Patent ID: 6266214
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: G11B,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
A disk drive suspension having a low stiffness gimbal flexure, said suspension comprising a flexible circuit and a one-piece load beam and gimbal flexure, said flexible circuit comprising a laminate of a conductor and a plastic film layer, said load beam supporting said flexible circuit and having a distal end comprising a rigid portion, said load beam rigid portion being selectively etched to define said gimbal flexure to comprise a flexure frame generally spaced from said rigid portion across a gap, said flexure frame being generally U-shaped and locally connected intermediate the length of its left and right sides to said rigid portion across said gap to support said flexure frame in place, said gimbal flexure further comprising a flexure tongue cantilevered from said flexure frame, said flexible circuit having a distal portion extending beyond said load beam rigid portion and connected to the distal end of said flexure tongue and to each of said flexure frame sides.