Patent ID: 7006330
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A head stack assembly for a disk drive, the head stack assembly comprising: an actuator including an actuator arm; a load beam coupled to the actuator arm, the load beam being formed of an electrically conductive material; a gimbal coupled to the load beam, the gimbal being formed of an electrically conductive material; a dielectric layer disposed upon the gimbal; a slider supported by the gimbal, the slider including a leading end and an opposing trailing end; slider conductive pads disposed upon the dielectric layer with the dielectric layer interposed between the slider conductive pads and the gimbal, the slider conductive pads being disposed at the trailing end, the slider conductive pads being electrically connected to the slider; and a ground conductive pad disposed upon the dielectric layer with the dielectric layer interposed between the ground conductive pad and the gimbal, the ground conductive pad being disposed at the leading end, the ground conductive pad being electrically connected to the slider and the gimbal for electrically grounding the slider to the gimbal.