Ball grid array socket

A socket arrangement for connecting an electronic device having a plurality of contacts to an electronic circuit, the assembly comprising:

• an electronic device having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a plurality of contacts extending therefrom;
• and
• a socket comprising:
• a housing having a bottom surface and a top surface with a plurality of apertures therethrough;
• a plurality of terminals, each terminal disposed within one of the apertures of the housing;
• and
• a semi-spherical compressible structure of electrically conductive material disposed within each of the plurality of terminals;
• and
• wherein when the electronic device is placed in the socket, the contacts of the electronic device abut the semi-spherical compressible structure in the terminals such that an electrical connection is formed between the terminals and the device.

A socket for receiving a device having a plurality of contacts for electrically contacting the device to the socket, the socket comprising,

• a housing having a bottom surface and a top surface with a plurality of apertures therethrough;
• a plurality of contact terminals, each terminal disposed within one of the apertures of the housing;
• and
• a semi-spherical structure comprising an electrically conductive material disposed within each of the plurality of contact terminals, the semi-spherical structure being compressible in response to downward urging thereon;
• whereby when the device is urged in the socket, the contacts of the device depress the compressible semi-spherical structure in the contact terminals such that an electrical connection is formed between the terminal and the device.

A method for establishing an electrical connection between an electrical device having a plurality of device contacts and a socket having a plurality of terminals, the terminals including a compressible semi-spherical structure of electrically conductive material disposed therein, the method comprising:

• placing the electrical device above the socket such that the device contacts generally align with the terminals of the socket;
• and
• inserting the device contacts in the terminals such that the device contacts compress the compressible semi-spherical structure of electrically conductive material disposed in the terminal;
• wherein compressing the compressible semi-spherical electrically conductive material results in an electrical connection between the socket and the electrical device.

A socket for receiving a device having a plurality of contacts for electrically contacting the device to the socket, the socket comprising,

• a housing having a bottom surface and a top surface with a plurality of apertures therethrough;
• a plurality of contact terminals, each terminal disposed within one of the apertures of the housing and including an outwardly extending conical portion;
• and
• a structure comprising an electrically conductive material disposed within each of the plurality of contact terminals, the structure being compressible in response to downward urging thereon;
• whereby when the device is urged in the socket, the contacts of the device depress the compressible structure in the contact terminals such that an electrical connection is formed between the terminal and the device wherein the compressible structure is semi-spherical.