Patent ID: 8130471

Claim:
An integrated lead flexure comprising: a metal base layer including a trace impedance compensating portion having a plurality of four or more adjacent apertures spaced along a longitudinal axis of the flexure, wherein the apertures of the impedance compensating portion are configured to control impedance of traces extending over the trace impedance compensating portion of the base layer; an insulating layer on the metal base layer; and one or more conductive traces formed on the insulating layer and extending over the metal base layer and the plurality of apertures, wherein backed portions of the one or more conductive traces that extend over and are supported by the metal base layer have a first width, and wherein unbacked portions of the one or more conductive traces that extend over the plurality of apertures and are unsupported by the metal base layer have a second width that is less than the first width, and wherein the unbacked portions of the traces that have the second width have relatively minimal effect on electrical performance characteristics of the traces over the trace impedance compensating portion.