Electrical connector

Details Electrical connector Electrical connector

1999-06-11

2001-04-03

Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

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

Including compound movement of coupling part

Reexamination Certificate

active

06210196

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, and in particular to a ZIF (zero insertion force) socket connector having a force-balanced structure for eliminating a transverse engaging force acting upon a chip mounted on the socket connector.
2. The Prior Art
Socket connectors for mounting electronic chips to a circuit board are well-known in the electronics field. The socket connector defines a plurality of holes for fixedly receiving conductive terminals therein. The chip has a plurality of conductive pins extending into the holes and electrically engaging with the terminals. Mechanical engagement is formed between the pins of the chip and the terminals of the socket to secure the chip to the socket. The mechanical engagement, however, inflicts damage on the pins and the terminals caused by abrasion therebetween when inserting the pins into the holes.
A zero insertion force (ZIF) socket connector overcomes the abrasion problem by inserting the pins into the holes of the socket connector such that the pins do not initially engage the terminals whereby abrasion during insertion is prevented. The chip is then moved transversely to bring the pins into engagement with the terminals. Examples of ZIF socket connectors are disclosed in Taiwan Patent Publication Nos. 85218817 and 83208396 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,492,488 and 5,562,474.
The transverse movement of the chip, however, imparts a transverse engaging force on the pins during engagement with inclined resilient arms of the terminals leading to an unbalanced force and resulting in mechanical and electrical instability between the chip and the connector.
FIG. 1
shows a conventional ZIF socket connector comprising a socket base
62
defining holes
621
therein for accommodating conductive terminals
63
. A cover
61
is slidably positioned on the base
62
. The cover
61
also defines holes
611
therein corresponding to the holes
621
of the base
62
. A lever
64
is rotatably mounted to the base
62
and engages with the cover
61
to shift the cover
61
with respect to the base
62
.
Each hole
621
of the base
62
has an expanded opening as shown in FIG.
2
. The expanded opening allows a corresponding pin
7
of a chip to be inserted therein with substantially zero insertion force (FIGS.
3
A and
3
B). By actuating the lever
64
, the cover
61
is moved relative to the base
62
thereby driving the pins
7
to move toward and engage with inclined resilient arms
631
of the corresponding terminals
63
(FIGS.
3
C and
3
D). During this process, the arm
631
is deformed and imparts a transverse engaging force on the pin
7
.
Conventionally, the engaging forces of all the pins
7
of the chip are in the same direction which causes a transverse offset of the chip with respect to the socket
62
leading to undesired frictional engagement between the pins
7
and inner walls
6211
of the holes
621
of the socket
62
. An additional resistance to the movement of the cover
61
is formed and an excessive force is required to achieve the desired engagement between the pins
7
and the terminals
63
. Such an excessive force may damage the socket
62
and the pins
7
. As a consequence, unstable mechanical and electrical engagement may result.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a ZIF socket connector having a force-balanced configuration.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ZIF socket connector for engaging with a chip wherein smooth engagement between pins of the chip and terminals of the socket may be obtained with minimal frictional force therebetween.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a ZIF socket connector for engaging with a chip wherein the likelihood of damage being incurred on the socket and pins of the chip caused by an excessive force during engagement is minimized.
To achieve the above objects, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a base defining a plurality of pin receiving holes and a cover slidably positioned on the base and defining a plurality of through holes corresponding to the pin receiving holes. Conductive pins of a chip to be mounted on the connector extend through the through holes of the cover and into the pin receiving holes of the base. Each pin receiving hole has a conductive terminal fixed therein. Each terminal has a resilient arm imparting a transverse engaging force on the corresponding pin upon engaging therewith. Some of the terminals are fixed to a first inside face of the pin receiving holes, while the remaining terminals are located at an opposite second inside face of the pin receiving holes whereby the transverse engaging forces acting on the two groups of pin receiving holes are opposite to and thus effectively cancelled by each other.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5489218 (1996-02-01), McHugh
patent: 5492488 (1996-02-01), Hsu
patent: 5562474 (1996-10-01), Lee

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