Electrical connectors – Coupling part having handle or means to move contact...
Reexamination Certificate
2003-06-06
2004-11-02
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Coupling part having handle or means to move contact...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06811421
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector such as one used for testing of integrated circuit (IC) packages, and particularly to an electrical connector with a cover and a pair of operating members.
2. Description of Prior Art
Test connectors are widely used for receiving and testing of IC packages. A conventional test connector includes a main body, a movable plate mounted on the main body, and a plurality of operating levers for actuating lateral movement of the movable plate along the main body. The movable plate is movable between a released state in which the IC package is attached thereon but electrically disengaged from terminals in the main body, and a contacting state in which the IC package is electrically engaged with the terminals of the main body. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,186,642 and 5,690,281 disclose this kind of test connector.
FIG. 6
shows a conventional test connector
9
. The connector
9
comprises a base
91
, a cover
92
, a pair of operating members
95
, a pair of coil springs
94
, a pair of insert plates
96
, and a lid
93
. Each operating member
95
comprises a pair of operating levers
950
each defining a receiving hole
951
and a guiding groove
952
, a pair of supporting shafts
954
received in the receiving holes
951
, and a pair of transmission shafts
955
received in the guiding grooves
952
. The base
91
comprises a main body (not labeled) defining, a plurality of passageways
910
receiving a plurality of terminals (not shown) therein. The base
91
defines a pair of blind holes
914
for receiving the coil springs
94
. Each of opposite ends of the main body defines a pair of retaining grooves
912
, for receiving the supporting shafts
954
of the operating members
95
. The cover
92
defines a plurality of passages
920
in a main portion thereof, corresponding to the passageways
910
of the base
91
. The cover
92
comprises four projections
922
protruding upwardly from fours corner thereof. A pair of elongated receiving grooves
924
is defined in opposite ends of the cover
92
respectively, at the projections
92
. The receiving grooves
924
are for receiving the transmission shafts
955
of the operating members
95
. The lid
93
is substantially a rectangular frame, and defines a central opening
930
. A pair of receiving recesses (not shown) is defined in bottoms of opposite sidewalls
932
of the lid
93
respectively, for receiving the corresponding insert plates
96
therein.
Referring also to
FIG. 7
, in assembly, the cover
92
is movably mounted on the base
91
. The supporting shafts
954
of the operating members
95
are pivotably received in the retaining grooves
912
of the base
91
, and the transmission shafts
955
of the operating members
95
are pivotably received in the receiving grooves
924
of the cover
92
. The insert plates
96
are mounted on the operating members
95
, and are then fixed in the recesses of the lid
93
. The coil springs
94
are mounted between the base
91
and the lid
93
. The lid
96
is thereby engaged with the operating members
95
and movably mounted on the base
91
.
In use, the lid
93
is pushed downwardly by a robot or an operator's hand (not shown), with corresponding force being applied to the operating members
95
. The operating members
95
drive the cover
92
to move horizontally in a direction toward one of the ends of the base
91
. When the lid
93
has reached a bottommost position, the coil springs
94
are compressed, and the cover
92
is defined to be in an open state. In the open state, an IC package (not shown) can be attached on the cover
92
, with leads of the IC package passing through the passages
920
of the cover
92
and being received in the passageways
910
of the base
91
with zero insertion force (ZIF). That is, when the IC package is attached on the cover
92
in the open state, the leads of the IC package are not in mechanical or electrical engagement with the terminals of the base
91
. When said downward pushing by the robot or the operator's hand is released, the coil springs
94
decompress, and the cover
92
is driven horizontally in an opposite direction toward its original position. The leads of the IC package thereby mechanically and electrically engage with the terminals of the base
91
. In this position, the cover
92
is defined to be in a closed state.
In the conventional connector
9
, if a force of said downward pushing on the lid
93
is insufficient, the cover
92
is driven only part of the way toward the open state. When the IC package is then attached on the cover
92
, the leads of the IC package are received in the passageways
910
and interfere with the terminals of the base
91
. The leads and the terminals are thus liable to sustain damage. In addition, even when said downward force is sufficient, the shafts
955
are driven to respective endmost portions of the guiding grooves
952
, whereat respective walls of the operating levers
952
apply forces on the shafts
955
. Smooth movement of the shafts
955
is retarded and interrupted by such forces. Thus, smooth movement of the cover along the base
91
is disrupted, which can result in damage to the leads of the IC package and the terminals of the base
91
. Furthermore, in the open state, if said downward force is released suddenly, the coil springs
94
rapidly decompress and drive the lid
93
upwardly, and the cover
92
is quickly driven to the closed state. When this happens, the leads of the IC package enter the terminals of the base
91
with great speed and force, and the leads and the terminals are liable to sustain damage.
A new connector that overcomes the above-mentioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a connector which prevents or minimizes the risk of damage to leads of an IC package received in the connector.
In order to achieve the above object, a socket connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a base, a cover movably mounted on the base, a pair of operating members, a lid, four coil springs received between the lid and the base, and a pair of insert plates. The base defines a plurality of passageways receiving a plurality of conductive terminals therein. Each operating member comprises a first operating lever engaged with the cover, and a second operating lever engaged with the base. The first and second operating levers are pivotably attached to their respective insert plates, and the insert plates are mounted to the lid respectively. The lid is thereby disposed above the operating members for pivotably moving the first and second operating levers. When no external force is exerted on the connector, the terminals in the base permit zero insertion force insertion and removal of the leads of the IC package, and when the lid is vertically pushed down by an external force, the operating members actuate the cover to move relative to the base thereby connecting the terminals with leads of the CPU.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
REFERENCES:
patent: 4846703 (1989-07-01), Matsuoka et al.
patent: 5186642 (1993-02-01), Matsuoka et al.
patent: 5690281 (1997-11-01), Tohyama et al.
Gattuso Andrew
Hsu Hsiu-Yuan
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co. LTD
McCamey Ann
Ta Tho D.
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