Land grid array connector assembly

Details Land grid array connector assembly Land grid array connector assembly

2002-12-10

2004-01-13

Vu, Hien (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

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

For dual inline package

C439S073000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06676429

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly 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 a land grid array connector assembly having a fastening device for securing the CPU therein.
2. Description of Prior Art
FIG. 5
shows a conventional land grid array connector assembly
6
comprising a fastening device
60
, and a socket
61
received in the fastening device
60
. The fastening device
60
comprises a generally rectangular frame
63
, and a lever
62
and a metal clip
64
respectively mounted to opposite sides of the frame
63
. The frame
63
defines a pair of locating slots
66
at one side thereof, and a pair of guiding grooves
65
at an opposite side thereof. Each guiding groove
65
is bounded by a first wall
651
and an opposite second wall
652
. The lever
62
has a pair of locating portions
623
pivotally received in the locating slots
66
of the frame
63
, a driving portion
621
between the locating portions
623
, and a handle portion
622
bent perpendicularly from one of the locating portions
623
. The clip
64
has a pair of securing portions
641
movably received in the guiding grooves
65
of the frame
63
, and a driving hook
644
formed at a free end thereof.
In use, the clip
64
is firstly oriented perpendicular to the frame
63
, with the securing portions
641
disposed in the guiding grooves
65
close to the first walls
651
. A central processing unit (CPU)
7
is attached on the socket
61
, and a copper plate
8
which functions as a heat dissipation device is attached on the CPU
7
. Then the clip
64
is rotated down to a horizontal position, with a pair of pressing arms and a pair of pressing pads of the clip
64
abutting the copper plate
8
. The handle portion
622
of the lever
62
is rotated down, and the driving portion
621
of the lever
62
engages in the driving hook
644
of the clip
64
. The driving portion
621
drives the driving hook
644
down until the clip
64
is in a final pressing position firmly pressing the copper plate
8
on the CPU
7
. However, as can be seen from
FIG. 6
, during rotation of the clip
64
, the securing portions
641
may simultaneously move along the guiding grooves
65
toward the second wall
652
. When this happens, to the driving hook
644
moves beyond its correct position. As a result, when the handle portion
622
of the lever
62
is rotated, the driving portion
621
of the lever
62
cannot accurately engage in the driving hook
644
of the clip
64
to drive it. This leads to the clip
64
not reaching its correct final pressing position. Thus, the clip
64
fails to properly secure the copper plate
8
on the CPU
7
.
In view of the above, a new land grid array connector assembly 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 assembly such as a land grid array (LGA) connector assembly for electrically connecting an electronic package such as a central processing unit (CPU) with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB), whereby the LGA connector assembly has a fastening device for securely and reliably locating the CPU in the LGA connector assembly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device for an electrical connector such as a LGA socket to securely and reliably locate an electronic package such as a CPU in the LGA socket.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, a LGA connector assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is for electrically connecting a CPU with a PCB. The LGA connector assembly comprises a socket and a fastening device surrounding the socket. The fastening device comprises an insulative frame having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, a cam actuator pivotably mounted to the first side of the frame, and a metal clip pivotably mounted to the second side of the frame.
The clip comprises a plurality of pressing pads, and a post at a free end thereof. The cam actuator comprises a cam and a driver. The cam defines a spiral groove spanning between a circumferential surface of the cam and a center of the cam and facing the clip. The clip is rotated down from a vertical open position to a horizontal closed position, such that the post of the clip is received in the spiral groove of the cam. Movement of the post of the clip toward an end of the frame beyond the cam is limited by a wall of the cam at the spiral groove. Then, the driver is rotated to drive the cam to rotate about a central axis of the cam. The cam drives the post of the clip downwardly, and at the same time the clip moves slightly toward said end of the frame relative to the copper plate. However, excessive such movement in this direction is blocked by said wall of the cam. The handle portion of the driver continues to be rotated until it is locked in a final position. The clip is then at a final pressing position, in which the pressing pads of the clip firmly press down on the copper plate.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5127837 (1992-07-01), Shah et al.
patent: 5387120 (1995-02-01), Marks et al.
patent: 5647756 (1997-07-01), Twigg et al.
patent: 5997316 (1999-12-01), Kunzel
patent: 6354859 (2002-03-01), Barabi et al.

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