Low-profile and robust electrical connector

Details Low-profile and robust electrical connector Low-profile and robust electrical connector

2000-07-05

2001-09-04

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

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

Including compound movement of coupling part

C439S259000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06283782

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electrical connector adapted to be used as a socket for connecting an object such as a CPU package having a land grid array (LGA) or a ball grid array (BGA).
An electrical connector called a pin grid array (PGA) socket is known. As will later be described with reference to the drawing, the PGA socket comprises a first insulator having a number of socket contacts, a PGA conversion adapter having a number of pin contacts, and a second insulator interposed between the first insulator and the PGA conversion adapter. The pin contacts are faced to the socket contacts via a number of through holes formed in the second insulator. In order to connect and disconnect the object, the first and the second insulators are relatively moved with respect to each other. Following the relative movement, the pin contacts are contacted with or separated from the socket contacts.
If the PGA socket having the pin contacts is subjected to an external force during transportation or handling, the pin contacts may be deformed, for example, bent, flexed, or warped. Such deformation of the pin contacts will cause a pitch error which prevents proper engagement between the pin contacts and the socket contacts.
If each of the pin contacts is increased in diameter in order to enhance its mechanical strength, a contact redundancy is reduced. It Is noted here that the contact redundancy is an ability of assuring a reliable contact or connection between two elements such as the pin contact and the socket contact. The reduction in contact redundancy is one of factors causing contact failure between the pin contacts and the socket contacts when the PGA socket is subjected to mechanical vibration or shock.
The presence of the PGA conversion adapter interposed between the first and the second insulators contributes to an increase in profile of the PGA socket in correspondence to the height of the PGA conversion adapter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a low-profile electrical connector capable of enhancing its mechanical strength without deteriorating a contact redundancy.
Other objects of this invention will become clear as the description proceeds.
According to an aspect of this invention, there is provided an electrical connector which comprises a first insulator, a first contact supported by the first insulator and having a first contacting portion, a second insulator faced to the first insulator in a first direction and having a side wall defining a groove which extends along the first insulator to have a first and a second part arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a second contact having a second contacting portion which is placed in the second part of the groove and supported by the side wall. In the electrical connector, the second contacting portion is of a flat shape and extending in a particular direction approximate to the second direction, the first contacting portion being inserted into the first part of the groove and carried towards the second part of the groove by relative movement between the first and the second insulators in the second direction, the first contacting portion having an elastic force when in the second part of the groove, and being brought into contact with the second contacting portion with the elastic force in a third direction perpendicular to the first and the second directions.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2186601 (1940-01-01), Borkenstein
patent: 2227123 (1940-12-01), Christen
patent: 4034172 (1977-07-01), Glover et al.
patent: 5569045 (1996-10-01), Hsu
patent: 5641297 (1997-06-01), Kozel
patent: 5762511 (1998-06-01), Scheitz et al.
patent: WO 96/24173 (1996-08-01), None
European Search Report, European Patent Office, Communication, 20.10.00, EPO Form 1507.0(03.95), EPO Form 1503 03.82 (P04C01).

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