ZIF type socket

Details ZIF type socket ZIF type socket

2000-06-15

2002-02-26

Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

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

Including compound movement of coupling part

C439S268000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06350142

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ZIF type socket, especially a ZIF type IC socket which is used for the mutual connection of an IC package such as a BGA (ball grid array) and a board.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As performance of central processing units (CPUs) has dramatically increased, there has become a widespread need in computers for easy replacement of existing CPUs with higher-speed CPUs. In such cases, zero insertion force (ZIF) type sockets are widely used as sockets for accommodating the CPU package and making mutual connections with the circuit board. Generally, ZIF type sockets have a lever which drives a slider that opens and closes an internal contact, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Kokai No. 59-180435.
In recent years, however, there has been a dramatic reduction in the size of personal computers, as typified by notebook type personal computers, so that the extra space or volume required for the pivoting of a lever has already disappeared. Accordingly, an IC socket which is not equipped with a lever, and in which the slider is driven using a tool such as a screwdriver, etc., only when the IC package (such as a CPU, etc.) is replaced, has been proposed. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Kokoku No. 2-54632, a ZIF type IC socket (shown here in
FIGS. 13 and 14
) is disclosed in which the contact spring parts
142
of contacts
140
are caused to contact the leads (not shown in the figures) of the IC package by means of a tool
170
with a rectangular cross-sectional shape that is separate from the IC socket
110
, as shown in FIG.
13
. In order to cause the contact spring parts
142
of the contacts
140
to contact the leads of the IC package, the tip end of the tool
170
is first inserted into a substantially triangular tool insertion hole
152
formed in the slider
150
and an oppositely oriented substantially triangular tool insertion hole
134
(see
FIG. 14
) formed in the socket main body
130
. Next, the slider
150
is caused to move in the direction indicated by arrow A (see
FIG. 14
) by turning the tool
170
in the clockwise direction. As a result of the movement of the slider
150
, the spring contact p arts
142
of the contacts
140
accommodated inside the recesses
154
of the slider
150
are driven outward so that these spring contact parts
142
contact the leads of the IC package.
However, the socket main body
130
and slider
150
are generally made of plastic; accordingly, when the slider
150
is moved by turning the tool
170
, one side edge portion
172
of the tool
170
bites into one side
152
a
of the substantially triangular tool insertion hole
152
, so that there is a danger of indentation or damage, etc., occurring in this side
152
a
. As a result, the IC socket
110
cannot withstand numerous insertions and removals of IC packages, i. e., numerous movements of the slider
150
.
Furthermore, the action point of the tool insertion hole
152
of the slider
150
that contacts the tool
170
is always in a position that contacts a corner (side edge portion
172
) of the tool
170
. As a result, the distance from the rotational fulcrum of the tool
170
is relatively large, so that the force required in order to rotate the tool
170
cannot be reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a compact ZIF type sock et which has the durability to withstand numerous movements of the slider.
Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a ZIF type socket in which the force required in order to drive the tool is relatively small.
The ZIF type socket of the present invention is characterized by the fact that in a ZIF type socket which consists of a base housing that accommodates numerous contacts, and a slider that can move across said base housing, and in which the aforementioned slider is caused to move by inserting a plate-form tool into tool insertion holes formed in the aforementioned base housing and the aforementioned slider and rotating said tool, the action points of the aforementioned tool insertion holes contacted by the aforementioned tool are circular-arc-form projections.
It may be desirable that the members that have the circular-arc-form projections be metal members that are separate from the aforementioned base housing and slider, and that are respectively attached to the aforementioned base housing and slider.
Furthermore, the distance between the circular-arc-form projections on the side of the base housing and the circular-arc-form projections on the side of the slider may be shorter than the length of the long side of the tool.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4531792 (1985-07-01), Oshitani et al.
patent: 5622514 (1997-04-01), Crompton, III et al.
patent: 5707247 (1998-01-01), Konstad
patent: 5808870 (1998-09-01), Chiu
patent: 5833483 (1998-11-01), Lai et al.
patent: 5850691 (1998-12-01), Bell
patent: 6071140 (2000-06-01), McHugh et al.
patent: 6086402 (2000-07-01), Huang
patent: 6109947 (2000-08-01), Lin
patent: 02054632 (1983-08-01), None
patent: 59-180435 (1984-01-01), None
patent: 59180435 (1984-12-01), None
patent: 2-54632 (1990-11-01), None

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