Gary D Gustafson

US Patent:

6587310, Jul 1, 2003

Filed:

Jun 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/588397

Inventors:

Jeffry S. Bennin - Hutchinson MN
Todd Boucher - Stewert MN
Jeffrey W. Green - Sioux Falls SD
Gary E. Gustafson - Darwin MN
Ryan Jurgenson - Hutchinson MN
Brent D. Lien - Minneapolis MN

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology, Inc. - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

G11B 2116

US Classification:

3602458

Abstract:

A trace interconnect assembly designed for transmitting electrical signals to and from a head assembly in a hard disk drive is disclosed. The interconnect assembly includes one or more single-layer thin, elongated, and generally flat substrate-free trace interconnects. The trace interconnects are new conductors etched out of a planar length of preferably a high tensile and high yield strength metal such as beryllium copper. They are shaped to match the surface topology of the suspension assembly. Trace interconnects have a rigid region and flexible regions that match a rigid region and flexible regions in the suspension assembly. Different additional elements include support braces, standoffs, trace tangs, bond pads, and stacked interconnects. Coupling a head assembly to the interconnect assembly creates a head interconnect harness. Methods of manufacture for the trace interconnect assembly, a multi-conductor stacked version, a head suspension assembly, and the head interconnect harness are disclosed.

US Patent:

58644458, Jan 26, 1999

Filed:

Dec 20, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/770541

Inventors:

Jeffry S. Bennin - Hutchinson MN
Todd W. Boucher - Stewart MN
James H. Dettmann - Duluth MN
Lloyd C. Goss - Bloomington MN
Gary E. Gustafson - Darwin MN
Michael T. Hofflander - Edina MN
Brent D. Lien - Minneapolis MN
Dean E. Myers - Stewart MN

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology Incorporated - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

G11B 550
G11B 2118

US Classification:

360104

Abstract:

An integrated lead disk drive suspension including a load beam and one or more conductive leads. The load beam has a mounting region on a proximal end, a head bonding platform on a distal end, and one or more spring regions connecting the head bonding platform to the mounting region. The conductive leads are integrated with and insulated from the load beam by an adhesive dielectric layer, and extend between the head bonding platform and the mounting region. The leads are adapted to reduce mechanical effects of the leads and/or dielectric layer on spring characteristics of the spring regions. One embodiment of the leads includes at least a first compensating portion which extends off the load beam and traverses a nonlinear path around at least a portion of one or more of the spring regions. In another embodiment the portions of the conductive leads extending between the distal end of the load beam and the head bonding platform are substantially free from the dielectric layer. In yet another embodiment the width of portions of the dielectric layer is about equal to or less than the width of adjacent portions of the conductive leads.

US Patent:

56874790, Nov 18, 1997

Filed:

Apr 19, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/634972

Inventors:

Jeffry S. Bennin - Hutchinson MN
Todd Boucher - Stewert MN
Jeffrey W. Green - Sioux Falls SD
Gary E. Gustafson - Darwin MN
Ryan Jurgenson - Hutchinson MN
Brent D. Lien - Minneapolis MN

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology Incorporated - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

H01R 4316

US Classification:

29885

Abstract:

A trace interconnect assembly for transmitting electrical signals to and from a head assembly in a hard disk drive. The interconnect assembly includes one or more single-layer thin, elongated, and generally flat substrate-free trace interconnects. The trace interconnects are new conductors etched out of a planar length of preferably a high tensile and high yield strength metal such as beryllium copper. They are shaped to match the surface topology of the suspension assembly. Trace interconnects have a rigid region and flexible regions that match a rigid region and flexible regions in the suspension assembly. Different additional elements include support braces, standoffs, trace tangs, bond pads, and stacked interconnects. Coupling a head assembly to the interconnect assembly creates a head interconnect harness. Methods of manufacture for the trace interconnect assembly, a multi-conductor stacked version, a head suspension assembly, and the head interconnect harness are disclosed.

