Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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SOCKET ASSEMBLY CONNECTOR FOR AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT
1 FIELD OF THE INVENTION-
The invention relaxes generally to a socket assembly for
connecting an electronic component to a circuit board
and more particularly to a socket assembly used in conjunction
with a connactor header for providing removable connection
of an integrated circuit to a circuit board.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
.
In the electronics interconnection industry there is a
need to efficiently and economically connect electronic
components such as integrated circuits (IC) to printed
circuit boards or similar component receiving boards. The
integrated circuits are typically supported in a connector
apparatus which can be easily inserted or removed from the
circuit board without disturbing the remaining components
on the board. The connector apparatus should also protect
the integrated circuit from adverse handling conditions
occasioned by replacement of components. These adverse
conditions can bo-th structurally and electrically damage
the integrated circuit, rendering the component useless.
Structural damage may be caused by rough or accidental
mishandling of the fragile integrated circuit and electrical
damage may be caused by the static electricity discharged
by the handler.
Connector assemblies which are insertable and removable
from circuit boards are known. These connectors employ a
socket which accommodates the integrated circuit. The
socket is inserted into a mating header which is mechanically
and electrically secured to the circuit board. Typically
the socket including the integrated circuit is inserted in
a vertical orientation, that is the socket is brought down
onto the header in a direction perpendicular to the plane
of the circuit board. While this technique adeguately
provides for installation and removal without disturbing
adjacent connections, clearance must be provided above
the socket to allow for such vertical insertion and
removal. Thus, when arranging plural circuit boards
1 in parallel fashion, sufficient space must be provided
between each to permit such clearance. Accordingly,
the circuit boards cannot be placed in as close proximity
as would be desirable for efficient use of the available
space. Examples of the vertical insertion connectors are
shown in U.S. Patent 3,880,493 issued April 29, 1975 and
tl.S. Patent 4,356,532 issued Oct. 26, 1982, the latter
assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In each
ox these references the connector assembly is secured
to thy circuit board from above. In addition, the sockets of
these connector assemblies include an open upper end which
receives the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit
remains exposed, both before and after connection to the
` circuit board and thus is subject to the external adverse
; 15 conditions of handling.
The electronics industry has also seen the use of socket
assemblies which pxovide for insertion and remsval of an
integrated circuit along a direction parallel to the plane
of the circuit board. One such assembly is shown in
U.S. Patent 4,380,360 issued April 19, 1983. In such
assemblies, an integrated circuit holder is mechanically
and electrically, permanently secured to a circuit board.
The holder has a side opening which permits slidable
receipt of an integrated circuit cartridge, in a direction
parallel to the plane of the circuit board. While avoiding
the need for increased space between circuit boards,
the replaceable cartridge has an open side end which permits
insertion of the integrated circuit into the cartxidge. The
integrated circuit is not fully enclosed until the removable
cartridge is inserted into the fixed holder. Thus, the
integrated circuit remains exposed and unprotected in the
replaceable cartridge until the cartridge is inserted into
the holder. As the holder is fixedly secured to the board
there is no provision for the connection of an enclosed
integrated circuit to a circuit board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
socket assembly for interconnecting an integrated circuit to
a circuit board.
It is a more particular object of the invention to
provide an apparatus which allows for connection of an
enclosed socket assembly containing an integrated circuit
to a header attached to a circuit board.
In the efficient attainment of these and other
objects the present invention looks towards providing
a socket assembly which receives an integrated circuit and
can be removably attached to a header secured to a circuit
board. The socket assembly can be mounted in a direction
parallel to the plane of the circuit board to allow a
plurality of boards to be arranged in close spacial
relationship without interfering with the insertion and
removal of the integrated circuit.
In the particularly described embodiment shown herein,
a socket assembly is provided which includes a housing having
a channel therein which slidably receives an integrated circuit
tray. The socket assembly, comprising the housing and
tray which accommodates the integrated circuit, is slidably
connected to a header secured to a circuit board. The
socket assembly is moved in a direction parallel to the
plane of the circuit board.
