Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6832918
-
Patent Number
6,832,918
-
Date Filed
Friday, April 30, 200420 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 21, 200419 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 70
- 439 71
- 439 73
- 439 330
- 439 637
- 439 701
- 439 7331
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An integrated circuit (IC) socket assembly (1) includes an insulative housing (11), a holding component (12) and a multiplicity of electrical terminals (13). Each of the terminals includes a head portion (135) forming a first contact portion (131) at a free end thereof for electrically contacting an IC (2), a holding portion (133) engaging the terminal in the holding component, and a second contact portion (132) for electrically contacting a burn-in board (3) by Through Hole technology. Some of the terminals further include connecting portions (134) each bending from ends of the holding portions to ends of the second contact portions. Each of the connecting portions has a desired length in a horizontal direction, to decreases the difficulty of making the holes in the burn-in board and assembling the second contact portions into the burn-in board by Through Hole technology.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated circuit (IC) socket assembly for electrically connecting an electronic package such as an IC with a substrate circuit such as a burn-in board.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electronic packages, such as integrated circuits (ICs), are miniaturized electronic devices in which a number of active and passive circuit elements are located on or within a continuous body of material to perform the function of a complete circuit. To ensure reliability in use, the ICs require prior burning in to test their durability. The ICs are operated at high temperature for an extended period of time to accelerate potential failure points. This helps eliminate early product failures once the ICs are sold and/or assembled onto electronic end products. Consequently, an IC socket assembly is used to receive an IC therein, and to electrically connect the IC with a burn-in board for operation of the IC at high temperature. Pertinent examples of such IC socket assemblies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,371,783, 6,350,138, 6,213,806, 6,193,525 and 5,865,639.
An IC socket assembly generally comprises an insulative housing mounted on and electrically connected on a burn-in board, a multiplicity of electrical contacts accommodated in the houisng, and latch means for securely attached the IC in the IC socket assembly. Each contact includes a contact portion extending out of a top of the housing for electrically connected with leaders of the IC, and a pin extending out of a bottom of the housing. A distance of the contact portions of two adjacent contacts is identical with a distance of the pins of the two adjacent contacts. The pins of the contacts are electrically connected with the burn-in board by Through Hole technology.
At present, with the prevailing trend toward miniaturization of computers, the sizes of the ICs used in the computers are steadily becoming smaller. In contrast, the number of leads of the IC is increasing to meet the need for more signal transmission. A distance of two adjacent leads of the IC is decreasing, and a distance of the contact portions of two adjacent contacts is decreasing. Accordingly, a distance of the pins of the two adjacent contacts is decreasing, which increases the difficulty of making holes in the burn-in board and assembling the contacts onto the burn-in board by Through Hole technology.
In view of the above, a new IC socket assembly that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a integrated circuit (IC) socket assembly for electrically connecting an electronic package such as an IC with a circuit substrate such as a burn-in board, and more particularly to provide an IC socket assembly configured to facilitate being assembled onto a burn-in board by Through Hole technology.
To fulfill the object of the present invention, an IC socket assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is used for electrically connecting an IC with a burn-in board having a multiplicity of holes extending therethrough in a vertical direction. The IC socket assembly comprises an insulative housing, a holding component assembled in the housing and a multiplicity of electrical terminals received in the holding component. Each of the terminals comprises a head portion forming a first contact portion at a free end thereof for electrically contacting the IC, a holding portion engaging the terminal in the holding component, and a second contact portion for electrically contacting the burn-in board by Through Hole technology. Some of the terminals further comprise connecting portions each bending from ends of the holding portions to ends of the second contact portions. Each of the connecting portions extends a desired distance in a horizontal direction, such that a distance between two adjacent second contact portions in one row is larger than a distance between two adjacent first contact portions in one row. Therefore, it is likely to decreases the difficulty of making the holes in the burn-in board and assembling the second contact portions into the burn-in board by Through Hole technology.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in the conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an isometric view of an integrated circuit (IC) socket assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the IC socket assembly includes an insulative housing with a first body and a second body, a holding component with six first holding elements, two second holding elements, a third holding element and a fourth holding element, a plurality of electrical terminals being grouped under four types such as first terminal, second terminal, third terminal and fourth terminal, and a pair of pushing members.
