Appeal No. 1998-0206
Application No. 08/550,514
BACKGROUND
The invention is directed to a magnetic disk drive with an electrically conducting path between
the gimbal assembly and the transducing head assembly for electrical grounding of the head assembly to
prevent static electricity. Claim 1 is reproduced below.
1. A magnetic disc drive for reading and writing information on a disc surface of a rotating
magnetic disc, comprising:
a drive chassis forming an electrical ground;
a head assembly including a transducing head for reading and writing information on the disc
surface, the head assembly further including a slider having a slider surface adapted to fly over the disc
surface as the disc rotates wherein the transducing head is connected to the slider;
an electrically conductive armature extending across the disc surface having a first end
electrically connected to electrical ground and a second end for carrying the head assembly;
a gimbal assembly at the second end of the armature and connected to electrical ground;
an adhesive which adheres the head assembly to the gimbal assembly; and
an electrically conductive metal path affixed to one of the slider and the gimbal assembly, and
providing an unbonded electrical connection to the other of the slider and gimbal assembly, the metal
path being electrically isolated from the transducing head and sandwiched between the head assembly
and the gimbal assembly thereby coupling the head assembly to electrical ground, wherein the metal
path is positioned between the head assembly and the gimbal assembly.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Ainslie et al. (Ainslie) 4,761,699 Aug. 2, 1988
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