Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – With provision to conduct electricity from panel circuit to...
Reexamination Certificate
2003-05-21
2004-08-17
Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
With provision to conduct electricity from panel circuit to...
C439S330000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06776625
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 an LGA CPU therein and electrically connecting the CPU with a PCB.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Referring to
FIGS. 3 and 4
, 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
pivotally mounted to two opposite sides of the base
91
respectively. 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 the locating portions
921
, and a handle portion
924
extending perpendicularly from a free end of the medial portion
923
. The metal clip
93
comprises a lip
931
at an end thereof, and a pair of spaced mounting portions
932
extending arcuately from an opposite end thereof. The base
91
is substantially rectangular. A substantially rectangular cavity
911
is defined in a middle of the base
91
, for receiving the CPU therein. A portion of the base
91
under the cavity
911
defines a plurality of passageways
916
receiving a corresponding number of contacts
94
therein. A pair of spaced slots
912
is defined in one end 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 end of the base
91
, and a chamber
914
is defined at an end of the base
91
in communication with the recess
913
. The locating portions
921
of the lever
92
are pivotally received in the chamber
914
, and the securing portion
922
of the lever
92
is received in the recess
913
.
In use, the base
91
is mounted to and electrically connected with the PCB. The metal clip
93
and the medial portion
923
are oriented perpendicularly to the base
91
, with the securing portion
922
disposed above the locating portions
921
. The CPU is mounted in the cavity
911
, and the metal pads of the CPU are loosely attached on the corresponding contacts
94
of the base
91
. The metal clip
93
is rotated down to loosely contact the CPU. The handle portion
924
of the lever
92
is rotated downwardly, with the medial portion
923
also rotating downwardly. When the securing portion
922
reaches the lip
931
of the clip
93
, the securing portion
922
begins to engage with the lip
931
. The handle portion
923
is continued to be rotated downwardly, with the securing portion
922
driving the lip
931
downwardly. When the medial portion
923
has reached a horizontal position, the securing portion
922
of the lever
92
is tightly attached on the lip
931
, and the metal pads of the CPU are firmly attached on the contacts
94
of the base
91
. The LGA connector assembly
9
thus electrically connects the CPU with the PCB.
At present, with the prevailing trend toward miniaturization of computers, the sizes of LGA connector assemblies used in computers are steadily becoming smaller. 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
94
of the base
91
, the metal clip
93
and the lever
92
exert forces on the base
91
. The forces acting on the portions of the base
91
near the slots
912
and at the chamber
914
are larger than those acting on other portions of the base
91
. Therefore the base
91
is liable to deform and warp. When deformation or warpage occurs, some contacts
94
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 electrically connecting an electronic package such as an LGA central processing unit (CPU) with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the electrical connector assembly has a base that resists deformation and warpage.
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 pivotally mounted to two opposite sides of the base respectively. The reinforcement comprises a planar portion, two opposite sidewalls depending perpendicularly from two opposite outer edges of the planar portion, a pair of spaced tabs depending perpendicularly from an outer edge of the planar portion, and an elongate beam depending perpendicularly from an opposite outer edge of the planar portion. Eight projecting members depend perpendicularly from two opposite inner edges of the planar portion. The base defines a cavity in a middle thereof, a pair of aligned channels at one end thereof engaging the tabs of the reinforcement, and eight rectangular holes for fittingly receiving the projecting members. Thus, during rotating the lever to engage with the clip to tightly attach a CPU in the cavity of the LGA connector assembly, the base is enough hard to withstand forces from the clip and the lever.
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: 5344334 (1994-09-01), Laub et al.
patent: 5761036 (1998-06-01), Hopfer et al.
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Luebke Renee
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