreasing taper that narrows in the proximal direction and spanning a plurality of electrical pads coupled with the tapered tip.
11. The suspension of claim 10 , wherein:
the tapered tip narrows along at least a portion of a proximal side of a fold area of the suspension tail; and
at least one electrical pad of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension has a different aspect ratio than an aspect ratio of an adjacent electrical pad of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension.
12. The suspension of claim 11 , wherein the at least one electrical pad is longer, in the proximal direction, than the adjacent electrical pad.
13. The suspension of claim 11 , wherein the at least one electrical pad is thinner, in a direction normal to the proximal direction, than the adjacent electrical pad.
14. The suspension of claim 10 , wherein:
the tapered tip narrows along at least a portion of a proximal side of a fold area of the suspension tail;
a first portion of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension is configured in pairs along a first portion of the suspension; and
a second portion of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension is configured individually along a second portion of the suspension nearer an end of the tapered tip than the first portion of the suspension.
15. The suspension of claim 10 , wherein:
the tapered tip narrows along at least a portion of a proximal side of a fold area of the suspension tail; and
each of a pair of electrical pads of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension has a different aspect ratio than an aspect ratio of each of an adjacent pair of electrical pads of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension.
16. A hard disk drive comprising:
a plurality of storage media rotatably mounted on a spindle;
circuitry means for transmitting electrical signals; and
a head stack assembly coupled with an actuator configured to move the head stack assembly to access portions of the storage media, the head stack assembly comprising:
a plurality of head sliders each housing a respective read-write transducer configured to read from and to write to at least one corresponding storage medium of the storage media,
a plurality of suspensions each comprising a suspension tail electrically coupled to a respective head slider of the plurality of head sliders and extending in a direction from the head slider toward a tapered tip of the suspension tail, wherein the tapered tip comprises a series of multiple structural steps forming a decreasing taper that narrows in the direction along at least a portion of a proximal side of a fold area of the suspension tail and spanning a plurality of electrical pads coupled with the tapered tip, and
the plurality of electrical pads each electrically coupled with a corresponding electrical pad of the circuitry means.
17. The hard disk drive of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension are configured in multiple rows each positioned along the direction.
18. A head stack assembly (HSA) comprising:
a plurality of read-write transducers each configured to read from and to write to at least one corresponding recording medium;
a flexible printed circuit (FPC);
a plurality of suspensions each comprising:
a suspension tail electrically coupled to a respective read-write transducer of the plurality of read-write transducers and extending in a direction from the read-write transducer toward a tapered tip of the suspension tail, and
a plurality of electrical pads coupled with the tapered tip and each electrically coupled to a corresponding electrical pad of the FPC;
wherein for each suspension:
the tapered tip comprises a decreasing taper that narrows in the direction along at least a portion of a proximal side of a fold area of the suspension tail; and
at least one electrical pad of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension has a different aspect ratio than an aspect ratio of an adjacent, in the direction, electrical pad of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension.
19. The HSA of claim 18 , wherein each of a pair of electrical pads of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension has a different aspect ratio than an aspect ratio of each of an adjacent, in the direction, pair of electrical pads of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension.
20. A head stack assembly (HSA) comprising:
a plurality of read-write transducers each configured to read from and to write to at least one corresponding recording medium;
a flexible printed circuit (FPC);
a plurality of suspensions each comprising:
a suspension tail electrically coupled to a respective read-write transducer of the plurality of read-write transducers and extending in a direction from the read-write transducer toward a tapered tip of the suspension tail, and
a plurality of electrical pads coupled with the tapered tip and each electrically coupled to a corresponding electrical pad of the FPC;
wherein for each suspension:
the tapered tip comprises a decreasing taper that narrows in the direction along at least a portion of a proximal side of a fold area of the suspension tail;
a first portion of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension is configured in pairs along a first portion of the suspension; and
a second portion of the plurality of electrical pads of the suspension is configured individually along a second portion of the suspension nearer an end of the tapered tip than the first portion of the suspension.
21. A hard disk drive suspension comprising:
a suspension tail configured to electrically connect to a read-write transducer at a distal end and extending in a proximal direction toward a tapered tip at a proximal end;
a plurality of electrical pads coupled with the tapered tip;
wherein:
the tapered tip comprises a decreasing taper that narrows in the proximal direction along at least a portion of a proximal side of a fold area of the suspension tail; and
at least one electrical pad of the plurality of electrical pads has a different aspect ratio than an aspect ratio of an adjacent electrical pad of the plurality of electrical pads.
22. The suspension of claim 21 , wherein each of a pair of electrical pads of the plurality of electrical pads has a different aspect ratio than an aspect ratio of each of an adjacent pair of electrical pads of the plurality of electrical pads.
23. A hard disk drive suspension comprising:
a suspension tail configured to electrically connect to a read-write transducer at a distal end and extending in a proximal direction toward a tapered tip at a proximal end;
a plurality of electrical pads coupled with the tapered tip;
wherein:
the tapered tip comprises a decreasing taper that narrows in the proximal direction along at least a portion of a proximal side of a fold area of the suspension tail;
a first portion of the plurality of electrical pads is configured in pairs along a first portion of the suspension; and
a second portion of the plurality of electrical pads is configured individually along a second portion of the suspension nearer an end of the tapered tip than the first portion of the suspension.