US6155860A — Socket for electrical component

Claim 1

Independent Claim 143 words

A connector for electrically connecting an electrical component, having a plurality of conductive elements extending therefrom, to a substrate, comprising: a first base adapted to engage the electrical component and comprising: at least one aperture extending therethrough and adapted to receive at least a portion of the electrical component therein; and a first hinge assembly including a plurality of arms; and a second base adapted to mount to the substrate and comprising: a plurality of contacts corresponding to the conductive elements in the electrical component; and a second hinge assembly including a hinge pin; wherein at least one of said plurality of arms engages said hinge pin at a location and the other of said plurality of arms engage said hinge pin at a generally opposite location, wherein rotation of said first base progressively mates said conductive elements with said plurality of contacts.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 143 words

A connector for electrically connecting an electrical component, having a plurality of conductive elements extending therefrom, to a substrate, comprising: a first base adapted to engage the electrical component and comprising: at least one aperture extending therethrough and adapted to receive at least a portion of the electrical component therein; and a first hinge assembly including a plurality of arms; and a second base adapted to mount to the substrate and comprising: a plurality of contacts corresponding to the conductive elements in the electrical component; and a second hinge assembly including a hinge pin; wherein at least one of said plurality of arms engages said hinge pin at a location and the other of said plurality of arms engage said hinge pin at a generally opposite location, wherein rotation of said first base progressively mates said conductive elements with said plurality of contacts.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one aperture comprises a plurality of apertures, and said first base further comprises a surface facing said second base and having a plurality of bridges spanning between adjacent apertures.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one aperture comprises a plurality of apertures, each adapted to receive a corresponding one of the conductive elements of the electrical component.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 48 words

The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of contacts form an array of columns extending generally parallel to said hinge assembly of said second base; and said hinge assemblies are adapted to mate successive columns of contacts with the conductive elements of the electrical component.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of contacts comprise dual beam contacts having a contact space extending between said dual beams and parallel to said hinge assemblies.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said first base includes a structure for securing the electrical component to said first base.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 13 words

The connector as recited in claim 6, wherein said structure comprises a latch.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

The connector as recited in claim 7, wherein said latch extends from a wall extending at least partially around said perimeter of said first base.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 33 words

The connector as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fusible elements, each secured to a respective one of said plurality of contacts for securing said second base to the substrate.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

The connector as recited in claim 9, wherein said plurality of fusible elements are solder balls.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

The connector as recited in claim 1, in combination with said electrical component having said plurality of conductive elements extending therefrom, said electrical component removably seatable within said first base and engageable with said plurality of contacts in said second base.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The connector as recited in claim 11, wherein said electrical component is one of a pin grid array component and a multi-chip module.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

The connector as recited in claim 12, wherein said electrical component includes an IC chip.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 141 words

A method of securing an electrical component to a substrate, comprising the steps of: providing an electrical component having a plurality of conductive elements extending therefrom; providing a cassette with an extension having a first surface and a second surface; inserting said electrical component into said cassette; providing a substrate; providing a housing with a plurality of contacts thereon corresponding to said conductive elements and an opening having a first guide surface and a second guide surface; mounting said housing to said substrate; inserting said extension into said opening; rotating said cassette relative to said housing; and controlling lateral and longitudinal positioning of said cassette during movement of said first surface and said second surface across said first guide surface and said second guide surface; wherein rotation of said cassette progressively mates said conductive elements of said component with said contacts.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 141 words

A method of securing an electrical component to a substrate, comprising the steps of: providing an electrical component having a plurality of conductive elements extending therefrom; providing a cassette with an extension having a first surface and a second surface; inserting said electrical component into said cassette; providing a substrate; providing a housing with a plurality of contacts thereon corresponding to said conductive elements and an opening having a first guide surface and a second guide surface; mounting said housing to said substrate; inserting said extension into said opening; rotating said cassette relative to said housing; and controlling lateral and longitudinal positioning of said cassette during movement of said first surface and said second surface across said first guide surface and said second guide surface; wherein rotation of said cassette progressively mates said conductive elements of said component with said contacts.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of securing an electrical component to a substrate as recited in claim 14, wherein said conductive elements and said contacts are arranged in a plurality of columns; and wherein said portion of said conductive elements and said portion of said contacts comprise one of said plurality of columns.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 69 words

A cassette adapted to interact with a housing to secure an electrical component to a substrate, comprising: a generally planar base; a hinge; a plurality of apertures extending through said base, each aperture adapted to receive at least a corresponding portion of the electrical component; and a plurality of bridges extending from said base and spanning between adjacent apertures to laterally support a distal end of said corresponding portions.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 69 words

