Claims
- 1. A flex cable assembly, comprising:
a flex cable comprising a laminated, flexible, ribbon-like member with at least one embedded electrical conductor, the flex cable having a nominally planar orientation; and a flex cable support comprising a base and adjacent first and second flex support portions extending from the base, wherein the first flex support portion comprises a first flex support surface extending along a first direction, wherein the second flex support portion comprises a second flex support surface extending along a second direction, and wherein the flex cable pressingly abuts and exerts a spring force against the first and second flex support surfaces to retain the flex cable against said support surfaces, said spring force generated as the flex cable attempts to return to the nominally planar orientation.
- 2. The flex cable assembly of claim 1 wherein the first flex support portion further comprises a retention tab which extends from the first flex support surface and through a tab aperture in the flex cable to restrict lateral movement of the flex cable along the first flex support surface.
- 3. The flex cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the second flex support portion further comprises a retention tab which extends from the second flex support surface and through a tab aperture in the flex cable to restrict lateral movement of the flex cable along the second flex support surface.
- 4. The flex cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second directions intersect to form an angle of less than 180 degrees.
- 5. The flex cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second directions intersect to form an angle of substantially 90 degrees.
- 6. The flex cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second directions are substantially parallel.
- 7. The flex cable assembly of claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between the first and second flex support portions to facilitate routing of the flex cable along the respective first and second flex support surfaces.
- 8. The flex cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the flex cable assembly is used to conduct electrical signals to a moveable head stack assembly of a disc drive data storage device, wherein the flex cable comprises a proximal end affixed to the flex cable support and a distal end affixed to the flex cable support.
- 9. The flex cable assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a selected one of the first and second flex support surfaces is substantially planar.
- 10. The flex cable assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a selected one of the first and second flex support surfaces is curvilinear.
- 11. A disc drive data storage device, comprising:
a rotatable disc having a data storage surface; a head stack assembly which controllably moves a data transducing head adjacent the data storage surface; and a flex cable assembly comprising:
a flex cable comprising a laminated, flexible, ribbon-like member with at least one embedded electrical conductor used to transmit electrical signals to the head stack assembly, the flex cable having a nominally planar orientation, a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end affixed to the head stack assembly; and a flex cable support comprising a base and adjacent first and second flex support portions extending from the base, the first flex support portion comprising a first flex support surface extending along a first direction, the second flex support portion comprising a second flex support surface extending along a second direction and wherein the proximal end of the flex cable pressingly abuts and exerts a spring force against the first and second flex support surfaces to retain the flex cable against said support surfaces, said spring force generated as the flex cable attempts to return to the nominally planar orientation.
- 12. The disc drive data storage device of claim 11, wherein the flex cable further comprises a dynamic loop between the proximal and distal ends to provide strain relief for the flex cable as the head stack assembly moves the head across the data storage surface, and wherein an end of the dynamic loop adjacent the flex cable support substantially extends in the second direction of the second flex support surface.
- 13. The disc drive data storage device of claim 11, wherein the dynamic loop has a nominal length along the length of the flex cable when the head is located at a first position with respect to the data storage surface, and wherein a portion of the flex cable is pulled away from the second flex support surface as the head is moved to a second position with respect to the data storage surface so that the dynamic loop achieves a second length longer than the nominal length.
- 14. The disc drive data storage device of claim 11, wherein at least a selected one of the first and second flex support portions further comprises a retention tab which extends through a corresponding tab aperture in the flex cable to restrict lateral movement of the flex cable.
- 15. The disc drive data storage device of claim 11, wherein at least a selected one of the first and second flex support surfaces is substantially planar.
- 16. The disc drive data storage device of claim 11, wherein at least a selected one of the first and second flex support surfaces is curvilinear.
- 17. The disc drive data storage device of claim 11, further comprising a rigid base deck, wherein the base of the flex cable support is affixed to the base deck.
- 18. The disc drive data storage device of claim 11, wherein the disc drive further comprises a printed circuit board affixed to an exterior surface of the base deck, and wherein the flex cable facilitates electrical communication between the head stack assembly and the printed circuit board.
- 19. A disc drive data storage device, comprising:
a rotatable disc having a data storage surface; a head stack assembly which controllably moves a data transducing head adjacent the data storage surface; and a flex cable assembly comprising:
a flex cable comprising a laminated, flexible, ribbon-like member with at least one embedded electrical conductor used to transmit electrical signals to the head stack assembly, the flex cable having a nominally planar orientation, a proximal end, a distal end, and a dynamic loop between said proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end is affixed to the head stack assembly and wherein the dynamic loop has a nominal length when the head is located at a first position adjacent the data storage surface; and first means for supporting the proximal end of the flex cable and for facilitating extension of the length of the dynamic loop to a second length greater than the nominal length when the head is located at a second position adjacent the data storage surface.
- 20. The disc drive data storage device of claim 19, wherein the first means comprises a flex cable support comprising a base and adjacent first and second flex support portions extending from the base, the first flex support portion comprising a first flex support surface extending along a first direction, the second flex support portion comprising a second flex support surface extending along a different, second direction, and wherein the proximal end of the flex cable pressingly abuts and exerts a spring force against the first and second flex support surfaces to retain the flex cable against said support surfaces, said spring force generated as the flex cable attempts to return to the nominally planar orientation.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/355,704 entitled FLEX CLAMP filed Feb. 7, 2002.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60355704 |
Feb 2002 |
US |