Contact for socket connector

Details Contact for socket connector Contact for socket connector

2002-07-11

2004-05-11

Patel, Tulsidas C (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Contact terminal

Reexamination Certificate

active

06733348

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a contact for an electrical connector, and more particularly to a contact for a socket connector such as a central processing unit (CPU) socket connector.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, a contact for a CPU socket comprises a retention portion for securing the contact in a corresponding passageway of the CPU socket. A resilient contact portion extends from one end of the retention portion, for electrically engaging with a mating pin of a CPU. A connecting portion extends from an opposite end of the retention portion, for electrically connecting with a printed circuit board (PCB). U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,810 discloses a contact for a CPU socket. Referring to
FIG. 4
, the contact
3
comprises a retention portion
32
, a mounting pad
34
extending from a bottom end of the retention portion
32
, and an engaging portion
31
extending from a top end of the retention portion
32
. The engaging portion
31
comprises a pair of cantilevers
311
which extend a predetermined distance in one direction and converge toward each other. The cantilevers
311
clamp and apply mating force against a CPU pin (not shown), to ensure reliable engagement between the CPU pin and the engaging portion
31
. It can be seen that the contact
3
has a relatively complex configuration. Therefore, it is unduly difficult to punch a metal strip to form the contact
3
during manufacturing. In addition, the configuration of the engaging portion
31
means that a length of metal strip required for punching each contact
3
is unduly great. Thus too much of the metal strip is wasted when each contact
3
is punched. This inflates the cost of materials and production costs. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,676,832 and 6,142,811 disclose conventional CPU socket contacts which have similar disadvantages.
FIG. 5
shows a CPU socket contact
24
as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,725. The contact
24
comprises two parallel, vertical arms
106
,
108
connected by a transverse channel-strap
110
. A pair of fingers
118
extends from respective upper ends
116
of the arms
106
,
108
. Converging portions
120
of the fingers
118
converge toward each other. Free ends,
122
of the fingers
118
extend from the converging portions
120
. The free ends
122
are parallel to each other, and are spaced apart by a distance that is less than a minimum diameter of a mating contact of a CPU. The arms
106
,
108
and the fingers
118
together have a profile resembling the numeral seven. It can be seen that the structure of the contact
24
is relatively complex. This makes the contact
24
difficult to manufacture, and inflates the cost of materials and production costs. Moreover, the complex structure of the contact
24
results in unduly high impedance thereof. Therefore heat generated during signal transmission between the CPU and the PCB can reach excessively high levels, and can harm the CPU. A similar CPU socket contact disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,836 has similar disadvantages.
In view of the above, a new CPU socket contact that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical contact for use in an electrical connector such as a CPU socket, wherein the electrical contact has a simple structure and improves electrical connection between a CPU and a PCB.
To achieve the above object, a contact for an electrical connector is provided by the present invention. The contact comprises a retention portion, a resilient contact portion, and a connecting portion. The resilient contact portion extends from one end of the retention portion, for electrically engaging with a mating pin contact. The connecting portion extends from an opposite end of the retention portion, for electrically connecting with a PCB. The resilient contact portion defines an opening therein. The mating pin contact engages with and deflects the resilient contact portion, and the opening receives a tip of the mating pin contact.


REFERENCES:
patent: 6142810 (2000-11-01), Hsiao et al.
patent: 6315592 (2001-11-01), Keller et al.
patent: 6413110 (2002-07-01), Keller

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Contact for socket connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Contact for socket connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Contact for socket connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3192596