US5500779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disk drive memory card electrical interconnect
Assignee: Maxtor Corp
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Filing: 1994-03-09
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Granted: 1996-03-19
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Expires: 2014-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A hard disk drive frame which has a plurality of spring shaped contacts that electrically couple a printed circuit board to the flexible circuit board of an actuator arm assembly. The spring shaped contacts are mounted to the frame and extend from the frame in opposite directions into the printed circuit board area and held-disk assembly area. The spring shaped contacts are biased to engage and remain in contact with conductive pads formed on the flexible circuit board and printed circuit board when each are assembled within the hard disk drive.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Diel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:13
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B25/00; G11B25/04; G11B25/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A hard disk drive, comprising: a disk; a spin motor that rotates said disk; an actuator arm assembly coupled to said disk; a flexible circuit that has a conductive pad connected to said actuator arm assembly; a printed circuit board that has a conductive pad; a frame that separates said printed circuit board from said disk, actuator arm assembly and flexible circuit; and, a substantially rigid contact mounted to said frame, said contact having a pair of spring fingers extending outwardly from said frame in opposite directions and biased onto said conductive pads of said flexible circuit board and said printed circuit board to electrically couple said flexible circuit board to said printed circuit board.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A hard disk drive, comprising: a disk; a spin motor that rotates said disk; an actuator arm assembly coupled to said disk; a flexible circuit that has a conductive pad connected to said actuator arm assembly; a printed circuit board that has a conductive pad; a frame that separates said printed circuit board from said disk, actuator arm assembly and flexible circuit; and, a substantially rigid contact mounted to said frame, said contact having a pair of spring fingers extending outwardly from said frame in opposite directions and biased onto said conductive pads of said flexible circuit board and said printed circuit board to electrically couple said flexible circuit board to said printed circuit board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hard disk drive as recited in claim 1, further comprising a cover attached to said frame, wherein said flexible circuit board is mounted to said cover.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The hard disk drive as recited in claim 2, wherein attachment of said cover to said frame causes said flexible circuit conductive pad to contact and deflect said spring finger, and said electrical coupling is solderless.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The hard disk drive as recited in claim 1, further comprising a connector coupled to said printed circuit board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
222 words
A hard disk drive, comprising: a frame having an outer wall and a center section that define a head-disk assembly (HDA) area and a printed circuit board (PCB) area; a disk located within said HDA area; a spin motor that rotates said disk; an actuator arm assembly coupled to said disk and located within said HDA area; a pair of HDA covers that enclose said HDA area; a flexible circuit board coupled to said actuator arm assembly and mounted to one of said HDA covers, said flexible circuit board having a conductive pad disposed adjacent said frame; a printed circuit board located within said PCB area; a pair of PCB covers that enclose said PCB area, said printed circuit board having a conductive pad disposed adjacent said frame; a connector coupled to said printed circuit board; and, a plurality of substantially rigid contacts attached to said center section of said frame, said contacts each having a pair of spring fingers extending outwardly from said frame in opposite directions with at least one spring finger extending into said HDA area and at least one spring finger extending into said PCB area, said spring fingers biased into contact with said conductive pads of said flexible circuit board and said printed circuit board and electrically couple said flexible circuit board with said printed circuit board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
222 words
A hard disk drive, comprising: a frame having an outer wall and a center section that define a head-disk assembly (HDA) area and a printed circuit board (PCB) area; a disk located within said HDA area; a spin motor that rotates said disk; an actuator arm assembly coupled to said disk and located within said HDA area; a pair of HDA covers that enclose said HDA area; a flexible circuit board coupled to said actuator arm assembly and mounted to one of said HDA covers, said flexible circuit board having a conductive pad disposed adjacent said frame; a printed circuit board located within said PCB area; a pair of PCB covers that enclose said PCB area, said printed circuit board having a conductive pad disposed adjacent said frame; a connector coupled to said printed circuit board; and, a plurality of substantially rigid contacts attached to said center section of said frame, said contacts each having a pair of spring fingers extending outwardly from said frame in opposite directions with at least one spring finger extending into said HDA area and at least one spring finger extending into said PCB area, said spring fingers biased into contact with said conductive pads of said flexible circuit board and said printed circuit board and electrically couple said flexible circuit board with said printed circuit board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The hard disk drive as recited in claim 5, wherein said frame has outer dimensions of approximately 54 millimeters by 85 millimeters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hard disk drive as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said contacts are of unitary construction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The hard disk drive as recited in claim 5, wherein the electrical connection of said flexible circuit board to said printed circuit board is solderless.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-19 | 1999-09-18 | 2000-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-19 | 2003-09-18 | 2004-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-19 | 2007-09-18 | 2008-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |