ZIF socket assembly having protector placed on chip mounted...

Details ZIF socket assembly having protector placed on chip mounted... ZIF socket assembly having protector placed on chip mounted...

2001-07-20

2003-04-01

Field, Lynn (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

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

Including compound movement of coupling part

Reexamination Certificate

active

06540541

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ZIF socket assembly, and particularly to a ZIF socket assembly which can move a sliding cover on a base with an actuating tool.
2. Description of Related Art
ZIF socket is widely used for connecting an integrated circuit chip with a printed circuit board. A conventional ZIF socket includes a base, a sliding cover movably assembled on the base and a cam lever rotatably sandwiched between the base and the sliding cover. The cam is rotated by manipulation and carries the sliding cover to move on the base thereby achieving a ZIF purpose. Recently, for consideration of the miniaturization of all kinds of appliances, particularly of the portable computer, the ZIF socket had to reduce its size or height. The conventional ZIF socket carried by cam lever, which is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,031, cannot meet the trend of miniaturization. U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,615 discloses a low-profile ZIF socket of which a sliding cover is carried by an actuating tool and moves on a base. However, for achieving effective movement of an integrated circuit chip, the actuating tool will press against the integrated circuit chip directly and thus damage the integrated circuit chip. Therefore, in general manipulation, a protector is provided upon the integrated circuit chip for preventing the integrated circuit chip from being subjected to force directly.
Referring to
FIGS. 4 and 5
, a ZIF socket assembly for connecting an integrated circuit chip
2
with a mating printed circuit board comprises a ZIF socket
1
and a protector
3
. The ZIF socket
1
comprises a base
10
and a sliding cover
11
movably assembled on the base
10
. The base
10
comprises a recess
101
at an end thereof. The sliding cover
11
defines a slot
111
in vertical alignment with the recess
101
of the base
10
. The integrated circuit chip
2
is mounted on the sliding cover
11
. The protector
3
is placed upon the integrated circuit chip
2
and comprises a plurality of legs
31
extending downwardly from each edge thereof and pressing against the integrated circuit chip
2
. Referring to
FIG. 5
, in manipulation, an actuating tool
4
is inserted into the recess
101
through the slot
111
and rotated to carry the sliding cover
11
and the integrated circuit chip
2
to move with respect to the base
10
thereby achieving an electrical connection between pins
20
of the chip
3
and terminals
100
of the socket
1
.
However, in general, the protector
3
is made of metal, so the leg
31
of protector
3
has a punched arc flexure
310
and a straight arm
311
extending downwardly from the flexure
310
. The conventional protector
3
is closely attached to an upper face of the chip
2
, so the flexure
310
presses against the chip
2
. Since the dimension of the flexure
310
is difficult to control, the flexure
310
may be slightly larger than the chip
2
. Moreover, understandably the arc flexure
310
owns a minimum radius which precludes the side edge of the chip from abutting against the straight arm
311
. A little clearance t will exit between the chip
2
and the legs
31
of the protector
3
, so the stroke of the protector
3
may be waste or the protector
3
may fail.
Hence, an improved protector arrangement is required to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional ZIF socket assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a ZIF socket assembly with an improved protector which can disperse a force pressing on a chip when chip is carried to move with respect to a base of the socket.
In order to achieve the object set forth, a ZIF socket assembly for use with an integrated circuit chip comprises a socket, a protector. The socket comprises a base, a plurality of terminals and a sliding cover. The base comprises a plurality of receiving passageways for receiving corresponding terminals and a lower flange extending outwardly from an end thereof. The lower flange defines a recess on an upper face thereof. The sliding cover is movably assembled on the base for receiving the chip and comprises a plurality of through holes in vertical alignment with corresponding receiving passageways. An upper flange extends outwardly from an end of the cover and defines a slot in vertical alignment with the recess of the base. The protector is placed upon the chip and comprises a plurality of the legs extending downwardly for contacting with edges of the chip. A contact portion extends upwardly from an end thereof for dispersing a force exerting on the chip by the protector. When the cover, the chip and the protector is carried to move with respect to the base, an electrical connection between the socket and the chip is achieved.
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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective exploded view of a ZIF socket assembly with a protector of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the assembled ZIF socket assembly;
FIG. 3
is a crossing-sectional view of the ZIF socket assembly when an actuating tool is driving the protector, a chip and a sliding cover of the socket to move with respect to a base of the socket;
FIG. 4
is a perspective assembled view of a conventional ZIF socket assembly with a protector; and
FIG. 5
is a crossing-sectional view of the ZIF socket assembly when an actuating tool is driving the protector, a chip and a sliding cover of the socket to move with respect to a base of the socket.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3831131 (1974-08-01), Woodcock et al.
patent: 4427249 (1984-01-01), Bright et al.
patent: 4679118 (1987-07-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5295043 (1994-03-01), Beijer

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