IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,670,328
Granted Patent B2
US 11,670,328 · App. 17/736,055 · Granted Jun 6, 2023

Disk-drive suspension, electronic component, and connection method of suspension and electronic component

Inventors: Kai Chung Ng (Yokohama, JP); Wen Tao (Yokohama, JP); Zhen Zhou Qi (Yokohama, JP); Jun Zeng (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
G11B5/4833G11B5/486G11B5/4826G11B5/4853
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,670,328
App. No.
17/736,055
Granted
Jun 6, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A disk-drive suspension includes a load beam, a flexure laid on top of the load beam, a first terminal provided on the flexure, and a first bump arranged on a top surface of the first terminal. The first terminal includes a narrow part having a first width in a first direction and including a center of the first terminal, and a wide part having a second width in the first direction greater than the first width. The wide part and the narrow part are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The first bump has, at the center, a first height from a bottom surface of the first terminal. The first height is greater than the first width.

Claims (48)

1. A disk-drive suspension comprising:

a load beam;

a flexure provided on top of the load beam;

a first terminal provided on the flexure; and

a first bump provided on a top surface of the first terminal,

wherein:

the first terminal includes:

a narrow part having a first width in a first direction and including a center of the first terminal in the first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction; and

a pair of wide parts each having a second width in the first direction greater than the first width,

the narrow part is positioned between the pair of wide parts in the second direction,

the first bump has, at the center, a first height from a bottom surface of the first terminal, and

the first height is greater than the first width.

2. The disk-drive suspension of claim 1 , wherein:

the first terminal includes a first side and a second side each intersecting the first direction, and

at least one of the first side and the second side includes a concave section recessed in the first direction at the narrow part.

3. The disk-drive suspension of claim 1 , wherein the first height is less than the second width.

4. A connection method of electrically connecting the disk-drive suspension of claim 1 and an electronic component to each other, the electronic component including a second terminal and a second bump provided on a top surface of the second terminal, and the method comprising:

planarizing the first bump;

aligning the suspension and the electronic component with each other in such a manner that (i) the first bump and the second bump are adjacent to each other, and (ii) a first plane including the top surface of the first terminal and a second plane including the top surface of the second terminal intersect each other; and

melting the first bump and the second bump to thereby connect the first bump and the second bump to each other.

5. The connection method of claim 4 , wherein:

the planarized first bump has, at the center, a second height from the bottom surface of the first terminal, and

the second height is less than the first height by at least 15%.

6. The connection method of claim 5 , wherein the second height is less than the first width.

7. The connection method of claim 4 , wherein the electronic component comprises one of a flexible printed circuit board and a slider constituting a magnetic head.

8. An electronic component electrically connectable to a disk-drive suspension, the electronic component comprising:

a second terminal; and

a second bump arranged on a top surface of the second terminal,

wherein:

the second terminal includes:

a narrow part having a first width in a first direction and including a center of the second terminal in the first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction, and

a pair of wide parts each having a second width greater than the first width in the first direction,

the narrow part is positioned between the pair of wide parts in the second direction,

the second bump has, at the center, a first height from a bottom surface of the second terminal, and

the first height is greater than the first width.

9. The electronic component of claim 8 , wherein:

the second terminal includes a first side and a second side each intersecting the first direction, and

at least one of the first side and the second side includes a concave section recessed in the first direction at the narrow part.

10. The electronic component of claim 8 , wherein the first height is less than the second width.

11. A connection method of electrically connecting a disk-drive suspension and the electronic component of claim 9 to each other, the suspension including a first terminal and a first bump arranged on a top surface of the first terminal, and the method comprising:

planarizing the second bump;

aligning the suspension and the electronic component with each other in such a manner that (i) the first bump and the second bump are adjacent to each other, and (ii) a first plane including the top surface of the first terminal and a second plane including the top surface of the second terminal intersect each other; and

melting the first bump and the second bump to thereby connect the first bump and the second bump to each other.

12. The connection method of claim 11 , wherein:

the planarized second bump has, at the center, a second height from a bottom surface of the second terminal, and

the second height is less than the first height by at least 15%.

13. The connection method of claim 12 , wherein the second height is less than the first width.

14. The connection method of claim 11 , wherein the electronic component comprises one of a flexible printed circuit board and a slider constituting a magnetic head.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2022
From: NG, KAI CHUNG; TAO, WEN; QI, ZHEN ZHOU; ZENG, JUN
To: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059803/0059 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202110552691.6 · May 20, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220375496A1 · Nov 24, 2022