Integrated circuit test socket having torsion wire contacts

Details Integrated circuit test socket having torsion wire contacts Integrated circuit test socket having torsion wire contacts

1999-04-01

2001-04-17

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...

With provision to conduct electricity from panel circuit to...

C439S072000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06217341

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to a test socket for installing integrated circuits on a printed circuit board.
After manufacture, integrated circuits must be tested, often at elevated temperatures. The integrated circuits are temporarily installed on a circuit board, tested, and then removed from the circuit board and shipped. Accordingly, sockets are necessary to install the integrated circuits on the printed circuit board for testing. These sockets must include multiple contacts to connect each of the terminals of the integrated circuit chip to corresponding conductors in the circuit board. Since the sockets are used repeatedly in high volume integrated circuit chip manufacture, it is desirable that the sockets be durable and capable of reliable, repeated operation. Prior art test sockets use stamped contacts, which are difficult to accurately install in the socket, and are incapable of accommodating large deflections which sometimes occur when the integrated circuit chip is installed in the socket. Once stamped contacts have been over-deflected, the contacts no longer perform properly and the socket must be discarded. Since multiple chips are commonly tested on a single circuit board, it is also desirable that the sockets be designed to maximize the number of sockets which may be mounted in a given area. Furthermore, manufacture of stamped contacts requires expensive dies and other special equipment.
According to the present invention, the contacts used in a test socket are torsion wire contacts manufactured by winding a wire segment into a wound portion with a pair of deflectable arms extending from the wound portion. The wound portion is installed in a slot in a contact holder, which carries multiple torsion wire contacts. The arms of the torsion wire contact extend from the contact holder in opposite direction through apertures in the socket base which holds the contact holders. One of the arms engages the printed circuit board, and the other arm is engaged by a corresponding terminal of an integrated circuit when the integrated circuit is installed in the socket.
Accordingly, the torsion wire contacts can accommodate much greater deflections without damaging the contacts as compared to the prior art stamped contacts. Further, the torsion wire contacts of the present invention may be manufactured without using special dies or other expensive equipment. Furthermore, the contacts of the present invention utilize space such that the contacts may be packed very closely together, thereby accommodating the closely packed terminals on newer integrated circuits. The torsion wire contacts of the present invention are more forgiving in any actuation direction than the prior art stamped contacts.


REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 34084 (1992-09-01), Noschese
patent: Re. 35693 (1997-12-01), Kerul et al.
patent: 4334727 (1982-06-01), Scheingold et al.
patent: 4620761 (1986-11-01), Smith et al.
patent: 4678255 (1987-07-01), Carter
patent: 4786256 (1988-11-01), Angeleri et al.
patent: 4906194 (1990-03-01), Grabbe
patent: 4940432 (1990-07-01), Consoli et al.
patent: 5049813 (1991-09-01), Van Loan et al.
patent: 5167512 (1992-12-01), Walkup
patent: 5205756 (1993-04-01), Myers
patent: 5230632 (1993-07-01), Baumberger et al.
patent: 5395252 (1995-03-01), White
patent: 5409392 (1995-04-01), Marks et al.
patent: 5427535 (1995-06-01), Sinclair
patent: 5493237 (1996-02-01), Volz et al.
patent: 5628635 (1997-05-01), Ikeya
patent: 5633490 (1997-05-01), Vandenengel
patent: 5813869 (1998-09-01), Matsumura
patent: 6019612 (2000-02-01), Hasegawa et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Integrated circuit test socket having torsion wire contacts does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Integrated circuit test socket having torsion wire contacts, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Integrated circuit test socket having torsion wire contacts will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2530920