Electrical connectors and IC chip tester embodying same

An electrical connector particularly adapted for high frequency applications, comprising:

• a dielectric housing means having opposed first and second surfaces;
• at least one prearranged aperture traversing the thickness of said housing means and extending between said first and second surfaces;
• a plurality of conductive contact elements disposed in each of said apertures;
• said plurality of contact elements comprising a wadded conductor first contact elements disposed in each of said apertures;
• said plurality of contact elements comprising a wadded conductor first contact element which is resiliently deformable when compressed and second and third conductive contact elements engaging opposed end portions of said wadded conductor first contact element by means of inner ends and having distal terminal ends exposed through said opposed surfaces of said housing means;
• said terminal ends being so configured as to effect point-like contact with surfaces disposed at right angles thereto;
• said second and third contact elements of each plurality being normally outwardly biased by said wadded conductor first contact element whereby the terminal ends of said second and third conductive contact elements are urged outwardly of said housing means aperture thereby.

An electrical connector particularly adapted for high frequency applications comprising:

• dielectric housing means having opposed first and second surfaces for assembly with opposed conductors for electrical interconnection;
• said housing means having at least one prearranged aperture traversing the thickness thereof and extending between aperture openings disposed in said opposed first and second surfaces;
• a plurality of conductive contact elements disposed in each of said apertures and comprising a wadded conductor resilient contact element;
• said wadded conductor resilient contact element having a peripheral portion engaged by a peripheral portion of the housing means defining said aperture;
• said wadded conductor contact element having a terminal end contact surface exposed through said aperture opening at the first housing means surface;
• a second contact element in electrical communication with said wadded conductor resilient contact element and having a terminal end contact portion exposed through said aperture opening at the second housing means surface, said second contact element being reciprocably movable in said aperture and biased by said wadded conductor contact element in a direction toward the second housing means surface;
• the engagement between said wadded conductor resilient contact element and the housing means aperture periphery retaining said wadded conductor resilient contact element in said housing and allowing resilient compression and expansion of the wadded conductor portions connected to the retentively engaged peripheral portion thereof;
• whereby said wadded conductor resilient contact element resiliently positions said second contact element adjacent said second surface and presents a resiliently supported contact surface adjacent said first surface;
• the retentive engagement between said wadded conductor resilient contact elements and the housing periphery being effected by means of a restricted peripheral neck of lesser diameter than the remaining diameter of said housing means aperture.

An electrical connector adapted for high frequency applications, comprising:

• dielectric housing means having opposed first and second surfaces;
• said housing means having at least one aperture extending therethrough between openings disposed in said opposed first and second surfaces;
• a plurality of conductive contact elements disposed in each of said apertures and providing a contact surface exposed through each of said openings;
• said plurality of conductive contact elements in each of said apertures comprising a wadded conductor element which is resiliently compressible within its respective aperture, and two additional contact elements engaging opposed ends of and being in electrical communication with said wadded conductor contact element;
• said two additional contact elements being reciprocably supported in their respective aperture, resiliently urged by said wadded conductor contact element toward said openings and having contact surfaces exposed through said openings toward which urged, whereby said plurality of conductive contact elements in each of said apertures provides yieldable compressive electrical contact with abutting conductor elements disposed adjacent each of said first and second surfaces at said openings of the respective aperture therein for establishing electrical interconnection between said conductors through said dielectric housing.

An electrical connector particularly adapted for high frequency applications comprising:

• dielectric housing means having opposed first and second surfaces for assembly with opposed conductors for electrical interconnection;
• said housing means having at least one prearranged aperture traversing the thickness thereof and extending between aperture openings disposed in said opposed first and second surfaces;
• a plurality of conductive contact elements disposed in each of said apertures and comprising a wadded conductor resilient first contact element;
• said wadded conductor resilient contact element having a peripheral portion engaged by a peripheral portion of the housing means defining said aperture;
• said wadded conductor contact element having a terminal end contact surface exposed through said aperture opening at the first housing means surface;
• a second contact element in electrical communication with said wadded conductor resilient first contact element and having a terminal end contact portion exposed through said aperture opening at the second housing surface;
• said second contact element being reciprocably movable in said aperture and biased by said wadded conductor contact element in a direction toward the second housing means surface;
• the engagement between said wadded conductor resilient contact element and the housing means aperture periphery retaining said wadded conductor resilient contact element in said housing and allowing resilient compression and expansion of the wadded conductor portions connected to the retentively engaged peripheral portion thereof, whereby said wadded conductor resilient contact element resiliently positions said second contact element adjacent said second surface and presents a resiliently supported contact surface adjacent said first surface;
• a socket for mounting an IC chip carrier for circuit testing and having a plurality of peripherally mounted contact pads;
• said dielectric housing means being disposed on the bottom of said socket whereby portions of second contact elements mounted in said connector are urged into engagement with contact pads of an IC chip carrier when mounted in said socket;
• means for locating a test circuit board having prearranged traces for engagement with terminal ends portions of said first resilient contact elements whereby electrical communication is established between said traces and said chip carrier pads;
• an IC chip carrier mounted in said socket;
• carrier locating means mounted in corner portions of said socket for desired location of said carrier in said socket, and means for urging said carrier into compressive engagement with said dielectric housing means second surface.

An electrical connector adapted for high frequency applications, comprising:

• dielectric housing means having opposed first and second surfaces;
• said housing means having at least one aperture extending therethrough between openings disposed in said opposed first and second surfaces;
• a plurality of conductive contact elements disposed in each of said apertures and providing a contact surface exposed through each of said openings;
• said plurality of conductive contact elements in each of said openings comprising a wadded conductor contact element which is resiliently compressible within said aperture, and at least one additional contact element which is in electrical communication with said wadded conductor contact element, is reciprocably supported in the respective aperture, is resiliently urged by said wadded conductor contact element toward one of said openings and has a contact surface exposed through such one opening;
• whereby said plurality of conductive contact elements in each of said apertures provides yieldable compressive electrical contact with abutting conductor components disposed adjacent each of said first and second surfaces at said openings of the respective aperture therein for establishing electrical interconnection between such conductors through said dielectric housing.

An electrical connector adapted for high frequency applications, comprising:

• dielectric housing means having opposed first and second surfaces;
• said housing means having an array of apertures extending therethrough between openings disposed in said opposed first and second surfaces;
• a plurality of conductive contact elements disposed in each of said apertures of said array and providing a contact surface exposed through each of said openings of said array;
• each of said plurality of conductive contact elements comprising a wadded conductor contact element which is resiliently compressible within its respective aperture;
• said plurality of contact elements also including at least one additional contact element which is in electrical communication with said wadded conductor element, is reciprocally supported in its respective aperture, is resiliently urged by said wadded conductor element toward one of said openings and has a contact surface exposed through such one opening;
• whereby said plurality of conductive contact elements in each of said apertures of said array provides yieldable compressive electrical contact with abutting conductors disposed at each of said openings of said array of apertures for establishing electrical paths through said dielectric housing and between such abutting conductors arranged in various locations at said openings of said dielectric housing.