Power delivery system for integrated circuits utilizing discrete capacitors

A power decoupling connector for attaching an integrated circuit to a circuit board, the integrated circuit having a defined shape with opposing top and bottom surfaces, the bottom surface thereof including a plurality of conductive traces for conducting electrical signals and electrical power to and from said integrated circuit, the decoupling connector comprising:

• an insulative connector housing, the connector housing having a body portion with a base for attachment to the circuit board, the body portion having a receptacle formed therein for receiving said integrated circuit therein;
• means for supplying electrical power to said integrated circuit disposed within said connector housing, the power supply means including a plurality of capacitors, each of the capacitors capable of supplying a predetermined amount of power to said integrated circuit for operation thereof, thereby eliminating the need to mount discrete power supplies on said circuit board in proximity to said integrated circuit;
• and,
• a plurality of conductive power terminals supported by said connector housing and connected to said capacitors, said terminals including contact portions extending into said receptacle for contacting selected ones of said integrated circuit conductive traces and tail portions extending from said connector housing for terminating to power traces on said circuit board, said power terminals being U-shaped to provide a pair of spaced-apart conductive portions for each terminal.

A socket for an integrated circuit, comprising:

• a socket housing for holding the integrated circuit in place on a circuit board, the socket housing having an electrically insulative body portion with a receptacle disposed therein for receiving said integrated circuit therein, said socket housing further including a plurality of wall members that cooperatively define said receptacle in said socket housing and an insulative base portion that opposes said printed circuit board when said socket housing is mounted to said printed circuit board, the wall members extending up from said base portion and surrounding said receptacle, said wall members having a predetermined thickness and a plurality of recesses disposed therein;
• a power reservoir integrated with said socket housing for supplying electrical power to said integrated circuit when said integrated circuit is in place within said receptacle, the power supply reservoir including a plurality of discrete capacitors supported within said socket housing, each of the wall member recesses receiving at least one of said discrete capacitors;
• and,
• a plurality of first conductive terminals supported by said socket housing for contacting said integrated circuit and conveying power from said power reservoir to said integrated circuit thereto, the terminals having contact portions arranged at first ends thereof for contacting conductive traces on said integrated circuit and said terminals further having tail portions arranged at second ends thereof, the terminal contact portions extending into said receptacle and the terminal tail portions extending out from said socket housing.