Magnecomp (TDK) Assigned Patent

Magnecomp Precision Technology Pcl., Murrieta, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,462,464) developed by Christopher Dunn, Austin, TX, for "high strength flying leads for multi-layer flexure designs."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A multi-layer circuit such as for a disk drive suspension has two regions: a supported region in which first and second stacked signal conductors are supported on a stainless steel support layer and an insulating layer, and an unsupported region having flying leads in which the flying leads are not supported below by the support layer. The two stacked signal conductors are formed by two separate plating operations, the two plating operations simultaneously creating the flying leads and the unsupported portions of the signal conductors, such that the flying leads have thicknesses that are the sum of the thicknesses of the individual conductors. Crossbars and vias allow the different plating layers to be connected together. This construction allows the individual conductors to be relatively thin and flexible for good electrical and mechanical performance, while creating relatively thick flying leads that are resistant to handling damage."

The patent application was filed on Nov. 20, 2010 (12/951,020).