Socket connector having array of socket contacts

A socket connector comprising:

• an array of socket contacts arranged in rows and columns, the socket contacts having upper mating interfaces for mating with a first electronic package and lower mating interfaces for mating with a second electronic package, the socket contacts configured to electrically connect the first and second electronic packages, each socket contact including an upper cap, a lower cap, and a spring beam helically coiled between the upper cap and the lower cap without any other intervening structures connecting the upper cap and the lower cap, the socket contact having an electrical path through the helically coiled spring beam such that the helically coiled spring beam is electrically connecting the upper cap and the lower cap, the spring beam supporting the upper cap relative to the lower cap, the spring beam being compressible, the upper cap, the lower cap and the spring beam being additive manufactured from a common material, the upper cap, the lower cap and the spring beam being integral and forming a unitary, three-dimensional conductive structure to electrically connect the first and second electronic packages via the common material of the upper cap, the lower cap, and the spring beam;
• and
• a contact holder holding the socket contacts in the array, the contact holder including a dielectric body surrounding the spring beams to provide structural support for the socket contacts, the dielectric body being compressible.

A socket contact for a socket connector, the socket contact comprising:

• an upper cap having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface defining an upper mating interface for a first electronic package;
• a lower cap having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface defining a lower mating interface for a second electronic package;
• a first spring beam helically coiled between the upper cap and the lower cap, the first spring beam extending between the inner surfaces of the upper and lower caps;
• and
• a second spring beam helically coiled between the upper cap and the lower cap, the second spring beam extending between the inner surfaces of the upper and lower caps;
• wherein the upper cap, the lower cap, the first spring beam and the second spring beam are additive manufactured from a common material, the upper cap, the lower cap, the first spring beam, and the second spring beam being integral and forming a unitary, three-dimensional conductive structure without any other intervening structures connecting the upper cap and the lower cap to electrically connect the first and second electronic packages via the common material of the upper cap, the lower cap, the first spring beam, and the second spring beam, wherein a first electrical path is defined between the upper cap and the lower cap through the helically coiled first spring beam and wherein a second electrical path is defined between the upper cap and the lower cap through the helically coiled second spring beam, the first and second spring beams electrically connecting the upper cap and the lower cap via the first and second electrical paths of the first and second spring beams, the first and second spring beams supporting the upper cap relative to the lower cap.