Suspension assembly and disc device

Abstract

The embodiment provides a suspension assembly and a disk device capable of stably connecting a magnetic head to a wiring component. The suspension assembly comprises: a support plate (38) having a front end and a base end; a wiring component having a metal plate (46), a first insulating layer (80) stacked on the metal plate, a conductive layer (82) stacked on the first insulating layer and having a plurality of wirings (W) and a connecting pad (54), and a second insulating layer (84) stacked on the conductive layer and the first insulating layer, arranged on the support plate; and a magnetic head (17) mounted on the wiring component. The magnetic head comprises: a head slider having an outflow end located on the front end side and an inflow end located on the base end side; and a connecting pad (PT) arranged at the outflow end and electrically connected to the wiring. The wiring component comprises: a head setting area for carrying the magnetic head; and an etching area (PE), at least a portion of which is located in the head setting area and is opposite to the end of the inflow end side of the head slider with a gap (G1) therebetween.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-190263 (filing date: November 16, 2020), and the present application incorporates the entire contents of the basic application by reference. Technical Field

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a suspension assembly and a disk device including the suspension assembly. Background Art

[0003] As a disk device, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) includes: a plurality of magnetic disks rotatably arranged in a housing; a plurality of magnetic heads for reading and writing information on the magnetic disks; and a head actuator for supporting the magnetic heads so as to be movable relative to the magnetic disks.

[0004] The head actuator comprises: an actuator block supported to rotate freely; and a plurality of suspension assemblies (sometimes also referred to as universal joint assemblies) extending from the actuator block, each of which supports a magnetic head at the front end. The suspension assembly comprises: a base plate, one end of which is fixed to an arm; a loading beam extending from the base plate; and a flexible member (wiring member) provided on the loading beam and the base plate. The flexible member has a universal joint portion that can be displaced freely, and the magnetic head is mounted on the universal joint portion.

[0005] Generally, the magnetic head is attached and fixed to the front end of the suspension or the gimbal of the flexure by an adhesive, and is electrically connected to the wiring of the flexure by solder, a conductive adhesive, or the like. Summary of the invention

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention provide a suspension assembly capable of stably connecting a magnetic head to a wiring member, and a disk device including the suspension assembly.

[0007] According to an embodiment, a suspension assembly includes: a support plate having a front end portion and a base end portion; a wiring component including a metal plate, a first insulating layer stacked on the metal plate, a conductive layer stacked on the first insulating layer and having a plurality of wirings and connection pads formed thereon, and a second insulating layer stacked on the conductive layer and the first insulating layer, and disposed on the support plate; and a magnetic head mounted on the wiring component, including a head slider having an outflow end located on the front end portion side and an inflow end located on the base end portion side, and a connection pad disposed at the outflow end and electrically connected to the wiring. The wiring component includes: a head setting region, on which the magnetic head is mounted; and an etching region, at least a portion of which is located in the head setting region and is opposite to the end of the head slider on the inflow end side with a gap therebetween. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 It is a perspective view showing a hard disk drive (HDD) according to the embodiment.

[0009] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an actuator assembly of the HDD.

[0010] Figure 3 It is a perspective view showing one head suspension assembly of the actuator assembly.

[0011] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the head suspension assembly.

[0012] Figure 5 is a top view of the head suspension assembly.

[0013] Figure 6 It is a top view of the gimbal portion of the head gimbal assembly, showing the magnetic head omitted.

[0014] Figure 7 It is along Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the universal joint portion taken along line AA. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Hereinafter, a disk device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] Furthermore, the disclosure is only an example, and technical solutions that can be easily thought of and appropriately modified while maintaining the spirit of the invention are certainly included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, in order to make the description clearer, there are cases where the size and shape of each part are schematically represented in the drawings compared with the actual form, but this is only an example and does not limit the interpretation of the present invention. In addition, sometimes in this specification and the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements as those described in the drawings that have already appeared, and detailed descriptions are appropriately omitted.

[0017] (Implementation Method)

[0018] As the disk device, a hard disk drive (HDD) according to the embodiment will be described in detail.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the HDD according to the embodiment, showing the top cover removed.

