Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Including compound movement of coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-06-19
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Including compound movement of coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247953
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a driving mechanism of a ZIF socket and the socket using the same, and especially to a single-point driving mechanism which drives a cover of the socket to move with respect to a base thereof in opposite directions thus rendering the socket in either a closed status or an open status.
2. The Prior Art
Conventional ZIF PGA sockets normally comprise a cover defining a plurality of upper passageways therein and slidably engaging with a base having a corresponding number of lower passageways retaining contacts therein. The upper passageways and the lower passageways are in constant communication with each other when the cover is moved with respect to the base. A cam is received in a space defined between the cover and the base and operative to move the cover with respect to the base thereby positioning the socket at either an open status ready for insertion of pins of a CPU package or a closed status forcing the pins of the CPU package to abut against the corresponding contacts. When the socket is in the open status, the pins of the CPU package are inserted into the upper passageways and the lower passageways with a substantially zero insertion force, but are not in electrical contact with the contacts retained in the lower passageways. The cam is then operated to drive the cover to move laterally relating to the base thereby urging the pins of the CPU package to electrically connect with the contacts of the base. U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,615 which belongs to the same assignee of this application has disclosed a driving mechanism for driving the cover to move with respect to the base from a single side of the socket by inserting a screwdriver into slots defined in the cover and the base and pivoting the screwdriver to drive the cover. This driving mechanism may be easily manipulated for moving the cover in one direction but it is difficult to be manipulated in opposite direction. This is because the slots may be vertically in alignment with each other when the socket is in an open status (or closed status) but they are not vertically in alignment with each other when the socket is in a closed status (or open status). The user has to insert the screwdriver to the two slots in a slanted manner thus causing difficulty when the two slots are not vertically in alignment with each other. Moreover, when the user pivots the screwdriver he (she) may be prohibited by peripheral components nearby thus causing difficulty.
It is requisite to provide a new driving mechanism which is easily manipulated without much operation space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved driving mechanism for a socket which is easily manipulated and only needs relatively small operation space.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a driving mechanism is provided for driving a socket which comprises a cover movably mounted on a base. The driving mechanism comprises a first hole defined in the cover. A second hole is defined in the base and it has an upper opening in communication with the first hole and a lower opening in communication with the upper opening, wherein the upper opening is larger than the lower opening. A driving cam has an upper circular portion rotatably retained in a predetermined angular range in the first hole of the cover, a middle cam portion movably retained in the upper opening of the second hole of the base, and a lower cam portion movably retained in the lower opening of the second hole of the base. The cover is movable along a first direction with respect to the base when the upper circular portion of the driving cam is rotated clockwise while the cover is movable along a second direction opposite to the first direction when the upper circular portion of the driving cam is rotated counter-clockwise.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a socket comprises a cover defining a first reception space. A base is movably engaged with the cover and defines a second reception space and a third reception space, wherein the second reception space is larger than the third reception space and it is communicated between the first reception space and the third reception space. A driving cam has an upper circular portion rotatably retained in a predetermined angular range in the first reception space, a middle cam portion rotatably and movably retained in the second reception space, and a lower cam portion rotatably and movably retained in the third reception space. The cover is translated along a first direction with respect to the base when the upper circular portion of the driving cam is rotated clockwise while the cover is translated along a second direction opposite to the first direction when the upper circular portion of the driving cam is rotated counter-clockwise.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4420205 (1983-12-01), Kirkman
patent: 4988310 (1991-01-01), Bright et al.
patent: 5707247 (1998-01-01), Konstad
patent: 5730615 (1998-03-01), Lai et al.
Pei Wen-Chun
Walkup William B.
Abrams Neil
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
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