FIG. 2
is an enlarged, isometric view of one of the first terminals of the IC socket assembly of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is an enlarged, isometric view of one of the first holding elements of the IC socket assembly of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is an enlarged, isometric view of one of the second holding elements of the IC socket assembly of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 5
is an enlarged, exploded, isometric view of first contact team including three contact modules each consisting of terminals and one of the first holding elements of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 6
is an assembled, isometric view of the first contact team of FIG.
5
.
FIG. 7
is an side elevation of the first contact team of FIG.
6
.
FIG. 8
is an assembled, isometric view of the contact teams of FIG.
6
and the second holding elements of
FIG. 4
, together with a burn-in board.
FIG. 9
is an isometric view of the burn-in board of FIG.
8
.
FIG. 10
is an isometric view of the third holding element of the IC socket assembly of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 11
is an isometric view of the third holding element of
FIG. 10
, but showing the third holding element inverted.
FIG. 12
is an assembled, isometric view of an assembly of FIG.
8
and the third holding element of FIG.
10
.
FIG. 13
is an enlarged, isometric view of the fourth holding element of the IC socket assembly of
FIG. 1
, showing the fourth holding element from a bottom side.
FIG. 14
is an assembled, isometric view of an assembly of FIG.
12
and the fourth holding element of FIG.
13
.
FIG. 15
is an isometric view of the first body of the IC socket assembly of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 16
is an isometric view of the first body of
FIG. 15
, but showing the first body inverted.
FIG. 17
is an assembled, isometric view of an assembly of FIG.
14
and the first body of FIG.
15
.
FIG. 18
is an enlarged, isometric view of the second body of the IC socket assembly of
FIG. 1
, showing the second body from a bottom side.
FIG. 19
is an isometric view of the IC socket assembly of
FIG. 1
, together with an IC ready to mate with the IC socket assembly.
FIG. 20
is an isometric view of the IC socket assembly of
FIG. 1
, together with the IC mating with the IC socket assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVNETION
Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.
Referring to
FIGS. 1 through 5
and
10
through
12
, An integrated circuit (IC) socket assembly
1
in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is used for electrically connecting an electronic package such as an IC
2
with a circuit substrate such as a burn-in board
3
. The IC socket assembly
1
comprises an insulative housing
11
, a holding component
12
, a plurality of electrical terminals, and a pair of pushing members
1117
. Referring to
FIG. 9
, the burn-in board
3
defines four first holes
31
in four corners of a rectangle respectively, a pair of second holes
32
defined in a portion between two first holes
31
in a width of the rectangle, and a plurality of third holes
33
defined in a middle of a portion surrounded by the rectangle and arranged in six rows rectangular. Each of the first, second and third holes
31
,
32
,
33
extends through the burn-in board
3
in a vertical direction. A diameter of each first hole
31
is larger than a diameter of one of the second holes
32
. A diameter of one second hole
32
is larger than a diameter of the other second hole
32
.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, each of the terminals
13
comprises an arc-shaped head portion
135
, a first contact portion
131
formed at an end of the head portion
135
, a holding portion
133
extending downwardly from an opposite end of the head portion
135
, and a second contact portion
132
capable of inserting into a third hole
33
of the burn-in board
3
to connecting with the burn-in board
3
electrically. Each of the terminals
13
have connecting portions
134
bending from a lower end of the holding portion
133
to an end of the second contact portion
132
.
