Land grid array connector assembly with sliding lever

Details Land grid array connector assembly with sliding lever Land grid array connector assembly with sliding lever

2003-04-10

2004-07-06

Hyeon, Hae Moon (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

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

For dual inline package

C439S073000, C439S342000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06758691

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 securely and reliably locating the CPU therein.
2. Description of Prior Art
An integrated circuit (IC) package having leads arranged in a land grid array (LGA) is known as an LGA package. LGA packages have relatively low height, which saves valuable space in electronic assemblies.
Connectors for removably mounting an LGA package on a PCB are known as LGA sockets. An LGA socket combined with ball grid array (BGA) technology typically comprises a thin and substantially flat insulative housing which is positioned between the LGA package and the PCB. The housing defines an array of passageways receiving electrical contacts therein. The contacts correspond with the array of leads of the LGA package. Each contact has a pair of opposite free ends that project beyond opposite top and bottom external surfaces of the housing. Prior to mounting of the LGA package on the PCB, the free ends are spaced apart a predetermined distance. The free ends are respectively engaged with corresponding contact pads on a bottom surface of the LGA package, and soldered to contact pads on a mounting surface of the PCB.
This kind of conventional LGA socket is detailed in “Nonlinear Analysis Helps Design LGA Connectors” (February 2001, Connector Specifier Journal). Similar kinds of LGA connectors are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,192,213, 5,199,889, 5,232,372, 5,320,559 and 5,362,241.
FIGS. 9 and 10
show 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
comprises a pair of locating portions
623
pivotally received in the locating slots
66
of the frame
63
, a driving portion
621
disposed between and offset from the locating portions
623
, and a handle portion
622
bent perpendicularly from a distal end of one of the locating portions
623
. The clip
64
comprises a pair of acting 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 rotated to be perpendicular to the frame
63
, with the acting portions
641
disposed in the guiding grooves
65
close to the first walls
651
. The handle portion
622
of the lever
62
is horizontal, and the driving portion
621
is at a highest position. 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
. The clip
64
is rotated down to a horizontal position, with a pair of pressing arms
643
and a pair of pressing pads
645
of the clip
64
abutting against the copper plate
8
. The handle portion
622
of the lever
62
is rotated upwardly to be perpendicular to the frame
63
, and the driving portion
621
of the lever
62
is received in the driving hook
644
of the clip
64
. The handle portion
622
of the lever
62
is rotated down toward the clip
64
, and the driving hook
644
is driven downwardly until the clip
64
is in a final pressing position firmly pressing the copper plate
8
on the CPU
7
. However, as best seen in
FIG. 10
, during rotation of the clip
64
, the acting portions
641
may simultaneously move along the guiding grooves
65
toward the second walls
652
. When this happens, 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 be accurately received 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
and the CPU
7
on the socket
61
.
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 an LGA socket to securely and reliably locate an electronic package such as a CPU in the LGA socket.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects, an 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 lever pivotably assembled to the first side of the frame, and a metal clip pivotably mounted to the second side of the frame.
The frame forms a pair of guiding grooves at opposite ends of the first side. Each guiding groove is bounded in part by a lower wall and an upper wall. The lever comprises a pair of acting portions movably received in the guiding grooves, a driving portion disposed between and offset from the acting portions, and a handle portion bent perpendicularly from a distal end of one of the acting portions. The clip forms a driving hook at a free end thereof. The clip is rotated down from a perpendicular open position to a horizontal closed position. Then, the handle portion of the lever is rotated upwardly from a horizontal open position to a perpendicular position. The acting portions of the lever are rotated about the corresponding lower arcuate walls, and the driving portion is received in the driving hook of the metal clip. Then the handle portion of the lever is rotated down toward the metal clip, and the acting portions of the lever are driven to slide to reach the corresponding upper arcuate wall. The lever is at a final horizontal closed position, with the driving portion pressing the driving hook of the metal clip downwardly.
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: 5192213 (1993-03-01), Kosugi et al.
patent: 5199889 (1993-04-01), McDevitt, Jr.
patent: 5232372 (1993-08-01), Bradley et al.
patent: 5320559 (1994-06-01), Uratsuji et al.
patent: 5362241 (1994-11-01), Matsuoka et al.
patent: 6086387 (2000-07-01), Gallagher et al.
patent: 6485320 (2002-11-01), Ma

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