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US 6,672,891 B2Granted
Zero insertion force connector for substrates with edge contacts
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorHong Xie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and method are for increasing the normal force on a substrate power connector. The device includes an edge-type substrate, a socket housing and an actuator. The socket housing receives the edge-type substrate with a zero insertion force or a low insertion force, and the actuator increases a normal force between the socket housing and the substrate to electrically couple the socket and the substrate. A method of creating a power connection includes inserting an edge-type substrate into a socket housing and activating an actuator to increase a normal force between the socket the substrate.
Claims22
An apparatus, comprising:
- a substrate including a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of electrical contacts applied to at least one of the first surface and the second surface, the plurality of electrical contacts arranged on an edge of the at least one of the first surface and the second surface;
- a socket housing configured to receive the substrate and, on each side of the socket housing corresponding to the at least one of the first surface and the second surface having electrical contacts applied thereto, including a corresponding number of socket contacts, each of the socket contacts configured to electrically couple to a respective electrical contact, the socket contacts on each side arranged substantially in a plane;
- and
- an actuator configured to increase a normal force between the socket contacts and the plurality of electrical contacts;
- wherein at least one socket contact includes:
- a movable socket part including at least one first bump;
- and
- a spring contact including at least one second bump, each second bump corresponding to a respective one of the first bumps, each corresponding pair of first and second bumps configured to urge against each other to increase the normal force in accordance with actuation of the actuator.
5 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a socket housing adapted to receive a substrate, the socket housing including, on each side of the socket housing corresponding to at least one of a first surface and a second surface of the substrate, a plurality of socket contacts, each of the socket contacts corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of electrical contacts arranged on the substrate, each of the socket contacts configured to electrically couple to the respective electrical contact, the socket contacts on each side arranged substantially in a plane, the plurality of electrical contacts applied to at least one of a first surface of the substrate and a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface, the plurality of electrical contacts arranged on an edge of the at least one of the first surface and the second surface;
- and
- an actuator configured to increase a normal force between the plurality of socket contacts and the plurality of electrical contacts;
- wherein at least one socket contact includes:
- a movable socket part including at least one first bump;
- and
- a spring contact including at least one second bump, each of the second bumps corresponding to a respective one of the first bumps, each corresponding pair of first and second bumps configured to urge against each other to increase the normal force in accordance with actuation of the actuator.
4 more elements
A method of creating a power connection, comprising:
- inserting a substrate into a socket housing, the socket housing including, on each side of the socket housing corresponding to at least one of a first surface and a second surface of the substrate, a plurality of socket contacts, each of the socket contacts corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of electrical contacts arranged on the substrate and arranged substantially in a plane, and an actuator, the substrate including:
- a first surface;
- a second surface opposite the first surface;
- and
- the plurality of electrical contacts applied to at least one of the first surface and the second surface on an edge of the at least one of the first surface and the second surface, the plurality of electrical contacts configured to electrically couple to the plurality of socket contacts when the substrate is inserted into the socket housing;
- and
- actuating the actuator to increase a normal force between the plurality of socket contacts and the plurality of electrical contacts;
- wherein at least one socket contact includes:
- a movable socket part including at least one first bump;
- and
- a spring contact including at least one second bump, each of the second bumps corresponding to a respective one of the first bumps, each corresponding pair of first and second bumps configured to urge against each other to increase the normal force in accordance with actuation of the actuator.
8 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a socket housing including at least one socket contact, the socket housing adapted to receive an edge-type substrate to electrically couple the at least one socket contact and at least one electrical contact applied to at least one of a first surface of the edge-type substrate and a second surface of the edge-type substrate opposite the first surface;
- and
- an actuator configured to increase a normal force between the at least one socket contact and the at least one electrical contact, the actuator including a lever configured to be pressed in a direction of the substrate to increase the normal force;
- wherein at least one socket contact includes:
- a movable socket part including at least one first bump;
- and
- a spring contact including at least one second bump, each of the second bumps corresponding to a respective one of the first bumps, each corresponding pair of first and second bumps configured to urge against each other to increase the normal force in accordance with actuation of the actuator.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.