Referring to
FIGS. 5
to
7
, in accordance with lengths of the connecting portions
134
of the terminals
13
, the terminals
13
can be grouped under four types such as first terminals
1301
, second terminals
1302
, third terminals
1303
and fourth terminals
1304
. Each connecting portions
134
has a desired length in a desired direction. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connecting portion
134
of each of the first terminals
1301
extending horizontally in a first direction has a length “L”, the connecting portion
134
of each of the second terminals
1302
extending horizontally has a length “2L”, the connecting portion
134
of each of the third terminals
1303
extending horizontally in an opposite direction to the first direction has a length “L”, and the length of each of the fourth terminals
1304
is zero, that is to say, each have not the connecting portion.
Referring to
FIGS. 3 through 6
, the holding component
12
comprises six first holding elements
121
, a pair of second holding elements
122
, a third holding element
123
and a fourth holding element
124
.
Each of the first holding elements
121
is generally rectangular, and defines a pair of spaced apertures
1211
in each of two opposite sides thereof. The holding portions
133
of five first terminals
1301
and five second terminals
1302
are staggered relative to each other and embedded in one first holding element
121
by insert molding, so as to form a first contact module
141
. The holding portions
133
of five first terminals
1301
and five fourth terminals are staggered relative to each other and embedded in one first holding element
121
, so as to form a second contact module
142
. The holding portions
133
of five third terminals and five fourth terminals
1304
are staggered relative to each other and embedded in one holding element
121
, so as to form a third contact module
143
. The first, second and third modules
141
,
142
,
143
are assembled by four bolts (not shown) passing through the apertures
1211
and engaging with four nuts (not shown) respectively, so as to form a first contact team. There is a second contact team being the same as the first contact team.
Referring to
FIGS. 6 and 7
, in one contact team, the first contact portions
131
of the terminals
13
are arranged in three rows, but the second contact portions
132
of the terminals
13
are arranged in six rows because of the connecting portion
134
. In addition, a distance between two adjacent second contact portions
132
in one row is as twice as a distance between two adjacent first contact portions
131
in one row. A distance between the third holes
33
of the burn-in board
3
in one row, which is the same as the distance between the second contact portions
132
in one row, is increased. Therefore, it is likely to decreases the difficulty of making third holes
33
in the burn-in board
3
and assembling the second contact portions
132
into the burn-in board
3
by Through Hole technology.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, the second holding element
122
comprises a generally rectangular body portion
1221
and a pair of first posts
1222
formed at two opposite sides of the body portion
1221
. Each of the first posts
1222
extends upwardly from a top surface of the body portion
1221
, and having a cap
1223
on a top end thereof.
Referring to
FIG. 8
, the second holding elements
122
are put on the burn-in board
3
at intervals. Referring to
FIG. 8
, the first and second contact teams are assembled on the burn-in board
3
, with the second contacts
132
inserted through the third holes
33
of the burn-in board
3
only, and bottoms of the first holding elements
121
abutting against tops of the body portions
1221
of the first holding elements
122
.
Referring to
FIGS. 10 and 11
, the third holding element
123
is a general frame, defining a first window
1235
in a middle portion thereof. A pair of T-shaped positioning portions
1230
each is formed inner surfaces of front and end walls of the frame respectively. Each positioning portion
1230
forms a receiving space
1239
with a corresponding sidewall of the frame. A height of the positioning portion
1230
is higher than a height of the frame. Each positioning portion
1230
forms a step surface
1238
. A pair of T-shaped ear portion
1236
is formed outer surfaces of the front and end walls of the frame. Each ear portion
1236
forms an engaging surface
1237
, and defines a step hole
1232
in a middle portion thereof. Each step hole
1232
extends through the ear portion
1236
in a vertical direction. A top surface of each ear portion
1236
is flush with a top surface of each positioning portion
1230
, with a top portion of ear portion
1236
connecting with a top portion of the positioning portion
1230
. A pair of first recesses
1233
is defined in two opposite sides of each of the ear portions
1236
. Four first coil springs
125
are assembled onto the third holding element
123
, with ends of the first coil springs
125
abutting against portions under the first recesses
1233
respectively. A pair of first receiving holes
1231
in two opposite sides of the top portion of the third holding element
123
, corresponding to the first posts
1222
of the second holding elements
122
. Each of the first receiving holes
1231
extends through the third holding element
123
in a vertical direction. A second post
1234
extends upwardly from a top surface of the third holding element
123
between the first receiving holes
1231
.
