Holding member for the installation of land grid array multi-chip modules

A method of installing a land grid array (LGA) module having an upper and a lower surface of the module to a printed wiring board (PWB) having a front and a back side of the PWB, said method comprising:

• providing a module holding apparatus having a frame member surrounding an LGA socket site, the frame having a back side adapted for fixed attachment to the PWB and a front side adapted for receiving at least one module holding member;
• and at least one module holding member fixedly attached to the frame for retention therewith regardless of whether there is an LGA multi-chip module in the LGA socket site or not, and for rotation about an axis from a first to a second angular position of the module holding member with respect to the frame, the module holding member having a lower surface thereof defining an inclined plane adapted for contacting an upper surface of an LGA multi-chip module located in the LGA socket site, the inclined plane of the module holding member exerting a progressively increasing clamping force against the upper surface the LGA multi-chip module for retaining the LGA multi-chip module in the LGA socket site of the frame member as the module holding member is rotated in one direction about the axis from the first to the second angular position of the module holding member, and exerting a progressively decreasing clamping force against the upper surface the LGA multi-chip module for releasing the LGA multi-chip module from the LGA socket site of the frame member as the module holding member is rotated in the other direction about the axis from the second to the first angular position of the module holding member;
• attaching the back side of the frame to the front surface of the PWB;
• inserting the module into the LGA socket site;
• and
• rotating the LGA module holding member about the axis from the first to the second angular position to thereby engage the upper surface of the module with the inclined plane of the LGA module holding member for mechanically actuating the lower surface of the module into fixed electrical engagement with the printed wiring board.