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US 6,443,749 B2Granted
Fixed position ZIF (zero insertion force) socket system
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsMichael P. Brownell, Jim Maveety
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical socket connection for coupling a conductive pin to a circuit board. The socket has several contact points that can be expanded to create an opening sufficiently sized to allow the conductive pin to pass through the contact points with minimal insertion force. After the pin is inserted, the contact points can be retracted to form electrical interconnects with the pin. The contacts are electrically coupled to the remaining circuitry via the socket. The present invention, therefore, provides a zero insertion force socket that has multiple contact points and does not require secondary movement of the pin or circuit package.
Claims36
A socket connector comprising:
- a socket having a pin opening, the pin opening having a substantially central axis, wherein the socket further comprises a pair of ribs circumscribing the socket;
- a socket contact having a plurality of contact points, the socket contact positioned in the pin opening of the socket, the socket contact comprising a band moveable between an open position and a closed position by an actuator, wherein when the band is in the closed position, the actuator is outside the band;
- and
- wherein the plurality of contact points are moveable with respect to the substantially central axis between the open position and the closed position and the plurality of contact points in the open position are positioned outwardly relative to the position of the plurality of contact points in the closed position.
1 more element
A socket contact system comprising:
- a socket having an actuator opening and a pin opening, the pin opening having a substantially central axis;
- a socket contact comprising a band moveable between an open position and a closed position, the socket contact having a plurality of contact points, the socket contact positioned in the pin opening of the socket;
- an insulator having an insulator opening, the socket positioned in the insulator opening;
- a pair of ribs circumscribing the socket, the insulator positioned between the pair of ribs;
- wherein the plurality of contact points are moveable with respect to the substantially central axis between the open position and the closed position and the plurality of contact points in the open position are positioned outwardly relative to the position of the plurality of contact points in the closed position;
- and
- an actuator, the actuator positioned in the actuator opening, the actuator moveable between an open position and a closed position corresponding to the open position and the closed position of the socket contact, wherein the actuator is separate from the band.
4 more elements
An circuit assembly comprising:
- a plurality of sockets, each of the sockets having an actuator opening, a pair of ribs circumscribing the socket, and a pin opening, the pin opening having a substantially central axis;
- a plurality of socket contacts, comprising a plurality of bands moveable between an open position and a closed position, corresponding to the plurality of sockets, each of the socket contacts positioned in the pin opening of each of the sockets, wherein each of the socket contacts further comprises an activator, the activator positioned in the actuator opening, the activator moveable between an open position and a closed position corresponding to the open position and the closed position of the socket contact;
- wherein the plurality of contact points are moveable with respect to the substantially central axis between the open position and the closed position and the plurality of contact points in the open position are positioned outwardly relative to the position of the plurality of contact points in the closed position;
- an actuator, the actuator positioned in the actuator opening, the actuator moveable between an open position and a closed position corresponding to the open position and the closed position of the socket contact;
- an insulator having a plurality of insulator openings, the plurality of sockets positioned in the insulator openings;
- and
- a package having a plurality of pins, the plurality of pins corresponding to the plurality of sockets and the plurality of socket contacts, the pins received within the sockets.
4 more elements
A method of electrically connecting a pin and a socket assembly comprising:
- providing a pin and providing a socket assembly having a socket and a socket contact, the socket having a substantially central axis and a pair of ribs circumscribing the socket;
- opening the socket contact in a direction away from the substantially central axis of the socket;
- inserting the pin into the socket;
- closing the socket contact in a direction towards the pin;
- contacting the pin with a plurality of contact points;
- providing an actuator, wherein the actuator is outside the socket when the socket contact is closed;
- and
- moving the actuator relative to the pin and socket without moving the pin relative to the socket.
5 more elements
A method of providing an electrical connection comprising:
- extending a plurality of electrical contacts to define a first opening having a diameter that is greater than the diameter of a conductive pin;
- and
- retracting the plurality of electrical contacts to define a second opening having a diameter that is less than the diameter of a conductive pin, such that the plurality of electrical contacts form a plurality of electrical contact points with the conductive pin when the conductive pin is inserted into the first opening, wherein the retracting is performed by inserting an actuator into a band opening, wherein a socket comprises the plurality of electrical contacts and a band having the band opening, wherein the actuator is separate from the band, wherein the socket has a pair of ribs circumscribing the socket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.