Laminated Flexure Bonding Pads for Hard Disk Drive Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing suspension systems for hard disk drives with laminated flexures are complex and costly due to their multi-layered structure, which increases manufacturing expenses and is undesirable for manufacturers.
Innovation Solution
A simplified suspension system with a flexure having a laminated structure comprising a substrate layer, an insulating layer, and a conducting layer, where first bonding pads on the conducting layer connect the slider via solder balls, and second bonding pads directly on the substrate layer connect extra components, reducing the need for additional layers and lowering costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a laminated structure with multiple layers (stainless steel, polyimide, copper, cover layers) is used in the flexure, then the flexure can support sliders and extra components on both surfaces with good electrical connection, but the structure becomes thick and complicated, increasing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential functional layers from the original seven-layer structure. By removing redundant layers and keeping only the substrate layer, insulating layer, and conducting layer, the design achieves the minimum necessary complexity while maintaining electrical connection reliability between sliders and extra components
Solution Approach 2:
The simplified three-layer flexure structure serves multiple functions: the substrate layer provides mechanical support, the insulating layer provides electrical isolation, and the conducting layer with bonding pads provides electrical connection. This multi-functional design allows the flexure to support both sliders and extra components on opposite surfaces while maintaining reliable electrical connections
2Adaptability or versatility
If a laminated structure with seven layers is used in the flexure, then the flexure can provide bonding surfaces for sliders and extra components, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential layers needed for component mounting and electrical connection. By removing redundant layers from the original seven-layer structure, the design reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while retaining the capability to mount sliders and extra components on both surfaces of the flexure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties locally where needed: the substrate layer provides mechanical strength, the insulating layer provides electrical isolation where required, and the conducting layer with bonding pads provides electrical connection points. This localized quality approach maintains adaptability for component mounting while simplifying the overall structure to reduce manufacturing cost
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension for a head gimbal assembly includes a flexure having a laminated structure including a substrate layer, an insulating layer formed on the substrate layer, and a conducting layer formed on the insulating layer. And first bonding pads are formed on the conducting layer at a first surface of the flexure, so as to electrically connect with a slider via solder balls, and second bonding pads are formed on the substrate layer at a second surface of the flexure opposite to the first surface, so as to electrically connect with extra components formed at the second surface via solder balls. The suspension can connect slider and other extra components at two opposite surfaces of the flexure with a simplified and compacted structure and a reduced cost.