Land grid array connector assembly with reinforcement

Details Land grid array connector assembly with reinforcement Land grid array connector assembly with reinforcement

2003-04-17

2004-04-27

Vu, Hien (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

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

For dual inline package

C439S073000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06726500

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 (LGA) connector assembly adapted for receiving a land grid array (LGA) CPU therein and electrically connecting the CPU with a PCB.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Referring to
FIGS. 5 and 6
, a conventional LGA connector assembly
9
is adapted for electrically connecting a CPU (not shown) having a plurality of metal pads with a PCB (not shown). The LGA connector assembly
9
comprises an insulative base
91
, and a lever
92
and a metal clip
93
respectively pivotally mounted on two opposite sides of the base
91
. The lever
92
comprises a pair of locating portions
921
, an offset securing portion
922
between the locating portions
921
, a medial portion
923
extending perpendicularly from an end of one of locating portions
921
, and a handle portion
924
extending perpendicularly from a free end of the medial portion
923
. The metal clip
93
defines a lip
931
at an end thereof, and a pair of mounting portions
932
extending arcuately from an opposite end thereof. The base
91
is substantially a rectangular plate. In a middle of the base
91
, a general rectangular cavity
911
is defined for receiving the CPU therein. A portion of the base
91
under the cavity
911
defines a plurality of passageways (not shown) for receiving a corresponding number of contacts (not shown) therein. A pair of slots
912
is defined at one side of the base
91
. The mounting portions
932
of the metal clip
93
are movably received in the slots
912
, such that the metal clip
93
is pivotally mounted on the base
91
. A trapezoidal recess
913
is defined in an opposite side of the base
91
, and an elongate groove
914
is defined in the base
91
in communication with the recess
913
. The locating portions
921
of the lever
92
are pivotably received in the groove
914
, and the securing portion
922
of the lever
92
is received in the recess
913
.
Referring to
FIG. 6
, in use, the base
91
is mounted on the PCB. The metal clip
93
is oriented perpendicularly to the base
91
, and the medial portion
923
of the lever
92
is generally parallel to the metal clip
93
. The CPU is mounted in the cavity
911
, and the metal pads of the CPU are attached respectively on the contacts of the LGA connector assembly
9
. Then the metal clip
93
is rotated downwardly to a horizontal position, such that the securing portion
922
of the lever
92
is located near to and higher than the lip
931
of the metal clip
93
. The handle portion
924
of the lever
92
is rotated along with the medial portion
923
, and the securing portion
922
is rotated downwardly to press on the lip
931
. When the medial portion
923
is oriented at a horizontal position, the securing portion
922
of the lever
92
is attached tightly on the lip
931
of the metal clip
93
, and the metal pads of the CPU are attached tightly on the contacts of the LGA connector assembly
9
. The LGA connector assembly
9
thus electrically connects the CPU with the PCB.
At present, the sizes of LGA connector assemblies used in computers is steadily becoming smaller with the prevailing trend toward miniaturization of computers. In contrast, the number of contacts used in LGA connectors is increasing to meet the need for more signal transmission. These considerations bear on the conventional LGA connector assembly
9
as follows. During the rotation of the lever
92
to force the metal pads of the CPU on the contacts of the LGA connector assembly
9
, the metal clip
93
forces upon the base
91
of the LGA connector assembly
9
. The forces upon the portions of the base
91
near the slots
912
and at the elongate groove
914
is larger than those upon other portions of the base
91
. Therefore the base
91
is liable to deform and warp. When deformation and warping occur, some contacts cannot firmly contact the metal pads of the CPU, which disrupts the electrical connection between the CPU and the PCB.
In view of the above, a new LGA 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 being reliable to electrically connecting an electronic package such as a land grid array (LGA) central processing unit (CPU) with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the electrical connector assembly has a base without any deformation and warping.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, an LGA connector assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an insulative rectangular base receiving a plurality of electrical contacts, a metal reinforcement covering the base, and a lever and a metal clip respectively pivotally mounted on two opposite sides of the base. The base comprises two opposite sidewalls, and each sidewall comprises a pair of latches. The reinforcement comprises a planar portion parallel to the base, and two elongate tabs extending downwardly from two opposite lateral edges of the planar portion. Each tab defines a pair of windows each for engaging with the base in a corresponding latch. Thus, when the lever and the clip are rotated to tightly attach the CPU in the LGA connector assembly, the base is able to withstand the force from the metal clip without any deformation and warping.
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: 4502747 (1985-03-01), Bright et al.
patent: 5302853 (1994-04-01), Volz et al.
patent: 5344334 (1994-09-01), Laub et al.
patent: 6086387 (2000-07-01), Gallagher et al.
patent: 6648656 (2003-11-01), Ma
patent: 6648664 (2003-11-01), McHugh et al.

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