[0020] As shown in the figure, the HDD has a rectangular housing 10. The housing 10 has a rectangular box-shaped base 12 with an open upper surface and a top cover (not shown). The base 12 has a rectangular bottom wall 12a and a side wall 12b erected along the periphery of the bottom wall 12a, and is integrally formed of, for example, aluminum. The top cover is formed of, for example, stainless steel in a rectangular plate shape and is screwed to the side wall 12b of the base 12 by a plurality of screws.

[0021] In the housing 10, a plurality of magnetic disks 18 as disk-shaped recording media and a spindle motor 19 for supporting and rotating the magnetic disks 18 are provided. The spindle motor 19 is disposed on the bottom wall 12a. Each magnetic disk 18 has, for example, a substrate formed in the shape of a disk with a diameter of 95 mm (3.5 inches) and formed of a non-magnetic body such as glass or aluminum; and a magnetic recording layer formed on the upper surface (first surface) and the lower surface (second surface) of the substrate. The magnetic disks 18 are coaxially fitted into a hub (not shown) of the spindle motor 19 and clamped by a clamp spring 20. Thus, the magnetic disks 18 are supported in a state of being located parallel to the bottom wall 12a of the base 12. The plurality of magnetic disks 18 are rotated at a predetermined rotation speed by the spindle motor 19.

[0022] In the present embodiment, for example, four magnetic disks 18 are arranged in the housing 10 , but the number of magnetic disks 18 is not limited thereto, and may be three or less or five or more.

[0023] The housing 10 is provided with: a plurality of magnetic heads 17 for recording and reproducing information on the magnetic disk 18; and an actuator assembly 22 for supporting the magnetic heads 17 so as to be movable relative to the magnetic disk 18. In addition, the housing 10 is provided with: a voice coil motor (VCM) 24 for rotating and positioning the actuator assembly 22; a ramp loading mechanism 25 for keeping the magnetic head 17 at an unloading position away from the magnetic disk 18 when the magnetic head 17 moves to the outermost periphery of the magnetic disk 18; and a substrate unit (FPC unit) 21 on which electronic components such as a conversion connector are mounted.

[0024] A printed circuit board (not shown) is screwed onto the outer surface of the bottom wall 12 a of the base 12 . The printed circuit board constitutes a control unit that controls the operation of the spindle motor 19 and controls the operation of the VCM 24 and the magnetic head 17 via the board unit 21 .

[0025] Figure 2 2 is a perspective view showing the actuator assembly 22. As shown in the figure, the actuator assembly 22 includes: an actuator block 29 having a through hole 26; a bearing unit (unit bearing) 28 disposed in the through hole 26; a plurality of arms 32, for example, five arms 32 extending from the actuator block 29; a suspension assembly 30 mounted on each arm 32; and a magnetic head 17 supported by the suspension assembly 30. The actuator block 29 is supported by the bearing unit 28 so as to be rotatable around a support shaft (pivot) 31 erected on the bottom wall 12a.

[0026] In this embodiment, the actuator block 29 and the five arms 32 are integrally formed of aluminum or the like to form a so-called E-block. The arm 32 is formed, for example, in the shape of an elongated flat plate, and extends from the actuator block 29 in a direction perpendicular to the support shaft 31. The five arms 32 are arranged in parallel with gaps between them.

[0027] The actuator assembly 22 includes a support frame 33 extending from the actuator block 29 in a direction opposite to the arm 32. A voice coil 35 constituting a part of the VCM 24 is supported by the support frame 33. Figure 1 As shown, the voice coil 35 is located between a pair of yokes 37 , and together with the yokes 37 and a magnet fixed to one of the yokes, constitutes the VCM 24 . One of the pair of yokes 37 is fixed to the base 12 .

[0028] like Figure 2 As shown, the actuator assembly 22 includes eight suspension assemblies 30 each supporting a magnetic head 17. These suspension assemblies 30 are respectively mounted on the front end portion 32a of each arm 32. The plurality of suspension assemblies 30 include an upward head suspension assembly that supports the magnetic head 17 upward and a downward head suspension assembly that supports the magnetic head 17 downward. The upward head suspension assembly and the downward head suspension assembly are configured by changing the vertical orientation of the suspension assembly 30 of the same structure.

