Patent Application
20060002057
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a CPU socket, and more particularly to a socket which ensures a CPU with a Land Grid Array can reliably connect with nodes on a mainboard.
2. Description of Related Art
CPUs have three types of terminals electrically connected with circuits on a mainboard, including P.G.A (Pin Grid Array), B.G.A (Ball Grid Array), and L.G.A (L.G.A.).
The P.G.A type CPU has pin-like terminals with a great length, so a socket for this type CPU must have a great thickness corresponding to the P.G.A terminals. A conventional socket for the P.G.A CPU is issued as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,613.
For miniaturizing the CPU, the B.G.A type CPU was invented with ball-like terminals such as tin balls or copper balls. A conventional socket for the B.G.A CPU is issued as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,710.
For further miniaturizing the CPU, the L.G.A CPU has been developed with simple structure, low cost, and good electrical connection. The L.G.A CPU has flat land-like terminals. Conventional sockets adapted to this L.G.A CPU are issued as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,192,213; 5,199,889, 5,232,372, 5,320,559, 5,362,241, and 5,389,819.
For reducing an area of a CPU, two adjacent terminals of the CPU have a very small clearance therebetween. Thus, apertures of the socket for receiving the terminals have a high density. The apertures each have a metal strip for being electrically connected with the respective terminals and a circuit on a mainboard. For providing a reliable electrical connection, the metal strips have a deformable part with a certain elasticity. However, limited by the thickness of the socket, the conventional metal strips have a complex structure with an insufficient elasticity. Moreover, when continuously pressed by the terminals for a long time, elastic fatigue may appear in these metal strips, and electrical connection between the CPU and the circuit becomes unreliable.
Therefore, the invention provides a CPU socket to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main objective of the present invention is to provide a CPU socket which can eliminate elastic fatigue of metal strips to ensure that a CPU is reliably and electrically connected with a circuit board.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
The apertures (11) each have a metal strip (112) uprightly secured on an inner wall thereof by a fastener (111). The metal strip (112) has two deformable free ends (not numbered) respectively extending upwards and downwards out from the aperture (11). A supporting piece (113) is formed on the inner wall of the aperture (11) and opposite to the metal strip (112), and has inclined surfaces (not numbered) formed at upper and lower ends thereof. When the metal strip (112) is pressed, the free ends are elastically deformed to respectively abut the inclined surfaces of the supporting piece (113).
A frame (20) is mounted on the bottom plate (10) and has an opening (21) defined therein for receiving a CPU (40) and corresponding to the apertures (11). The opening (21) has a size slightly smaller than that of the CPU. Four edges (22), each with a slope (23) formed at a top thereof, are formed around the opening (21) for clamping the CPU, and four notches (24) are respectively formed at four corners of the edges (22). When the CPU (40) is pressed into the opening (21) along the slopes (23), the edges (22) will be deformed outwards to slightly expand the opening (21) for receiving and tightly clamping the CPU (40).
Four holes (25) are defined in the frame (20) around the opening (21) and respectively aligned with the lugs (13), and each have a step (26) formed therein. The lugs (13) are respectively inserted in the holes (25) and the barbs (14) are respectively attached to the steps (26).
With reference to
The CPU (40) can be installed in the opening (21) of the frame (20), and a heat radiator (42) is mounted on the CPU (40). The metal strips (112) are pressed by L.G.A terminals (41) of the CPU (40), and the upper free ends of the strips (112) are deformed and electrically connected with the L.G.A terminals (41). Thus, the CPU (40) is electrically connected with the circuit board (43).
As illustrated in
With reference to
With reference to
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