Referring to
FIG. 12
, the third holding element
123
is assembled onto the second holding elements
122
, with a bottom surface of the front and end walls of the third holding element
123
abutting against the top surface of the body portion
1221
of the second holding elements
122
respectively, the first and second contact team received in the receiving spaces
1239
respectively, the first step surfaces
1238
of the positioning portions
1230
abutting against tops of the first holding elements
121
, and the first posts
1222
of the second holding elements
122
inserted through the first receiving holes of the third holding element
123
with the caps
1223
engaging with the top surfaces of the top surface of the third holding element
123
.
Referring to
FIG. 13
, there is shown an isometric view of the fourth holding element
124
from a bottom side. The fourth holding element
124
comprises a base portion
1241
and four latches
1245
extending downwardly from four corners of the base portion
1241
. Each latch
1245
forms a clasp
1246
at a free end thereof. A pair of second recesses
1244
and a second receiving hole
1243
are defined in bottom of each of the front and end sides of each of base portion
1241
. Each second receiving hole
1243
extends through the base portion
1241
in a vertical direction, the second receiving hole
1243
between the second recesses
1244
. Twenty slots
1242
are defined in a middle portion of the base portion
1241
, the slots
1242
arranged in two rows and extending through the base portion in the vertical direction. A pair of tongues
1247
protrudes from two opposite sidewalls of the base portion
1241
respectively. Referring to
FIG. 14
, the base portion
1241
forms some projecting portions
1248
extending upwardly from a top thereof. The projecting portions
1248
are arranged in a generally rectangle, thereby forming a receiving cavity therebetween.
The fourth holding element
124
is assembled onto the third holding element
123
, with the clasp
1246
engaging with the engaging surface
1237
of the third holding element
123
, the tongues
1247
received between the positioning portions
1230
, the second posts
1234
of the third holding element
123
received in the second receiving holes
1243
of the fourth holding element
124
, opposite ends of the first coil springs
125
abutting against portions over the second recesses
1244
, and the first contact portions
131
of terminals
13
accommodated in the slots
1242
so as to protect the first contact portions
131
from damage.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, the housing
11
comprises a first body
111
and a second body
112
assembled onto the first body
111
.
Referring to
FIG. 15
, there is shown an isometric view of the first body
111
from a top side. The first body
111
is a generally frame, defining a second window
1111
in a middle thereof. A pair of near third recesses
1114
is defined in each of two opposite sides of a top portion of each of two opposite sidewalls of the frame. A third post
1115
is formed at each of four inner corners of the frame, the third post
1115
extending upwardly from a top portion of the first body
111
and having a vertical cutout paralleling a central axis thereof. A receiving gap
1130
is defined in a middle portion of each of front and end walls of the frame respectively, and a first hollow
1116
extends through two portions adjacent the receiving gap
1130
in a transverse direction of the frame. A portion under the receiving gap
1130
has an arc-shaped surface. A pair of steps
1119
extends from inner surface of the frame into the second window
1111
. Also referring to
FIG. 16
, a bottom surface of each of the step
1119
is flush with a bottom surface of the frame respectively. A fourth post
1110
extends upwardly from a top surface of each of the step
1119
, corresponding to the first step holes
1232
of the third holding elements
123
. Four screw holes
1113
are defined in four corners of bottom portion of the frame. A pair of fifth post
1112
extends downwardly from the bottom surface of each the front and end walls of the frame, corresponding to the second holes
32
of the burn-in board
3
. In accordance with the second holes
32
of the burn-in board
3
, a diameter of one fifth post
1112
is larger than a diameter of the other fifth post
1112
to provide polarizing means. A pair of cutouts
1138
is defined in middle portions of the sidewalls of the frame respectively. A wedge
1139
extends from the sidewall into each of the cutout
1138
.