[0029] In this embodiment, Figure 2 In the embodiment, the downward head suspension assembly 30 is mounted on the uppermost arm 32, and the upward head suspension assembly 30 is mounted on the lowermost arm 32. The upward head suspension assembly 30 and the downward head suspension assembly 30 are mounted on each of the three middle arms 32.

[0030] Next, an example of the suspension assembly 30 will be described in detail.

[0031] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a suspension assembly, Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view of the suspension components. Figure 5 is a top view of the suspension assembly.

[0032] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, each suspension assembly 30 has a suspension 34 extending from an arm 32, and a magnetic head 17 is mounted on the front end of the suspension 34. The magnetic head 17 and the suspension assembly 30 supporting the magnetic head 17 are collectively referred to as a head suspension assembly.

[0033] The suspension 34, which functions as a support plate, includes a rectangular base plate 36 made of a metal plate several hundred microns thick, and an elongated leaf spring-shaped loading beam 38 made of a metal plate several tens of microns thick. The loading beam 38 has its base end overlapped with the front end of the base plate 36 and is fixed to the base plate 36 by welding at multiple locations. The front end of the loading beam 38 constitutes the front end of the support plate, and the base end of the loading beam 38 and the base plate 36 constitute the base end of the support plate. The width of the base end of the loading beam 38 is formed to be substantially equal to the width of the base plate 36. A rod-shaped tab 40 is protrudingly provided at the front end of the loading beam 38.

[0034] The base plate 36 has a circular opening 36a and an annular protrusion 36b located around the opening 36a at its base end. The base plate 36 is fastened to the front end 32a of the arm 32 by fitting the protrusion 36b into a circular grouted hole (not shown) formed on the grouted seat surface of the arm 32 and grouted the protrusion 36b. The base end of the base plate 36 can also be fixed to the front end 32a of the arm 32 by laser welding, spot welding or bonding.

[0035] The suspension assembly 30 includes: a thin and long strip-shaped flexible member (wiring member) 42 for transmitting recording signals, reproduction signals and driving signals of the piezoelectric element; and a pair of piezoelectric elements (such as PZT elements) 50 mounted on the flexible member 42. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the flexible member 42 has: a front end side portion 42a, which is arranged on the load beam 38 and the base plate 36; a base end side portion 42b, which extends outward from the side edge of the base plate 36 and extends along the side edge of the arm 32 to the actuator block 29; and a connection end portion 42c, which extends from the extension end of the base end side portion 42b. The connection end portion 42c has a plurality of connection pads (electrode pads) 43 arranged in an array. These connection pads 43 are electrically connected to the connection terminals of the wiring substrate 51 provided on the actuator block 29.

[0036] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown in the figure, the front end of the flexible member 42 is located above the front end of the load beam 38, forming a universal joint portion 44 that functions as an elastic support portion. The magnetic head 17 is mounted and fixed on the universal joint portion 44, and is supported by the load beam 38 via the universal joint portion 44. A pair of piezoelectric elements 50 as driving elements are installed on the universal joint portion 44 and are arranged on both sides of the magnetic head 17.

[0037] The flexible member 42 has a metal thin plate (metal plate) 46 such as stainless steel as a base and a strip-shaped laminated component (flexible printed wiring substrate: FPC) 48 attached or fixed to the metal thin plate 46, which is a thin and long laminated plate. The laminated component (FPC) 48 has: a base insulating layer (first insulating layer), most of which is fixed to the metal thin plate 46; a conductive layer (wiring pattern) formed on the base insulating layer, forming a plurality of signal wirings, drive wirings, and a plurality of connection pads; and a cover insulating layer (second insulating layer) covering the conductive layer and laminated on the base insulating layer. As the conductive layer, for example, copper foil is used, and a plurality of signal wirings, drive wirings, and connection pads are formed by patterning the copper foil.

[0038] At the front end side portion 42a of the flexible member 42, the metal thin plate 46 is attached or spot welded to the surface of the load beam 38 and the base plate 36 through a plurality of welding points. In one example, the metal thin plate 46 has two welding points (first welding portion) B1 welded to the base end portion of the load beam 38 and one welding point (second welding portion) B2 welded to the front end portion of the load beam 38. That is, the metal thin plate 46 is welded to the load beam 38 at least at two locations, namely, the welding point B1 located on the leading end (outflow end) side of the magnetic head 17 and the welding point B2 located on the trailing end (inflow end) side of the magnetic head 17.

