Lateral force countering load mechanism for LGA sockets

An apparatus comprising:

• a land arid array (LGA) body having dimensions suitable to accommodate a circuit device and serve as an intermediary between the device and a printed circuit board, the LGA body comprising a contact area defined by a plurality of contact openings, one or more sidewalls surrounding the contact area, and an alignment feature adjacent the contact area and protruding from a plane defined by the contact area, the alignment feature formed within a sidewall of the LGA body, proximate a corner of the LGA body for positioning the circuit device within the LGA body;
• a plurality of contacts each disposed through respective ones of the plurality of contact openings and each comprising a mating portion oriented to wipe a contact of a circuit device in a first direction;
• and
• a load plate coupled to the body and configured to apply an actuation force on a circuit device in a second direction that is different than the first direction,
• wherein a surface of the alignment feature extends parallel to the sidewall of the body, and the surface comprises a friction-reducing material for reducing friction forces generated between the circuit device and the sidewalls during positioning of the circuit device within the LGA.

A system comprising:

• a printed circuit board;
• a circuit device;
• and
• a land grid array (LGA) socket mounted on the printed circuit board and functioning as an intermediary between the circuit device and the printed circuit board, the LGA socket comprising a contact area defined by a plurality of contacts, one or more sidewalls surrounding the contact area, and an alignment feature adjacent the contact area and protruding from a plane defined by the contact area for positioning the circuit device within the LGA socket body, the alignment feature formed within a sidewall of the LGA socket, proximate a corner of the LGA socket,
• wherein each of the plurality of contacts comprises a mating portion oriented to wipe a contact of a circuit device in a first direction away from the alignment feature, the socket further comprising one of a friction reducing material on the alignment feature and a load plate to apply an actuation force on the circuit device in a second direction that is different than the first direction, and
• wherein a surface of the alignment feature extends parallel to the sidewall of the LGA socket, and the surface comprises a friction-reducing material for reducing friction forces generated between the circuit device and the sidewalls during positioning of the circuit device within the LGA socket.