# US 2006/0040518 A1 · Electrical connector having protecting protrusions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0040518 A1 - Document ID: US20060040518A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/137,975 - Filed: 2005-05-25 - Published: 2006-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2004-08-23 - Assignees: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hao-Yun Ma; Ming-Lun Szu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060040518A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/2442: {with a single cantilevered beam} - H01R 12/714: {with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit} - H05K 7/1061: {co-operating by abutting} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A land grid array connector (10) for electrically connecting a CPU package to a printed circuit board includes a housing (30) having a top surface (320) and a number of terminals received in passageways (31) of the housing. Each of the terminals has a retention portion (52), a spring arm (54) extending from the retention portion beyond the top surface. A contacting portion (58) is formed on a topmost part of the spring arm for electrically mating with a corresponding pad formed on a bottom of the CPU package. A plurality of protrusions (324) is formed on the top surface for protect the terminals from being accidental damaged, A common supporting surface (326) is formed cooperatively by the protrusions, above the contacting portion in a direction perpendicular to the top surface. This can protect the contacting portion of the terminal from being collided. As a result reliable electrical connection between the package and contacts of the land grid array connector is secured. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical connector for electrically connecting an electronic package comprising: an insulative housing defining a top surface and a plurality of passageways extending from the top surface; a plurality of terminals received in the passageways, respectively; the terminals each having a retention portion secured in a corresponding passageway, a spring arm extending from the retention portion beyond the top surface and a contacting portion formed on the spring arm above the top surface a distance for electrically connecting with the package; and at least one protrusion formed on the top surface, said protrusion cooperatively forming a supporting surface, the supporting surface being higher than the contacting portion in a direction perpendicular the top surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusions integrally project from the top surface, the protrusions respectively being situated around a corresponding passageway. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the passageways each define a securing section and a receiving section perpendicular to and in communication with the securing section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protrusion is located at one side of the receiving section of the passageway, opposing to the securing section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protrusions each have a parallelepiped configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring arm of the terminal has a first section connecting with the retention portion and a second section bent from the first section, the second having a taper configuration. ### Claim 7 An electrical connector for electrically connecting an electronic package comprising: an insulative housing defining a plurality of passageways terminated on a top surface thereof; a plurality of terminals disposed in the passageways, respectively; each terminal having a contacting portion exposed outside the top surface a distance in a direction perpendicular to the top surface; and at least one protrusion formed on the top surface, said protrusion projecting upwardly beyond the top surface a vertical height larger than the distance the contacting portion of the terminal beyond the top surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the protrusions each integrally project from a side of a corresponding passageway. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein from a top elevation aspect of the connector, the protrusion is located at the side of the passageway, near the contacting portion of the terminal received in the passageway. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the protrusion has a parallelepiped configuration. ### Claim 11 An electrical connector assembly comprising: an insulative housing defining a top surface and a plurality of passageways therethrough; a plurality of conductive contacts secured in corresponding passageways, respectively; each of the contacts having a contacting portion exposed above the top surface with a distance; and a plurality of protrusions located on the top surface, each protrusion being situated beside a corresponding passageway and having a vertical height respective to the top surface larger than the distance the contacting portion above the top surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein from a top elevation, the protrusion is situated at one side of the passageway near the contacting portion of the terminal received in the passageway. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 11, further including an electronic package defining a bottom surface with thereon a plurality of downwardly extending conductive pin-like pads, wherein the electronic package is seated upon the housing under a condition that the bottom surface of the electronic package is spaced from the top surface of the housing with a distance not less than said vertical height, and the pin-like pads engagably and downwardly press the corresponding contact portions of the terminals, respectively. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein under said condition, the contacting portions are essentially flush with or located below the top surface of the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The electrical connector assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the terminal includes a spring arm having one distal end at which the contacting portion is located, and from said top elevation, the corresponding protrusion situated near the contacting portion, is located outside of said distal end and in alignment with said spring arm along an extension direction of said spring arm.