[0039] In the universal joint part 44, the metal thin plate 46 integrally includes: a tongue part (support part) 44a of a generally rectangular shape, which is located at the front end side; a base end part (first end part) 44b of a generally rectangular shape, which is located at the base end side with a space between the tongue part 44a; a pair of elastically deformable outer brackets (link rod parts) 44c, which respectively connect the base end parts 44b to the tongue part 44a and support the tongue part 44a so as to be displaceable; a connecting frame 44d, which extends from one outer bracket 44c around the front end side of the tongue part 44a to the other outer bracket 44c; and a generally rectangular fixed pad part (second end part) 44e, which extends from the connecting frame 44d and faces the front end part of the tongue part 44a. The fixed pad part 44e is located between the connecting frame 44d and the tongue part 44a.

[0040] The base end portion 44b is attached to the surface of the load beam 38 and spot welded to the load beam 38 at a welding point B1. The fixing pad portion 44e is spot welded to the front end of the load beam 38 at a welding point B2. The welding point B2 is located on the central axis C1 of the suspension 34.

[0041] like Figure 4 As shown, the tongue 44a is formed into a size and shape capable of carrying the magnetic head 17, for example, into a substantially rectangular shape. The tongue 44a is configured so that the central axis in the width direction thereof coincides with the central axis C1 of the suspension 34. The tongue 44a has: a rear end 45a located on the side of the base end 44b; and a front end 45b located on the front end side of the suspension 34. Both sides of the width direction of the rear end 45a are respectively connected to the outer bracket 44c. In the tongue 44a, the central portion between the rear end 45a and the front end 45b is narrowed to a narrow width compared to other portions.

[0042] The approximate center of the tongue 44a abuts against a concave pit (convex portion) 52 protrudingly provided at the front end of the loading beam 38. The tongue 44a can be elastically deformed by a pair of outer brackets 44c and a connecting frame 44d and displaced in various directions with the concave pit 52 as a fulcrum. Thus, the tongue 44a and the magnetic head 17 mounted on the tongue 44a can flexibly follow the surface changes of the magnetic disk 18 and displace in the rolling direction or the pitching direction, and a small gap is maintained between the surface of the magnetic disk 18 and the magnetic head 17.

[0043] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, in the universal joint part 44, the laminated component 48 of the flexible member 42 is arranged on the metal plate 46, and extends from the base end 44b through the space along the central axis C1 to the tongue 44a. That is, the laminated component 48 has: a base end 48a attached to the base end 44b; a front end 48b attached to the tongue 44a; and a pair of band-shaped bridges 48c extending from the base end 48a to the front end 48b in a bifurcated (two-branched) shape. The front end 48b constitutes a head setting area for mounting the magnetic head 17.

[0044] At the front end portion 48b, a plurality of connection pads (electrode pads) 54 are arranged in a row in the width direction. In addition, at the front end portion 48b, a plurality of connection pads (electrode pads) 55 for connecting the piezoelectric element 50 are provided. The stacked component 48 has a plurality of signal wirings W extending from the connection pads 54 to the side edges of the front end portion 48b and a plurality of drive wirings W extending from the connection pads 55 to the side of the base end portion 48a. These signal wirings W and drive wirings W extend across substantially the entire length of the stacked component 48 and are connected to the connection pads 43 of the connection end portion 42c. As shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown, a through hole 86 is provided in the central portion of the front end portion 48b, particularly in a region where no wiring W exists. The through hole 86 is filled with an adhesive described later.

[0045] The magnetic head 17 has a head slider 17a of a substantially rectangular shape and a recording element (write head) and a reading element (read head) not shown in the figure provided on the head slider 17a. The head slider 17a has an upper surface (ABS) 17b opposite to the surface of the magnetic disk 18 and a back surface 17c on the opposite side, an outflow end 17d located at the front end side of the load beam 38, and an inflow end 17e entering the base end side of the load beam 38. The magnetic head 17 has a plurality of connection pads PT provided at the outflow end 17d of the head slider 17a. These connection pads PT are electrically connected to the recording element, the reading element, the heater, etc. of the magnetic head 17.

