Patent ID: 8395866

Claim:
A circuit for a disk drive suspension, the circuit comprising: a first flexible circuit portion comprising: a first insulative layer; and a first copper signal conductor for electrical communication with a read/write head, the first copper signal conductor being disposed on the first insulative layer; a flying lead portion, the flying lead portion comprising: a generally flat stainless steel flying lead having at least a portion thereof that is substantially free of insulative material on at least one side, and having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top and bottom surfaces being sufficiently free of insulative material as to be electrically accessible on both sides; and a bond-receptive layer on the stainless steel flying lead, the bond-receptive layer being suitable for forming a mechanical and electrical bond to an external electrical component; wherein a first via extends through the first insulative layer and electrically connects the first copper signal conductor to the stainless steel flying lead.