Zero insertion force socket having a base with compliant walls

Details Zero insertion force socket having a base with compliant walls Zero insertion force socket having a base with compliant walls

2002-11-12

2003-12-16

Prasad, Chandrika (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

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

Including compound movement of coupling part

C439S259000, C439S135000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06663409

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zero insertion force (ZIF) socket for electrically connecting an electronic package such as a pin array (PGA) chip with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB), and particularly to a ZIF socket having a base with resiliently deformable walls.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electrical sockets are widely used in the connector industry for electrically connecting central processing units (CPUs) to printed circuit boards (PCBs) in personal computers (PCs). One kind of electrical socket is disclosed in “1996 IEEE 46
th
Electronic Components & Technology Conference” and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,310. Referring to
FIGS. 6 and 7
, the electrical socket is designed for electrically interconnecting a CPU
8
with a PCB (not shown). The socket
9
comprises a dielectric base
91
, a cover
92
slidably mounted on the base
91
, and an actuation device
93
engaged with the base
91
and the cover
92
. The CPU
8
comprises a multiplicity of pins
81
. The CPU
8
is attached on the cover
92
, with the pins
81
extending through the cover
92
. By turning the actuation device
93
, the cover
92
moves along the base
91
between a closed position and an open position. The CPU
8
and the PCB correspondingly electrically connect or disconnect. The base
91
comprises a multiplicity of passageways
96
for receiving a multiplicity of conductive contacts
95
. The base
91
has a wall
97
between each two adjacent passageways
96
. The socket
9
is used to transmit electrical signals by way of electrical current between the CPU
8
and the PCB. The accompanying voltage may be so high that it causes the electrical current to jump across the wall
97
from one contact
95
to another contact
95
. This frequently results in failure of signal transmission between the CPU
8
and the PCB, and even damage to the CPU
8
.
To solve this problem, the walls
97
of the socket
9
are designed to be thick enough to space the contacts
95
apart a sufficient distance. This minimizes the risk of electrical current jumping from one contact
95
to another contact
95
. However, the pins
81
of the CPU
8
may not be precisely positioned in the passageways
96
. In particular, the CPU
8
may be pushed too far along the base
91
by the cover
92
. As a result, the pins
81
may bear against the walls
97
of the base
91
. Because the walls
97
are thick and rigid, the pins
81
are liable to be deflected and even damaged by the walls
97
. In addition, an unduly large amount of material is required to make the base
91
having the thick walls
97
. Furthermore, the walls
97
make the base
91
unduly heavy. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,443,591 and 5,456,612 disclose conventional sockets which have disadvantages similar to the disadvantages described above.
A new electrical socket which overcomes the above-mentioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a ZIF socket having a base with walls that minimize the risk of accidental damage to pins of an associated CPU.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ZIF socket having a base with walls whereby manufacturing and transportation costs of the socket are reduced.
To achieve the above objects, a ZIF socket of the present invention is for electrically connecting a central processing unit (CPU) with a mother board. The socket comprises a dielectric base, a cover slidably mounted on the base, and a multiplicity of terminals received in corresponding passageways defined through the base for electrically connecting pins of the CPU with the mother board. The cover defines a multiplicity of holes therein, for receiving the pins of the CPU therethrough. The base has a multiplicity of walls respectively between every two adjacent passageways along a direction of sliding of the cover. A multiplicity of blind cavities is respectively defined in the walls, with openings of the cavities facing the cover. When the cover is slid to a closed position, the CPU may be pushed too far along the base by the cover. When this happens, some pins may bear against corresponding walls of the base. Because the cavities are defined in the walls, the walls deflect under pressure from the pins, rather than resisting such pressure. Thus the risk of damage to the pins when the CPU is pushed too far by the cover is minimized.
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: 5876217 (1999-03-01), Ito et al.
patent: 6425771 (2002-07-01), Shirai et al.
patent: 6533613 (2003-03-01), Turner et al.

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