IC socket

An IC socket, comprising:

• a dielectric socket body including a plurality of elongated terminal-receiving passages;
• and
• a plurality of elongated terminals received in the passages, at least some of the terminals including
• a first contact end for engaging a solder ball of an IC package;
• a second contact end in the form of a tail for engaging a circuit conductor of a printed circuit board,
• a retention section intermediate the opposite contact ends for fixing the terminal in its respective passage, the retention section being fixed with respect to the socket body and the first and second contact ends,
• a first spring section between the retention section and the first contact end, said first spring section applies a first contact pressure to the solder ball of the IC package,
• a second spring section between the retention section and the second contact end, said second spring section applies a second contact pressure to the circuit conductor of the printed circuit board, and
• said first spring section has greater resiliency than said second spring section and its said first contact pressure is less than said second contact pressure of said second spring section.

An electrical connector, comprising:

• a dielectric housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages;
• and
• a plurality of terminals received in the passages, at least one of the terminals including
• first and second opposite contact ends for pressure engagement with appropriate contacts of a pair of electrical devices,
• a retention section intermediate the opposite contact ends for fixing the terminal in its respective passage,
• a first spring section between the retention section and the first contact section, said first spring section having a given stiffness, and
• a second spring section between the retention section and the second contact section, said second spring section having a stiffness different from said given stiffness.