System and method for improving hard drive actuator lead attachment

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for improving hard drive actuator lead attachment. In one embodiment, an actuator board is coupled to an actuator flexible cable by a bonding agent, such as an anisotropic conductive film (ACF). In one embodiment, an actuator flexible cable is coupled to one or more actuator coil leads, such as by solder bump bonding, and the flexible cable/actuator coil coupling is embedded in an actuator frame, such as by polymer injection molding.

1 . A system for manufacturing a hard disc drive arm comprising: 
 a hard drive actuator board having at least one actuator pad to be coupled to a flexible cable element having at least one flexible cable pad by a bonding agent, wherein    said bonding agent includes a plurality of electrically conductive particles;    said bonding agent is to be compressed between said actuator board and said flexible cable element; and    a number of said particles is to form an electrical path between said actuator pad and said flexible cable pad.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible cable element is a hard drive relay flexible cable.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said bonding agent is anisotropic conductive film (ACF).  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive particles are silver.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive particles are silver-coated glass spheres.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive particles are to embed into said actuator pad and into said flexible cable pad to form said electrical path.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said hard drive actuator board is to be positioned upon said flexible cable element for coupling by pre-tacking said actuator board to said flexible cable element with said bonding agent.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said hard drive actuator board is to be coupled to said flexible cable element by applying pressure to said flexible cable element by a bonding tip to compress said bonding agent between said actuator board and said flexible cable element.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said bonding tip is a heated bonding tip and said bonding agent is to be heated by said bonding tip for coupling said actuator board to said flexible cable element.  
     
     
         10 - 18 . (canceled)  
     
     
         19 . A system for manufacturing a hard disc drive arm comprising: 
 a hard drive actuator board having at least one actuator pad to be coupled to a flexible cable element having at least one flexible cable pad by a bonding agent, wherein    said bonding agent includes a plurality of electrically conductive particles;    said bonding agent is to be compressed between said actuator board and said flexible cable element; and    a number of said particles is to form an electrical path between said actuator pad and said flexible cable pad.    
     
     
         20 . A system for manufacturing a hard disc drive arm comprising: 
 an electrical lead of a hard drive actuator coil to be coupled to a flexible cable pad of a flexible cable element, forming a coupling, wherein    at least a portion of said coupling is to be enclosed in a polymer frame.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said electrical lead is to be coupled to said flexible cable pad by solder bonding.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said electrical lead is copper.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said electrical lead is gold-plated copper.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said flexible cable pad is copper.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said flexible cable pad is gold-plated copper.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein a mold is to surround said portion of said coupling and polymer is to be injected into said mold to form said polymer frame.  
     
     
         27 - 29 . (canceled)