[0046] The magnetic head 17 is placed on the tongue portion 44a and overlapped with the front end portion 48b when the back side 17c of the head slider 17a is opposite to the front end portion 48b, and is fixed to the front end portion 48b by an adhesive. The magnetic head 17 is arranged so that the central axis in the longitudinal direction is consistent with the central axis C1 of the suspension 34, and the approximate center of the magnetic head 17 is located above the pit 52. The connection pad PT of the magnetic head 17 is connected by a conductive adhesive Sd such as solder or silver paste (see Figure 7 ) are electrically connected to a plurality of connection pads 54 of the front end portion 48b. Thus, the magnetic head 17 is connected to the signal wiring W of the laminated component 48 via the connection pads 54.

[0047] The pair of piezoelectric elements 50 uses, for example, a thin film piezoelectric element (PZT element) in the shape of a rectangular plate. The piezoelectric element 50 is not limited to a thin film type (thickness of about 10 μm), and a bulk type or bulk laminated type (thickness of 40 μm or more) piezoelectric element may also be used. In addition, the piezoelectric element 50 is not limited to a PZT element, and other piezoelectric elements may also be used. Moreover, the driving element is not limited to a piezoelectric element, and other driving elements that can be expanded and contracted by applying an electric current may also be used.

[0048] The piezoelectric element 50 is configured so that its length direction (extension direction) is parallel to the central axis C1 of the suspension 34. Two piezoelectric elements 50 are arranged on both sides of the width direction of the magnetic head 17 and arranged in parallel with each other. Both ends of the length direction of each piezoelectric element 50 are mounted on the connection pads 55 of the front end portion 48b and are electrically connected. Thus, the piezoelectric element 50 is connected to the drive wiring W of the stacked component 48 via the connection pads 55.

[0049] Next, the mounting structure of the magnetic head 17 will be described in detail.

[0050] Figure 6 FIG. 4 is a top view of the universal joint portion 44 with the cover insulating layer omitted. Figure 7 It is along Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the universal joint portion taken along line AA.

[0051] like Figure 6 As shown, the front end portion 48b of the laminated component (FPC) 48 is attached to the tongue portion 44a and constitutes a head setting area for carrying the magnetic head 17. In the head setting area, a through hole 86 is provided in an area where there is no wiring W. In addition, the front end portion 48b has an etching area (recess) PE at least partially located in the head setting area and opposite to the end of the inflow end side of the head slider 17a. The magnetic head 17 is bonded and fixed to the head setting area by the adhesive Ad filled in the through hole 86.

[0052] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the front end portion 48b of the laminated component 48 includes: a base insulating layer (first insulating layer) 80 fixed to the tongue portion 44a formed of the metal plate 46; a conductive layer (wiring pattern) 82 formed on the base insulating layer 80, forming a plurality of signal wirings W, drive wirings W, and a plurality of connection pads; and a cover insulating layer (second insulating layer) 84, which covers the conductive layer 82 and is stacked on the base insulating layer 80. As the conductive layer, for example, copper foil is used, and a plurality of signal wirings W, drive wirings W, and connection pads 54 and 55 are formed by patterning the copper foil. A through hole 86 is formed by penetrating the base insulating layer 80 and the cover insulating layer 84.

[0053] The magnetic head 17 is bonded and fixed to the tongue portion 44a by the adhesive Ad filled in the through hole 86. The adhesive Ad filled in the through hole 86 contacts the back surface 17c of the head slider 17a, the surface of the metal plate 46, and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 86. Therefore, the contact area of ​​the adhesive Ad becomes larger, and the bonding strength is improved. The central part of the back surface 17c of the head slider 17a abuts against the cover insulating layer 84 and faces the pit 52.

[0054] The etching region PE of the front end portion 48b is disposed at a position closer to the inflow end 17e side of the magnetic head 17 than the pit 52. The etching region PE is opposed to the end portion on the inflow end 17e side of the head slider 17a with a gap G1 therebetween. According to the present embodiment, the etching region PE is formed to have a width wider than the width of the head slider 17a, and extends beyond the inflow end 17e of the head slider 17a to the base end portion 48a side.

