Head signal supply/retrieval structure for magnetic disc drive

Abstract

A disk drive having a connection structure between a head and a main flexible printed circuit sheet, allowing a signal to be supplied to and taken out of a head in response to size reduction and thickness reduction of the disk drive. The disk drive includes an actuator arm rotatably mounted in a housing, and a suspension having a base end portion fixed to a front end portion of the actuator arm and a front end portion for supporting the head. The main flexible printed circuit sheet is fixed at its one end portion to the actuator arm. An interconnection flexible printed circuit sheet is mounted along one side surface of the actuator arm so as to extend substantially parallel to the upper surface of the actuator arm, and connects terminals of the suspension and terminals of the main flexible printed circuit sheet.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A disk drive comprising: 
       a housing;  
       a disk rotatably mounted in said housing;  
       a head for reading/writing data on said disk;  
       an actuator arm rotatably mounted in said housing;  
       a suspension having a base end portion fixed to a front end portion of said actuator arm and a front end portion for supporting said head, said suspension having a first conductor pattern connected at one end thereof to said head and a first terminal connected to another end of said first conductor pattern;  
       a main flexible printed circuit sheet fixed at one end portion thereof to said actuator arm, said main flexible printed circuit sheet having a second terminal; and  
       an interconnection flexible printed circuit sheet mounted along a side surface of said actuator arm so as to extend substantially parallel to an upper surface of said actuator arm, said interconnection flexible printed circuit sheet having a second conductor pattern, a third terminal connected to one end of said second conductor pattern and said first terminal, and a fourth terminal connected to another end of said second conductor pattern and said second terminal.  
     
     
       2. A disk drive according to  claim 1 , wherein said side surface of said actuator arm has a projecting portion having a groove extending substantially parallel to said upper surface of said actuator arm, and said interconnection flexible printed circuit sheet is inserted in said groove of said projecting portion. 
     
     
       3. A disk drive according to  claim 2 , wherein said interconnection flexible printed circuit sheet is fixed by bonding in said groove of said projecting portion. 
     
     
       4. A disk drive according to  claim 2 , wherein said suspension comprises a pair of suspensions fixed to upper and lower surfaces of said front end portion of said actuator arm, and said interconnection flexible printed circuit sheet comprises first and second segments folded along a substantially longitudinal center line of said interconnection flexible printed circuit sheet, each of said first and second segments having said third conductor pattern, said third terminal, and said fourth terminal. 
     
     
       5. A disk drive comprising; 
       a housing;  
       a disk rotatably mounted in said housing;  
       a head for reading/writing data on said disk;  
       an actuator arm rotatably mounted in said housing;  
       a suspension having a base end portion fixed to a front end portion of said actuator arm and a front end portion for supporting said head, said suspension having a first conductor pattern connected at one end thereof to said head and a first terminal connected to another end of said first conductor; and  
       a flexible printed circuit sheet fixed at an intermediate portion thereof to said actuator arm, said flexible printed circuit sheet having a second terminal connected to said first terminal;  
       said flexible printed circuit sheet having a connecting portion formed between said intermediate portion and said suspension and mounted along a side surface of said actuator arm so as to extend substantially parallel to an upper surface of said actuator arm.  
     
     
       6. A disk drive according to  claim 5 , wherein said side surface of said actuator arm has a projecting portion having a groove extending substantially parallel to said upper surface of said actuator arm, and said connecting portion is inserted in said groove of said projecting portion. 
     
     
       7. A disk drive according to  claim 6 , wherein said connecting portion of said flexible printed circuit sheet is fixed by bonding in said groove of said projecting portion. 
     
     
       8. A disk drive according to  claim 5 , wherein said side surface of said flexible printed circuit sheet has a guide for supporting said connecting portion of said flexible printed circuit sheet. 
     
     
       9. A disk drive according to  claim 5  wherein said first conductor pattern includes four lines connected to said head. 
     
     
       10. A disk drive comprising: 
       a housing;  
       a disk rotatably mounted in said housing;  
       a head for reading/writing data on said disk;  
       an actuator arm rotatably mounted in said housing, said actuator arm supporting said head;  
       a main flexible printed circuit sheet fixed at one end portion thereof to said actuator arm, said main flexible printed circuit sheet having a first terminal; and  
       an interconnection flexible printed circuit sheet mounted along a side surface of said actuator arm so as to extend substantially parallel to an upper surface of said actuator arm, said interconnection flexible printed circuit sheet having a conductor pattern, a second terminal connected to one end of said conductor pattern and said head, and a third terminal connected to another end of said conductor pattern and said first terminal.  
     
