Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Including compound movement of coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-09
2001-08-28
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Including compound movement of coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280223
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector socket, and more particularly to a zero insertion force (ZIF) connector socket with helical driving mechanism for electrically assembling a CPU device to a printed circuit board.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Originally, an upper cover of a socket i is driven by a screwdriver. However, it is unlikely to ask the customer to use an additional tool for mounting of the CPU. In addition to the inconvenience, there is a fear that if the operator tries to use the tool without knowing how, it might cause damage to the socket and/or socket. By the way, the screwdriver is always made from conductive material, i.e. steel. If the screwdriver slips over the socket, it will definitely damage the conductive traces on the printed circuit board. On the other hand, other components may also be damaged or short-circuited.
In order to prevent the above mentioned short-coming, a ZIF sockets are used for assembling a CPU to a printed circuit board. The socket generally comprises a base member including an array of contacting terminals, and a cover member defining an array of through holes corresponding to the contacting terminals. The cover member is movable with respect to the base member. An end of each contacting terminal is soldered into a mounting hole of the PCB. The ZIF socket includes actuation means for selectively displacing the cover member between a first position and a second position. When the cover member is at the first position, pin legs of the CPU are easily inserted into the corresponding holes, i.e. zero-insertion-force. When the actuating means is actuated, the cover member is moved to the second position thereby electrically connecting each pin of the CPU with the corresponding contacting terminal. The CPU is secured in the socket when the cover member is at the second position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,218 discloses a ZIF PGA socket in which the upper cover member is moved by a cam shaft manipulated by a lever arm. U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,727 discloses a similar type of socket which use a cam shaft to drive the upper cover member. Again the cam shaft is driven by a lever linked at an end thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,591 discloses another socket in which the upper cover member is driven by a cam shaft. Even the sockets are different from each other, their basic design is the same, in short, the longitudinal direction of the cam shaft is perpendicular to the moving direction of the upper cover member.
In fact, the cam shaft shall provide an effective stroke in which the pin leg from the CPU and the contacting terminal of the base member mush be effectively and electrically coupled by the movement of the upper cover member, which is driven by the cam shaft. However, in light of the thickness of the base member, it is unlikely to have a larger cam to provide a longer stroke for the electrical connections between the pin legs and the contact terminals. If the stroke of the upper cover member is not long enough, the connections between the pin legs and the contacting terminals will be adversely effected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of this invention is to provide a ZIF connector socket in which a driving shaft is arranged in-line with an upper cover member thereof thereby providing an effective stroke to the upper cover member with respect to the base member.
In order to achieve the objective set forth, an electrical apparatus in accordance with the present invention for electrically assembling a CPU to a printed circuit board. The CPU includes an array of pin legs. The apparatus comprises a base member securely assembled to the printed circuit board. A cover member is moveably assembled to the base member and defines an array of through holes for extension of the pin legs of the CPU. A driving arrangement is arranged between the base and cover member to drive the cover member to move between first and second positions. The arrangement includes a shaft having a helical section extending therealong, and a follower is moveable along the helical section when the shaft is rotated.
These and additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5057031 (1991-10-01), Sinclair
patent: 5443591 (1995-08-01), Tsai
patent: 5454727 (1995-10-01), Hsu
patent: 5489218 (1996-02-01), McHugh
patent: 5611705 (1997-03-01), Pfaff
patent: 5688140 (1997-11-01), McHugh et al.
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Paumen Gary F.
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