[0055] According to the present embodiment, in the etching area PE, a recess (first recess) PE1 is formed by locally etching a portion of the base insulating layer 80. The depth d of the recess PE1 is formed to be about 30 to 70% of the thickness T of the base insulating layer 80. In one example, the thickness T of the base insulating layer 80 is formed to be 8 μm, and the depth d of the recess PE1 is formed to be 3 to 5 μm. At least a portion of the signal wiring W is provided on the bottom surface of the recess PE1. In the cover insulating layer 84 stacked on the base insulating layer 80, the region overlapping with the recess PE1 and the signal wiring W is recessed in accordance with the depth of the recess PE1, forming a recess (second recess) PE2 having a shape corresponding to the recess PE1. In one example, the depth of the recess PE2 of the cover insulating layer 84 becomes 3 to 5 μm.

[0056] Thus, the end of the head slider 17a located closer to the inlet end 17e of the magnetic head 17 than the pit 52 does not contact the cover insulating layer 84 but faces the bottom surface of the recess PE2 with a gap G1 corresponding to the depth of the recess PE2.

[0057] The head slider 17a is directly placed on the cover insulating layer 84. Therefore, the gap G2 between the connection pad PT provided at the outflow end 17d of the head slider 17a and the connection pad 54 on the signal wiring W side is equal to the gap G1, and is 3 to 5 μm in one example. The connection pad PT and the connection pad 54 are electrically connected to each other by a conductive adhesive Sd.

[0058] The front end portion 48b of the stacked component 48 has a plurality of, for example, two, support pillars 81 disposed between the through hole 86 and the connection pad 54. Each support pillar 81 is formed, for example, into a cylindrical shape by the conductive layer 82 and the cover insulating layer 84. The two support pillars 81 are disposed at positions opposite to the two corners on the outflow end 17d side of the head slider 17a. The corners of the back surface 17c of the head slider 17a abut against the support pillars 81. That is, the two corners on the outflow end 17d side of the head slider 17a are placed on the support pillars 81 and supported by the support pillars 81.

[0059] On the other hand, Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the substrate unit 21 of the HDD integrally includes: a substantially rectangular base portion 58; an elongated belt-shaped relay portion 57 extending from the base portion 58; and a wiring substrate 51 provided continuously with the front end of the relay portion 57. The base portion 58, the relay portion 57, and the wiring substrate 51 are formed of a flexible printed wiring substrate (FPC). The base portion 58 is disposed on the bottom wall 12a of the base 12, and the wiring substrate 51 is mounted on the installation surface of the actuator block 29.

[0060] The base 58 is provided with electronic components such as a conversion connector and a plurality of capacitors, which are not shown in the figure. The wiring substrate 51 is provided with a plurality of connection pads, which are not shown in the figure. The connection ends 42c of the flexible parts 42 of the plurality of suspension assemblies 30 are respectively joined to the connection pads of the wiring substrate 51, for example, by solder. In addition, a head IC (head amplifier) ​​53 is mounted on the wiring substrate 51, and the head IC 53 is connected to the connection pads and the base 58 via a plurality of wirings, which are not shown in the figure. Thus, the eight magnetic heads 17 of the actuator assembly 22 are respectively electrically connected to the base 58 via the wirings of the flexible part 42, the connection ends 42c, the wiring substrate 51, the head IC 53, and the relay part 57.

[0061] like Figure 1 As shown, the ramp loading mechanism 25 includes a ramp 60 provided on the base 12 and a wing 40 capable of engaging with the ramp 60. As described above, the wing 40 is provided at the front end of the loading beam 38 of the suspension assembly 30. The ramp 60 is fixed to the bottom wall 12a of the base 12 and is located near the peripheral edge of the magnetic disk 18. The ramp 60 includes a ramp body 62 formed in a block shape. On one side of the ramp body 62, eight guide surfaces (guide portions) 64 are formed to support and guide the wing 40 provided on the eight suspension assemblies 30, respectively.

[0062] When the HDD is in operation, the actuator assembly 22 rotates around the support shaft 31 through the VCM 24, and the plurality of magnetic heads 17 move to the desired seek position while facing the surfaces of the magnetic disks 18. Figure 1As shown, when the HDD is not working, the actuator assembly 22 rotates to the unloading position where the magnetic head 17 is located outside the outermost periphery of the magnetic disk 18, and the fins 40 of the plurality of suspension assemblies 30 are placed on the guide surfaces 64 of the corresponding ramps 60. Thus, the magnetic head 17 is held at the unloading position away from the magnetic disk 18 by the ramps 60.