Referring to
FIG. 17
, the assembled first, second contact teams and second, third, fourth holding elements
122
,
123
,
124
are detached from the burn-in board
3
. The first body
111
is assembly onto the burn-in board
3
, with the fifth posts inserted through the second holes
32
of the burn-in board
3
. Then, the assembled first, second contact teams and second, third, fourth holding elements
122
,
123
,
124
is assembled in the second window
1111
, with the fourth posts
1110
received in the first step holes
1236
of the third holding element
123
. Further, the pushing members
1117
are assembled into the receiving gaps
1130
of the first body
111
respectively. Each pushing member
1117
comprises a head
1133
, a middle portion
1136
and a pair of tails
1134
extending from an end of the head
1133
. The middle portion
1136
defines a pair of notches
1137
in two sides thereof. The tail
1134
has an arc-shaped surface
1118
abutting against the arc-shaped surface under the receiving gap
1130
, and an abutting surface
1135
extending from an end of the arc-shaped surface
1118
, and a third hollow extending therethrough. A pair of first spindles
41
are inserted through the first hollows
1116
and the third holes of the pushing members
1117
respectively and engaging with first fastening rings
1132
, thereby mounting the pushing members
1117
.
Referring to
FIG. 18
, there is shown an isometric view of the second body
112
from a bottom side. The second body
112
comprises a frame body
1122
, four protrusions
1123
extending downwardly from four corners of the frame body
1122
, and a pair of extending portions
1124
extending downwardly from in middle portions of edges of two opposite sidewalls
1121
of the frame body
1122
. Each extending portion
1124
forms a claw at a free end thereof. Each protrusion
1123
defines a second hollow
1127
extending through the protrusion
1123
. The second hollows
1127
of the near protrusion
1123
have an identical axis. Each sidewall
1121
of the frame body
1122
defines four fourth recesses
1125
, and a pair of spaced third receiving holes
1126
in a middle portion thereof. Two of the fourth recesses
1125
are defined in one of two opposite sides of the sidewall
1121
. The frame body
1122
defines a pair of fourth windows
1141
in front and end sides thereof, and a third window
1142
in a middle portion thereof between the fourth windows
1141
. A pair of short pins
1143
is formed in each of the fourth windows
1141
. Each pin
1143
extends from an inner surface of one of the sidewall
1121
into the fourth window
1141
.
Referring to
FIG. 19
, the second body
112
is assembled onto the first body
111
, with the extending portions
1124
received in the cutouts
1138
with the claws engaging with the wedges
1139
respectively, the pushing members
1117
received in the fourth windows
1141
respectively, the pins
1143
received in the notches
1137
of the pushing members
1117
, the third posts
1115
received in the third receiving holes
1126
, a bottom surface of the frame body
1122
abutting against the top surface of the fourth holding element
124
. Eight second coil springs
126
are assembled into the first body
111
, with ends of the second coil springs
126
abutting against portions under the third recesses
1114
and opposite ends of the second coil springs
126
abutting against portions over the fourth recesses
1125
of the second body. A pair of second spindles
42
is inserted through the second hollows
1127
and engages with second fastening rings
1144
, with abutting against the abutting surfaces
1135
of the pushing members
1117
respectively.
Also referring to
FIG. 20
, in assembly, the second contact portions
132
of terminals
13
are inserted through the third holes
33
and electrically connect with the burn-in board
3
. Four screws (not shown) are inserted through the first holes
31
of the burn-in board
3
, and engage in the screw holes
1113
of the first body
1111
.
