1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a burn-in socket for burn-in test and more particularly, to such a burn-in socket, which has a shell detachably fastened to the body thereof for holding the test sample to test. The user can replace the shell subject to the size of the sample to test.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following fast development of high technology, electronic devices are designed in the trend of light, think, short and small styles. After fabrication, electronic elements may have to receive burn-in test, examining their life cycle under an environment of high temperature, high voltage and high current. Inferior electronic elements that do not pass the test are swept out.
During burn-in test, a burn-in socket is used to hold the test sample and to electrically connect the test sample to a test apparatus for test. However, because different test samples (memory devices, logic products, sockets) have different contact pin patterns, different burn-in sockets shall be prepared for holding different test samples, thereby resulting in high test cost. The terminals of conventional burn-in sockets are made of resilient metal material or have a respective spring member fixedly connected thereto for positive connection to respective contacts at an adapter board that is used to connect the burn-in socket to a test apparatus. Therefore, changing a burn-in socket subject to the type of the test samples to test is complicated. Further, following the trend of micromization, nanotechnology has been employed to the fabrication of IC chips, and related burn-in sockets are micromized. When connecting the terminals of a micromized burn-in sockets to a test apparatus, the terminals may be deformed or inserted into wrong contact holes accidentally, and a short circuit may occur when turned on the test apparatus, thereby causing the test sample to be burned out.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. According to one aspect of the present invention, the burn-in socket comprises a body holding a set of terminals, and a shell detachably fastened to the body with locating pins that are detachably mounted in respective mounting through holes in the shell and inserted into respective mounting holes in the body for holding a test sample (electronic element) in a receiving hole thereof in contact with the terminals. Therefore, the user can change the shell subject to the type of the test sample (electronic element) to test. According to another aspect of the present invention, a cover is pivotally coupled to the shell for closing the test sample (electronic element) in the receiving hole of the shell. The cover has a spring-supported hook provided at the free end for hooking on a part of the shell to hold the cover in the close position. According to another aspect of the present invention, an adapter board may be used with the burn-in socket to electrically connect the terminals to a test apparatus, preventing deformation of the terminals during installation of the burn-in socket in the test apparatus.
Referring to FIGS. 1˜3, a burn-in socket in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a body 1, a shell 2, and a cover 3.
The body 1 comprises a base 11, a locating block 12 provided at the top of the base 11, a plurality of terminal slots 14 vertically extended through the locating block 12 and the base 11, and a plurality of mounting holes 15 formed in the locating block 12. Further a plurality of terminals 13 is respectively mounted in the terminal slots 14, each having a contact portion 131 at one end and a mounting portion 132 at the other end. The terminals 13 are preferably made of resilient metal material. Alternatively, the mounting portions 132 of the terminals 13 can be formed of metal spring members.
The shell 2 accommodates the body 1, comprising a receiving hole 21 adapted to receive a test sample (electronic element) 5, a fixed hook 22 provided at one side, a pivot axle 23 transversely provided at the other side opposite to the fixed hook 22, and a plurality of mounting through holes 24 respectively connected to the mounting holes 15 of the body 1 with locating pins 25.
The cover 3 comprises a knuckle 32 transversely provided at one end and pivotally coupled to the pivot axle 23 of the shell 2, and a spring-supported hook 31 pivotally provided at the other end remote from the knuckle 32 for hooking the fixed hook 22 of the shell 2. When closed the cover 3 on the body 2, the spring-supported hook 31 is hooked up with the fixed hook 22 of the shell 2 to hold the cover 3 in the close position. When disengaging the spring-supported hook 31 from the fixed hook 22 of the shell 2, the cover 3 can be tuned about the pivot axle 23 from the close position to an open position. After insertion of the test sample (electronic element) 5 into the receiving hole 21 of the shell 2, the cover 3 is closed to hold the test sample (electronic element) 5 in position, keeping the respective contacts of the test sample 5 in contact with the contact portions 131 of the terminals 13 for burn-in test.
Referring to
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A prototype of burn-in socket has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1˜6. The burn-in socket functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.