Electrical connectors – Coupling part with actuating means urging contact to move... – Having open slot for receiving preformed panel circuit...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-28
2004-01-06
Prasad, Chandrika (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Coupling part with actuating means urging contact to move...
Having open slot for receiving preformed panel circuit...
C439S266000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06672891
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a power connector for a substrate. More specifically, the present invention relates to a zero insertion force power connector for a substrate with an edge-type connector. The present invention further relates to a method for creating a power connection for a substrate and, more specifically, a method of using a zero insertion force socket by actuating an actuator to increase the normal force between the substrate metal contacts and the socket contacts.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Edge-type power connections are commonly used for integrated circuits. These connections often consist of the edge of the substrate upon which an integrated circuit is etched, deposited or otherwise arranged. The substrate may have an organic composition and is generally planar. The substrate may be both flexible, with respect to bending or breaking forces, and rigid, with respect to compressive loads. Arranged on an edge of the substrate may be a metal contact area. This metal contact area may consist of a zone of metal plating on the surface of the substrate extending along the edge of the substrate. Alternatively, this metal zone may be situated on both sides of one edge of the substrate. This metal contact area is connected to the integrated circuit and provides power for the circuit. The electrical contact on one side of the substrate may be electrically coupled to the electrical contact on the other side of the substrate. Such a substrate with edge contacts may be referred to as an edge-type substrate.
Power connections generally use a contact design in which a socket contact, or numerous socket contacts, engage a substrate metal contact, or numerous metal contacts, with some insertion force. Within the socket (socket housing), there may be spring loaded contacts (socket contacts) or fingers (socket fingers) that contact the metal pads (metal contacts) of the substrate to provide power delivery to the substrate. When the socket engages the substrate, the socket fingers are deformed, and an insertion force must be applied to the substrate in order to push the substrate further into the socket to overcome the resistance imposed by the deformation of the socket fingers. When the substrate bottoms out in the socket, the socket fingers reach their final positions. The deformation of the socket fingers provides a normal force between the substrate and the socket that reduces the DC resistance of the power connection. The DC resistance is the resistance of the system to a direct current as motivated by a constant voltage.
In certain substrate edge power delivery solutions, when the package edge connector is inserted into the socket, the contacts resist the substrate movement, thus creating an insertion force. This insertion force can bend or even break the substrate, thus damaging the integrated circuit. Since the insertion force is limited by the substrate mechanical strength, which is often limited by the integrated circuit manufacturing process, the normal force of the connector is also limited. Therefore, traditional edge type power connectors are limited in their ability to reduce the DC resistance at the contacts between the substrate and the socket.
A conventional power connection is illustrated in
FIGS. 1A and 1B
.
FIG. 1A
illustrates a substrate
101
with an integrated circuit having metal contacts
102
on both sides of an edge to provide power to the integrated circuit. Two socket contacts
104
, also referred to as socket fingers, are enclosed within socket
103
. Socket contacts
104
are arranged in opposition to each other within socket
103
. Additional socket contacts may be situated adjacent to socket contacts
104
, such that a line of socket contacts extends on both sides of socket
103
, the two lines extending parallel to the opening of the socket and the edge of substrate
101
. The gap between socket contacts
104
is smaller than the width of substrate
101
. Therefore, an amount of force is required to insert substrate
101
into socket
103
when moving substrate
101
in the direction of arrow
105
. As metal contacts
102
on substrate
101
pass between socket contacts
104
, socket contacts
104
are deformed slightly since substrate
101
is not easily compressible. Therefore, as substrate
101
is pushed into socket
103
, socket contacts
104
are deformed outwardly. The deformation of socket contacts
104
provides a normal force in the power connection between socket contacts
104
and metal contacts
102
.
FIG. 1B
illustrates substrate
101
completely inserted into socket
103
. Socket contacts
104
have deformed slightly to allow passage of substrate
101
that includes metal contacts
102
. Socket contacts
104
resist deformation and therefore resist insertion of substrate
101
. Due to the limited rigidity of substrate
101
, the amount of deformation and resistance is therefore also limited. Thus, if the deformation, and therefore the resistance, is increased beyond a certain limit, substrate
101
may bend and/or break in response to the resistance to insertion imposed by socket contacts
104
when substrate
101
is inserted into socket
103
. This limitation on the deformation of socket contacts
104
translates into a limitation on the normal force between socket contacts
104
and metal contacts
102
.
Zero insertion force (ZIF) connectors for pins have been utilized to increase the normal force on the pin and thereby decrease resistance to the signal being transmitted through the pin connector. ZIF pin connectors have included rings as the connectors for the pins. After insertion of the pin into the socket, actuation may either close the ring around the pin or move the pin against the substantially stationary ring. Increased normal force for pin connectors may lower DC resistance for a signal, which may result in a better signal to noise ratio.
An object of the present invention is to provide a zero insertion force power connector for edge-type substrates, and to thereby decrease the mechanical strength requirements of the substrate and decrease the resistance, and therefore the power loss, in the power connection.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4542950 (1985-09-01), Gillett et al.
patent: 5795171 (1998-08-01), Bernardini
patent: 5795172 (1998-08-01), Shahriari et al.
patent: 6250933 (2001-06-01), Khoury et al.
patent: 6371781 (2002-04-01), Jones et al.
Intel Corporation
Kenyon & Kenyon
Prasad Chandrika
LandOfFree
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