Patent ID: 7296336
Filing Date: 2007-11-20
Classification: G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for protecting a magnetic read/write transducer from electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage during manufacturing processes comprising: providing a slider substrate mounted magnetic read/write transducer, said transducer being encapsulated in an overcoating dielectric medium and said transducer including a GMR read-head, an inductive write-head and protective shields disposed about said read-head and said overcoating dielectric medium having a trailing edge surface on which are formed conducting terminal pads, including read-head pads providing internal connections to said read-head, write-head pads providing connections to said write-head and a substrate pad providing a connection to said slider substrate; forming balls of electrically conducting thermoplastic resin on said read-head and write-head terminal pads, said balls forming conducting paths between said read-head pads and between said write-head pads; curing said balls at a curing temperature for a curing time; further processing said slider mounted transducer to form a head gimbal assembly (HGA) while said balls remain on said read-head and write-head terminal pads; removing said balls.