     
       11. A disk drive according to  claim 10 , wherein said side surface of said actuator arm has a projecting portion having a groove extending substantially parallel to said upper surface of said actuator arm, and said interconnection flexible printed circuit sheet is inserted in said groove of said projecting portion. 
     
     
       12. A disk drive according to  claim 11 , wherein said interconnection flexible printed circuit sheet is fixed by bonding in said groove of said projecting portion. 
     
     
       13. A disk drive according to  claim 10  wherein said first conductor pattern includes four lines connected to said head. 
     
     
       14. A disk drive comprising: 
       
         a housing;  
       
       
         a head for reading/writing data on a disk;  
       
       
         an actuator arm rotatably mounted within said housing, said actuator arm defining a longitudinal plane extending in a direction generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said actuator arm and having a side surface extending in a direction generally perpendicular to said longitudinal plane, said actuator arm further defining an upper surface and a lower surface;  
       
       
         a suspension attached to a distal end of said actuator arm, said suspension having a main longitudinal surface extending between a first longitudinal end portion and a second longitudinal end portion, wherein said second longitudinal end portion is adapted to support said head, said suspension including a base layer, an insulating layer and a plurality of conductors for transferring current to and from said head; and  
       
       
         a printed circuit sheet having a main surface of a width sufficient to accommodate said plurality of conductors, said printed circuit sheet being mounted along said side surface of said actuator arm, between said upper and lower surfaces of said actuator arm, and wherein said main surface of said printed circuit sheet is generally parallel to said longitudinal plane of said actuator arm  
       
       
         wherein said side surface of said actuator arm has a groove extending generally parallel to said longitudinal plane of said actuator arm, and further wherein said printed circuit sheet is inserted into said groove. 
       
     
     
       15. A disk drive according to  claim 14 , wherein said printed circuit sheet is flexible. 
     
     
       16. A disk drive according to  claim 14 , wherein said actuator arm has at least one projection on said side surface, said at least one projection having a supporting surface extending generally parallel to said longitudinal plane of said actuator arm, and further wherein said printed circuit sheet is supported by said supporting surface. 
     
     
       17. A disk drive according to  claim 14 , wherein said suspension is a separate component from said printed circuit sheet. 
     
     
       18. A disk drive according to  claim 14 , wherein said printed circuit sheet is fixed within said groove by bonding. 
     
     
       19. A disk drive according to  claim 14 , wherein said printed circuit sheet comprises: 
       
         a branch portion mounted on said side surface of said actuator arm; and  
       
       
         a main portion connected to one end of said branch portion at one end thereof and connected to said disk drive to another end thereof. 
       
     
     
       20. A disk drive according to  claim 19 , wherein said branch portion and said main portion of said printed circuit sheet are integrally formed as a single sheet. 
     
     
       21. A disk drive according to  claim 19 , wherein said branch portion and said main portion of said printed circuit sheet are formed as separate sheets. 
     
     
       22. A disk drive according to  claim 14 , wherein a guide block is mounted on said side surface of said actuator arm, said guide block having a supporting surface extending generally parallel to said longitudinal plane of said actuator arm, said supporting surface supporting said printed circuit sheet. 
     
     
       23. A disk drive according to  claim 14 , wherein said insulating layer of said suspension is formed upon said base layer of said suspension. 
     
     
       24. A disk drive according to  claim 23  wherein at least a portion of said plurality of conductors is formed upon said insulating layer of said suspension. 
     
     
       25. A disk drive comprising: 
       
         a housing;  
       
       
         a head for reading/writing data on a disk;  
       
       
         an actuator arm rotatably mounted within said housing, said actuator arm defining a longitudinal plane extending in a direction generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said actuator arm and having a side surface extending in a direction generally perpendicular to said longitudinal plane, said actuator arm further defining an upper surface and a lower surface;  
       
       
         a suspension attached to a distal end of said actuator arm, said suspension having a main longitudinal surface extending between a first longitudinal end portion and a second longitudinal end portion, wherein said second longitudinal end portion is adapted to support said head, said suspension including a base layer, an insulating layer and a plurality of conductors for transferring current to and from said head; and  
       
       
         a printed circuit sheet having a main surface of a width sufficient to accommodate said plurality of conductors, said printed circuit sheet being mounted along said side surface of said actuator arm, between said upper and lower surfaces of said actuator arm, and wherein said main surface of said printed circuit sheet is generally parallel to said longitudinal plane of said actuator arm;  
       
       
         wherein said printed circuit sheet terminates near said distal end of said actuator arm. 
       