US Patent:

57715688, Jun 30, 1998

Filed:

Sep 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/723787

Inventors:

Gary Gustafson - Darwin MN

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology Incorporated - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

G11B 542

US Classification:

2960303

Abstract:

A head suspension assembly, for use in a magnetic rigid disk storage device, has an electrical conductor adherently secured along the length of the suspension and insulated from the surface of the load beam by means of a layer of dielectric insulating material. The suspension assembly is fabricated with capacitive coupling reducing areas or apertures to reduce the capacitive coupling between the electrical conductors and the metal surface of the head suspension.

US Patent:

57127492, Jan 27, 1998

Filed:

Feb 24, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/804889

Inventors:

Gary Gustafson - Darwin MN

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology Incorporated - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

G11B 555
G11B 2108

US Classification:

360104

Abstract:

A head suspension assembly, for use in a magnetic rigid disk storage device, has an electrical conductor adherently secured along the length of the suspension and insulated from the surface of the load beam by means of a layer of dielectric insulating material. The suspension assembly is fabricated with capacitive coupling reducing areas or apertures to reduce the capacitive coupling between the electrical conductors and the metal surface of the head suspension.

US Patent:

54915970, Feb 13, 1996

Filed:

Apr 15, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/227960

Inventors:

Jeffry S. Bennin - Hutchinson MN
Todd Boucher - Stewert MN
Jeffrey W. Green - Sioux Falls SD
Gary E. Gustafson - Darwin MN
Ryan Jurgenson - Hutchinson MN
Brent D. Lien - Minneapolis MN

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology Incorporated - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

G11B 554
G11B 2118

US Classification:

360104

Abstract:

A gimbal flexure and electrical interconnect assembly for attachment to a disk drive suspension assembly. The gimbal flexure and electrical interconnect acts both as an interconnect system for relaying electrical signals and as a gimbal flexure. It comprises a self-supporting set of generally parallel traces--electrically insulated linear substrate-free conductors constructed of a single layer spring material. The set of traces includes a load beam portion extending over and matching the surface topology of at least a section of the first surface of a load beam, and a gimbal portion located at a distal end of the set of traces shaped as a gimbal flexure means. The invention describes specific embodiments, including head harnesses, suspension assemblies, and head suspension assemblies, as well as manufacturing methods.

US Patent:

56457359, Jul 8, 1997

Filed:

Oct 31, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/550611

Inventors:

Jeffry S. Bennin - Hutchinson MN
Todd Boucher - Stewrt MN
Jeffrey W. Green - Sioux Falls SD
Gary E. Gustafson - Darwin MN
Ryan Jurgenson - Hutchinson MN
Brent D. Lien - Minneapolis MN

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology Incorporated - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

B44C 122

US Classification:

216 22

Abstract:

A method for manufacturing a head suspension including separately manufacturing a load beam and a set of traces. The traces are formed from a sheet of conductive material and include an elongated conductor portion and a gimbal portion. Portions of the traces which are configured to be mounted to the load beam are coated with dielectric before being mounted to the load beam. The gimbal portion of the traces provides both mechanical and electrical connections to the conductor portion.

US Patent:

54734886, Dec 5, 1995

Filed:

Aug 3, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/285223

Inventors:

Gary E. Gustafson - Darwin MN
Brent D. Lien - Minneapolis MN

Assignee:

Hutchinson Technology Incorporated - Hutchinson MN

International Classification:

G11B 549
G11B 2116

US Classification:

360104

Abstract:

A head suspension assembly for positioning a head assembly at the correct static attitude with respect to the surface of a rotatable data storage device. The head assembly includes a gimbal assembly having a novel static attitude adjustment feature comprising a solid drop of material. The solid drop of material is dispensed as a fluid on the desired location and then cured to solid form. The solidified drop of material can be used to create surface features on head suspension assemblies for correcting pitch and roll static attitude errors and for applying gram loads on the head assembly.