Electrical connector for electronic package

Details Electrical connector for electronic package Electrical connector for electronic package

2002-11-18

2004-11-09

Nasri, Javaid H. (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...

Including compound movement of coupling part

Reexamination Certificate

active

06814603

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector for electrically connecting an electronic package such as a central processing unit (CPU) with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB), and particularly to an electrical connector having a cam actuator with reduced assembly tolerance and enhanced strength.
2. Description of Related Art
An integrated circuit (IC) package having a multiplicity of pins depending from a bottom surface thereof and arranged in a grid array is known as a pin grid array (PGA) package. Connectors for electrically connecting PGA packages with PCBs are known as PGA sockets.
A PGA socket comprises a base having a multiplicity of terminals arranged in a grid array corresponding to the lead pins of the PGA package, a cover defining a multiplicity of through holes arranged in a grid array corresponding to the lead pins of the PGA package, and a cam actuator for actuating the cover to slide along the base. The PGA package is mounted on the cover, with the lead pins received in the through holes. When the cover is slid, the lead pins mate with the terminals.
A conventional electrical connector for high-density pins is disclosed in “High-density PGA Socket System” (April 2000, Electronic Engineering). Such socket connector generally adopts a cam actuator for actuating a cover of the socket to slide along a base of the socket. Typical cam actuator structures are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,250,941, 6,254,415, 6,280,224, 6,296,507, and 6,338,640.
Referring to
FIG. 6
, a conventional electrical connector
5
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,640 comprises a generally rectangular insulative base
50
, a cover
52
slidably attached on the base
50
, a multiplicity of conductive terminals
58
received in the base
50
, a cam actuator
56
for actuating the cover
52
to slide along the base
50
, a protecting mechanism and a base ring
59
. The protecting mechanism comprises a base plate
542
secured in the base
50
, and a cover plate
541
secured in the cover
52
. The cam actuator
56
comprises several short, round columns one on top of the other. Circumferences of the columns sequentially decrease from top to bottom of the cam actuator
56
. Central axes of the columns are offset from each other. A topmost column outwardly forms a protrusion in a radial direction.
Referring also to
FIG. 7
, in assembling the electrical connector
5
, the columns of the cam actuator
56
are sequentially passed through the cover
52
, the cover plate
541
, the base plate
542
and the base
50
. The base
50
and the cam actuator
56
cooperatively define a fastening space
501
therebetween. A bottommost column of the cam actuator
56
is disposed in the fastening space
501
. The base ring
59
is inserted into the fastening space
501
and riveted to the bottommost column of the cam actuator
56
. Thus the base
50
, the cover
52
, the cam actuator
56
and the protecting mechanism are assembled together.
The overall assembly tolerance of the cam actuator
56
received in the base
50
comprises the manufacturing tolerance of the base plate
542
, the manufacturing tolerance of the base
50
and the assembly tolerance between the base plate
542
and the base
50
. Thus the overall assembly tolerance of the cam actuator
56
is unduly large.
The unduly large overall assembly tolerance of the cam actuator
56
results in unduly large interspaces existing in the assembled electrical connector
5
. The assembled electrical connector
5
is liable to be unstable. In particular, the cam actuator
56
is prone to tilt, and excessively large force may be required to operate the cam actuator
56
. Furthermore, the fastening space
501
is relatively small. Accordingly, the bottommost column of the cam actuator
56
received in the fastening space
501
is relatively short. This limits an amount of fastening force that can be applied on the bottommost column when the base ring
59
is riveted thereto. Moreover, the base ring
59
is liable to contact the nearby PCB.
In view of the above, a new electrical connector that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for electrically connecting a CPU with a PCB, whereby the electrical connector has a cam actuator with reduced assembly tolerance and enhanced stability.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for electrically connecting a CPU with a PCB, whereby the electrical connector has a cam actuator with enhanced strength.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, an electrical connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is for electrically connecting a CPU with a PCB. The connector comprises a generally rectangular insulative base, a cover slidably attached on the base, a multiplicity of conductive terminals received in the base, a columnar cam actuator for actuating the cover to slide along the base, a protecting mechanism, and a base ring. The protecting mechanism comprises a base plate secured in the base, and a cover plate secured in the cover. The base plate comprises a base portion, and a raised portion upwardly formed from a middle of the base portion. The base portion and the raised portion cooperatively define a fastening space therebetween. In assembly of the connector, the cam actuator is sequentially passed through the cover, the cover plate and the base plate, and a bottommost column of the cam actuator is thus received in the fastening space. The base ring is inserted into the fastening space and riveted to the bottommost column of the cam actuator. Thus the base, the cover, the cam actuator and the protecting mechanism are assembled together. The overall assembly tolerance of the cam actuator received in the base is merely the manufacturing tolerance of the base plate. The bottommost column of the cam actuator can be relatively long. This enables a relatively large fastening force to be applied to said column when the base ring is riveted thereto.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:


REFERENCES:
patent: 6254415 (2001-07-01), Mizumura et al.
patent: 6676431 (2004-01-01), Kukita et al.
patent: 2003/0186578 (2003-10-01), McClinton

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