In use, the second body
112
of the IC socket assembly
1
is pushed down. The pushing members
1117
rotate and the heads
1133
of the pushing members
1117
rise. An IC
2
is put into the receiving cavity of the fourth holding element
124
by the third window
1142
of the second body
112
. The second body
112
is released and rises under compression from the second coil spring
126
. The pushing members
1117
rotate by the second spindles engaging with the abutting surfaces
1135
, and the heads
1133
of the pushing members
1117
go down to press a top surface of the IC
2
. The IC
2
pushes the fourth holding element
124
against the first coil springs
125
. The second contact portions
131
of the terminals
13
protrude from the slots
1242
of the fourth holding element
124
, so as to electrically contact the IC
2
. Therefore, the IC socket assembly
1
electrically connects the IC
2
with the burn-in board
3
.
From the foregoing it will be recognized that the principles of the invention may be employed in various arrangements to obtain the features, advantages and benefits described above. It is to be understood, therefore, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth together with details of the structure and function of the invention, this disclosure is to be considered as illustrative only. Various changes and modifications may be made in detail, especially in matters of size, shape and arrangements of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. An integrated circuit socket assembly comprising:an integrated circuit; a burn-in board with a plurality of holes; an insulative housing comprising a first body and a second body mounted onto the first body; a plurality of first and second electrical terminals received in the housing, each of the plurality of first and second electrical terminals comprising: a first contact portion for electrically contacting the integrated circuit; a holding portion; a second contact portion inserted through a corresponding hole of the burn-in board; and a connecting portion bending from the holding portion to the second contact portion, wherein the connecting portion of each of the plurality of first terminals has a length “L” and extends in a horizontal direction, and the connecting portion of each of the plurality of second terminals has a length “2L” and extends in the horizontal direction; a holding component comprising: a plurality of first holding elements, wherein holding portions of the plurality of first and second electrical terminals are staggered relative to each other and embedded in one of the plurality of first holding elements; a pair of second holding element mounted on the burn-in-board, the plurality of first holding elements received between the pair of second holding elements; a third holding element mounted on the pair of second holding elements; and a fourth holding element mounted onto the third holding element and capable of moving relative to the third element, wherein the fourth holding element defining a plurality of slots which each receiving a corresponding first contact portion of the plurality of first and second terminals; wherein the third holding element has a pair of T-shaped ear portions at front and end sides, respectively, each ear portion defining a step hole in a middle portion thereof, and the first body forming a pair of steps each having a post which receiving in each step holes of the third holding element; and a pair of pushing members mounted onto the first body of the housing and capable of rotation when the second body is moving.
- 2. The IC socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third holding element defines a pair of spaced receiving holes in each of front and end sides thereof, and each of the second holding elements forms a pair of posts received in the receiving holes.
- 3. The IC socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third holding element has a pair of T-shaped ear portions each forming engaging surfaces, and the fourth holding element has four latches extending downwardly from four corners thereof to abut against the engaging surfaces of the third holding element.
- 4. The IC socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third holding element forms a pair of posts, and the fourth holding element defines a pair of receiving holes receiving the posts therein respectively.
- 5. The IC socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the third and four holding elements defines four recess, and four springs are received in the recesses between the third and fourth holding elements.
- 6. The IC socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first body has four posts each having cutouts, and the second body has four receiving holes receiving the post.
- 7. The IC socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second bodies defines eight recesses, and eight springs are received in the recesses between the first and second bodies.
- 8. The IC socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first body a pair of cutouts and hollows in portions adjacent the cutouts, and each of the pushing members defines a pair of tails each having hollows, a pair of spindles inserted through the hollows of the first body and the pushing members and engaging with a pair of fastening rings respectively.
- 9. The IC socket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pushing members has a pair of tails each having abutting surfaces, and the second body forms four protrusions each having hollows, a pair of spindles inserted through the hollows, engaging with a pair of fastening rings and abutting against the abutting surfaces of the pushing members.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
92206969 U |
Apr 2003 |
TW |
|
US Referenced Citations (10)