US 5,342,206 AGranted

Socket for direct electrical connection to an integrated circuit chip

AssigneeThe Whitaker Corporation

InventorsDimitry G. Grabbe, Iosif Korsunsky

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

The present invention is a socket for removably connecting electrical conductors directly to the bond pads of an integrated circuit chip, and includes a chip holder that locks into the socket for burn-in and other testing and then can be removed and easily handled by automated equipment in the further processing of the chip. The socket has a series of contacts that are guided into electrical engagement with the bond pads through precisely positioned openings in a ceramic plate. The ceramic plate and the chip holder are aligned by a pair of guide pins that project from a housing. A pair of latching members secure the chip holder to the housing during burn-in and testing.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A socket for electrically connecting to and disconnecting from the bond pads of an integrated circuit chip, said bond pads being spaced in a specific pattern, said socket comprising:

(a) a chip holder for holding said chip in a desired position;
(b) a housing;
(c) contact members in said housing, one end of each said contact member having a contact tip adapted for electrically contacting a respective bond pad of said chip;
(d) a guide plate associated with said housing for positioning said contact tips to correspond with said specific pattern of said bond pads;
(e) means for aligning said guide plate and said chip holder so that said contact tips are in registry with said bond pads;
and
(f) a latching member for releasably securing said chip holder to said housing so that each said contact tip electrically contacts its respective said bond pad, said latching member includes a pair of opposed resilient arms having inwardly facing camming surfaces thereon arranged to engage opposite sides of said chip holder so that as said holder is urged toward said secured engagement therewith said arms are cammed apart until said holder passes said camming surfaces and then said arms elastically move toward each other thereby latching said chip holder in said secured engagement with said housing.

4 more elements

The combination of a circuit board having circuitry thereon for testing an integrated circuit chip and a socket for electrically connecting said circuitry to and disconnecting it from the bond pads of an integrated circuit chip, said bond pads being spaced in a specific pattern, said socket comprising:

(a) a chip holder for holding said chip in a desired position;
(b) a housing;
(c) contact members in said housing, one end of each said contact member having a contact tip electrically contacting a respective bond pad of said chip and the other end thereof electrically contacting said testing circuitry on said circuit board;
(d) a guide plate associated with said housing for positioning said contact tips to correspond with said specific pattern of said bond pads;
(e) means for aligning said guide plate and said chip holder so that said contact tips are in registry with said bond pads;
and
(f) a latching member for releasably securing said chip holder to said housing so that each said contact tip electrically contacts its respective said bond pad, said latching member includes a pair of opposed resilient arms having inwardly facing camming surfaces thereon arranged to engage opposite sides of said chip holder so that as said holder is urged toward said secured engagement therewith said arms are cammed apart until said holder passes said camming surfaces and then said arms elastically move toward each other thereby latching said chip holder in said secured engagement with said housing.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.