A cassette adapted to interact with a housing to secure an electrical component to a substrate, comprising: a generally planar base; a hinge; a plurality of apertures extending through said base, each aperture adapted to receive at least a corresponding portion of the electrical component; and a plurality of bridges extending from said base and spanning between adjacent apertures to laterally support a distal end of said corresponding portions.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

The cassette a recited in claim 16, in combination with said electrical component having a plurality of conductive elements extending therefrom and engageable with a plurality of contacts in the second base.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 23 words

The cassette as recited in claim 17, wherein said electrical component is one of a pin grid array component and a multi-chip module.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The cassette as recited in claim 18, wherein said electrical component includes an IC chip.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 88 words

A cassette adapted to interact with a housing to secure an electrical component to a substrate, comprising: a base; a hinge; at least one aperture extending through said base and adapted to receive at least a portion of the electrical component; and a latch, including: a flange section extending from said base, said flange section adapted to deform during placement of said electrical component on said cassette; and a retention portion extending from said flange section, said retention portion adapted to secure said electrical component to said cassette.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 88 words

A cassette adapted to interact with a housing to secure an electrical component to a substrate, comprising: a base; a hinge; at least one aperture extending through said base and adapted to receive at least a portion of the electrical component; and a latch, including: a flange section extending from said base, said flange section adapted to deform during placement of said electrical component on said cassette; and a retention portion extending from said flange section, said retention portion adapted to secure said electrical component to said cassette.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 99 words

A housing interacting with a cassette for attaching an electrical component, having a plurality of conductive elements extending therefrom, to a substrate, the housing comprising: a base having an edge; a hinge pin extending along said edge of said base; at least one block extending from said edge of said base adjacent said hinge pin to define an opening therebetween; and a plurality of contacts in said base adapted to receive the conductive elements of the electrical components; wherein said opening receiving said cassette, said hinge pin and said at least one block providing alignment surfaces for said cassette.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 99 words

A housing interacting with a cassette for attaching an electrical component, having a plurality of conductive elements extending therefrom, to a substrate, the housing comprising: a base having an edge; a hinge pin extending along said edge of said base; at least one block extending from said edge of said base adjacent said hinge pin to define an opening therebetween; and a plurality of contacts in said base adapted to receive the conductive elements of the electrical components; wherein said opening receiving said cassette, said hinge pin and said at least one block providing alignment surfaces for said cassette.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 30 words

The housing as recited in claim 21, wherein said plurality of contacts are dual beam contacts having a contact space extending between said dual beams and parallel to said hinge.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 32 words

The housing as recited in claim 21, further comprising a plurality of fusible elements, each secured to a respective one of said plurality of contacts for securing said housing to the substrate.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 16 words

The housing as recited in claim 23, wherein said plurality of fusible elements are solder balls.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 135 words

The housing as recited in claim 21, wherein each of said plurality of contacts comprises: a retention portion for engaging a wall of an aperture in said housing, said retention portion having opposed ends and defining a plane; a tail portion extending from one of said opposed ends; and a pair of beams extending from the other of said opposed ends, each of said pair of beams comprising: a first portion displacing said beam from said plane of said retention portion, wherein each of said pair of beams are located on opposite sides of said plane of said retention portion; and a second portion canted relative to said first portion, said second portion including a contact interacting portion, wherein said contact interacting portions of said pair of beams interact to receive a conductive element therebetween.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 16 words

The housing as recited in claim 25, wherein said second portion further comprises a deformed portion.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 29 words

The housing as recited in claim 26, wherein said second portions each have a surface facing the other said second portion, said deformed portion located on said facing surfaces.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 16 words

The housing as recited in claim 26, wherein said deformed portion is a reduced thickness portion.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 14 words

The housing as recited in claim 28, wherein said reduced thickness portion is coined.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 49 words

The housing as recited in claim 25, wherein each of the contacts has a longitudinal axis; said first portions of said pair of beans are displaced on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis; and said second portions of said pair of beams are angled relative to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 22 words

The housing as recited in claim 30, wherein said contact interacting portions of said pair of beams generally intersect said longitudinal axis.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 41 words

The housing as recited in claim 25, wherein said contact interacting portions of said beams each define a plane; said planes of said contact interacting portions angled between approximately 0° and 10° degrees relative to said plane of said retention portion.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 25 words

The housing as recited in claim 32, wherein said planes of said contact interacting portions are substantially parallel with said plane of said retention portion.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-12-05	2004-06-05	2004-12-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-12-05	2008-06-05	2008-12-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-12-05	2012-06-05	2012-12-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Socket for electrical component

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