Patent ID: 8970989
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A disk drive suspension whose pitch static attitude (PSA) is resistant to environmental changes, the suspension comprising: a load beam; metal gimbal arms supporting a gimbal tongue on which a transducer head is mounted; and a flexible circuit electrically connected to the transducer head, the flexible circuit including an insulating layer comprising a first hygroscopic material, at least one metal signal trace on the insulating layer electrically connected to the transducer head, and a protective cover layer on the metal signal trace; wherein: the flexible circuit has a suspended portion thereof that includes at least one metal signal trace on the insulating layer but does not include a metal support layer below the insulating layer; on the flexible circuit suspended portion, at least one of the insulating layer and the cover layer has alternating areas of greater thickness and lesser thickness as measured along a length of the metal signal trace; and wherein the areas of lesser thickness comprise areas of substantially zero thickness.