[0063] According to the HDD and suspension assembly constructed as above, by providing an etching area PE having recesses PE1 and PE2 in the head setting area of ​​the stacking component 48 carrying the magnetic head 17, a gap G1 is formed between the end of the inflow end 17e side of the magnetic head 17 and the stacking component 48. Therefore, when the magnetic head 17 is rotated and moved with the pit 52 as the center accompanied by the drive of the piezoelectric element 50, the inflow end 17e of the magnetic head 17 is prevented from contacting with the stacking component 48, so that the magnetic head 17 moves smoothly. According to the above-mentioned structure, it is unnecessary to further provide a second cover insulating layer for forming a gap, and the magnetic head 17 can be directly placed on the cover insulating layer 84 in an overlapping manner. Therefore, the interval between the connection pad PT of the magnetic head 17 and the connection pad 54 of the stacking component 48 can be narrowed according to the thickness of the second cover insulating layer, and these connection pads PT and 54 can be easily and reliably joined by the conductive adhesive SD. That is, the joining process of the connection pad can be well performed.

[0064] According to the present embodiment, the stacked component 48 has a support column 81, and the end portion of the outflow end 17d side of the magnetic head 17 is supported by the support column 81. Therefore, when the magnetic head 17 is rotated and moved, the displacement of the outflow end 17d of the magnetic head 17 and the connection pad PT can be restricted, and the load acting on the joint portion between the connection pad PT and the connection pad 54 can be reduced. Thus, a reliable joint state can be maintained, and reliability can be improved.

[0065] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain a suspension assembly capable of stably joining a magnetic head to a wiring member and a disk device including the suspension assembly.

[0066] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments as it is. In the implementation stage, the constituent elements can be deformed and concretized within the scope of the gist. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriate combinations of multiple constituent elements disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, several constituent elements can also be deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiments. Moreover, constituent elements across different embodiments can also be appropriately combined.

[0067] For example, the etching area PE of the stacked component 48 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and any other shape may be selected. The etching area PE is configured to have a recess formed by partially etching the base insulating layer 80, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured to have a recess formed by partially etching not only the base insulating layer but also any one or more of the metal plate, the conductive layer, and the cover insulating layer.

[0068] The material, shape, size, etc. of the elements constituting the suspension assembly are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various changes can be made as needed. In the disk device, the disks are not limited to 4, and can also be set to less than 3 or more than 6, and the number of suspension assemblies and the number of magnetic heads can also be increased or decreased according to the number of disks.

Claims

1. A suspension assembly comprising: A support plate having a front end portion and a base end portion; a wiring member having a metal plate, a first insulating layer stacked on the metal plate, a conductive layer stacked on the first insulating layer and having a plurality of wirings and connection pads formed thereon, and a second insulating layer stacked on the conductive layer and the first insulating layer, and disposed on the support plate; and A magnetic head is mounted on the wiring member and comprises: a head slider having an outflow end located on the front end side and an inflow end located on the base end side, and a connection pad provided on the outflow end and electrically connected to the wiring. The wiring member includes a head installation region on which the magnetic head is mounted, and an etching region at least a portion of which is located in the head installation region and faces an end portion of the head slider on the inlet end side with a gap therebetween.

2. The suspension assembly according to claim 1, The wiring member has a tongue portion supported so as to be displaceable relative to the support plate and constituting the head installation area, and the support plate has a convex portion abutting against the head slider via the tongue portion and the wiring member. The etching region is located closer to the inflow end than the convex portion.

3. The suspension assembly according to claim 2, The wiring member has a through hole formed through the second insulating layer and the first insulating layer and located between the outflow end and the protrusion, and the magnetic head is attached to the metal plate by an adhesive filled in the through hole.

4. The suspension assembly according to claim 1, The etching region includes a first recess formed in the first insulating layer and a second recess formed in the second insulating layer and located at a position overlapping with the first recess.

5. The suspension assembly according to claim 1, The wiring member includes a support column that is provided in the head installation region and supports an end portion of the head slider on the outflow end side.

6. A disk device comprising: a disc-shaped recording medium having a recording layer; and The suspension assembly of claim 1.

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