     
     
       26. A disk drive according to  claim 25 , wherein said plurality of conductors includes a plurality of signal lines located upon said printed circuit sheet and conductor patterns located upon said suspension. 
     
     
       27. A disk drive according to  claim 26 , wherein said conductor patterns of said suspension are connected to said signal lines of said printed circuit sheet by a plurality of cooperating terminals. 
     
     
       28. A disk drive comprising; 
       
         a housing;  
       
       
         a head for reading/writing data on a disk;  
       
       
         an actuator arm extending between a proximal end and a distal end and being movably mounted, at said proximal end, within said housing for moving along a surface of said disk, said actuator arm defining a longitudinal plane extending in a direction generally parallel to said surface of said disk and having a side surface extending in a direction generally perpendicular to said longitudinal plane; and  
       
       
         a printed circuit sheet having a main surface of a width sufficient to accommodate a plurality of signal lines, said printed circuit sheet being mounted along said side surface of said actuator arm, between upper and lower surfaces of said actuator arm, and wherein said main surface of said printed circuit sheet is generally parallel to said longitudinal plane of said actuator arm and further wherein said printed circuit sheet terminates near said distal end of said actuator arm. 
       
     
     
       29. A disk drive according to  claim 28 , further comprising a suspension connected to said distal end of said actuator arm. 
     
     
       30. A disk drive according to  claim 29 , wherein said suspension includes conductor patterns that are electrically connected to said signal lines of said printed circuit sheet. 
     
     
       31. A disk drive according to  claim 30 , wherein said conductor patterns of said suspension terminate near an area where said suspension is connected to said actuator arm. 
     
     
       32. A disk drive according to  claim 31 , wherein said conductor patterns of said suspension are connected to said signal lines of said printed circuit sheet by a plurality of cooperating terminals. 
     
     
       33. A disk drive according to  claim 29  wherein said suspension includes a base layer, an insulating layer formed upon said base layer, and conductor patterns formed upon said insulating layer, wherein said conductor patterns are electrically connected to said signal lines of said printed circuit sheet. 
     
     
       34. A disk drive according to  claim 29 , wherein said suspension is a separate component from said printed circuit sheet. 
     
     
       35. A disk drive comprising: 
       
         a housing;  
       
       
         a head for reading/writing data on a disk;  
       
       
         an actuator arm rotatably mounted within said housing, said actuator arm defining a longitudinal plane extending in a direction generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said actuator arm and having a side surface extending in a direction generally perpendicular to said longitudinal plane, said actuator arm further defining an upper surface and a lower surface;  
       
       
         a printed circuit sheet for electrical connection to said head, said printed circuit sheet having a main surface of a width sufficient to accommodate a plurality of signal lines; and  
       
       
         at least one upper projecting portion and at least one lower projecting portion extending from said side surface of said actuator arm, wherein said printed circuit sheet is mounted along said side surface of said actuator arm between said at least one upper projecting portion and said at least one lower projecting portion such that said main surface of said printed circuit sheet is generally parallel to said longitudinal plane of said actuator arm. 
       
     
     
       36. A disk drive according to  claim 35 , wherein said at least one upper projecting portion is positioned directly above said at least one lower projecting portion. 
     
     
       37. A disk drive according to  claim 36 , wherein said at least one upper projecting portion and said at least one lower projecting portion are integrally formed as parts of said actuator arm, and further wherein an upper surface of said at least one upper projecting portion is coplanar with said upper surface of said actuator arm and a lower surface of said at least one lower projecting portion is coplanar with said lower surface of said actuator arm. 
     
     
       38. A disk drive according to  claim 35 , wherein said at least one upper projecting portion and said at least one lower projecting portion are integrally formed as parts of said actuator arm, and further wherein an upper surface of said at least one upper projecting portion is coplanar with said upper surface of said actuator arm and a lower surface of said at least one lower projecting portion is coplanar with said lower surface of said actuator arm.