The integrated circuit tray is loaded with the
integrated circuit prior to insertion into the housing,
in a direction transverse to the direction ox insertion
of the tray into the housing.
3 o BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS -
_ _ _ _ _ _
Figure 1 is a front perspective showing of a portion ofa typical integrated circuit used in the assembly of the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a top view of a portion of a typical
printed circuit board used in accordance with the present
invention.
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1 Figures 3 and 4 are respectively, front and side plan
views of the header of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a perspective showing of the socket assembly
of the present invention including the integrated circuit
of Fig. 1;
Figure 6 is a partial sectional showing of the socket
assembly of Fig. 5 taken through the lines VI-VI; an alternate
contact configuration is shown therein; and
Figure 7 shows a vertical section of the combination
socket assembly and header, attached between a pair of spaced
printed circuit boards.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
The present invention provides for interconnection
between an electrical component such as integrated circuit
10, Fig. 1, and a circuit board 12, Fig. 2. Integrated
circuit 10 is a conventional dual-in~line package (DIP)
element, including a semi-conductive, elongate body 14
and a plurality of spaced leads 16 extending from each
longitudinal side thereof. Leads 16 are provided for
interconnection of the active device contained in body 14
and circuit board 12. Circuit board 12 which may be a
printed circuit board or sLmilar member, is also of con-
ventional construction, having a planar insulative body 17
and a plurality of holes 18 patterned thereon. Holes 18
facilitate connection of the integrated circuit 10 to
circuit board 12 as will be described hereinafter.
Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, a header 20, used in
combination with the present invention is shown. Header 20
includes an elongate insulative body 22 which is typically
formed of a suitable plastic such as glass or mineral filled
polyethylene sulfide. Header body 22 includes a pair of legs
24 and 26 extending from each longitudinal end thereof. Legs
24 and 26 serve as latches to facilitate interconnection of
the header 20 as will be described hereinafter. Header 20
further includes a plurality of spaced electrical contacts 28
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1 supported in and extending through a central portion 29
of header body 22. Contacts 28 are pin-type contacts each
having a first extent 30 which extends exteriorily of body
22 between legs 24 and 26, and a second extent 32 which is
disposed at a right angle to firs extent 30. The contacts 28
are positioned in two rows in header 20, the contacts 28
of one row being smaller than the contacts of the other row.
Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, one row of contact second extents
31 wily be above the other row of contact second extents 33.
Referring briefly to Fig. 7, header 20 is mounted to
circuit board 12 with contact second extents 32 extending
through the holes 18 thereof. The contact second extents
32 may be spot soldered or conventionally mechanically and
electrically secured to circuit board 12 adjacent the holes 18.
By securing the contact secolld extents 32 to circuit board
12, the header 20 will be fixedly positioned thereon.
As above-described, contact first extents 30 of header 20
will extend at right angles to contact second extents 32
and thus extend parallel to the plane of circuit board 12.
The lower row 33 of contact second extents 32 is positioned
more proximately to circuit board 12 than the upper row
31.
With reference to Figs. 5 and 6, a socket assembly 40
of the present invention may be described. Socket assembly
40 is a two-piece member comprising a housing 42 and tray
44, both members being formed of a suitable insulative plastic
material such as polyester. Housing 42 is a substantially
rectangular member including a pair of opposed planar walls
42a and 42b and defining a central channel 46 therein. sousing
42 has an open front face 48, substantially perpendicular
to planar walls 42a and 42b, which provides access to
channel 46. Opposite front faze 48 is a rear face 50
which includes a plurality of spaced apertures 52 therethrough.
Apertures 52 are aligned in two rows and provide for
accommodation of the two rows 31 and 33 of cvntact first
1 extents 30 of header 20 as will be described in further
detail hereinbelow.
Tray 44 is constructed for matable slideable insertion
into channel 46 of housing 42, the direction of insertion of
tray 44 being along the arrow "A". Tray 44 is also sub-
stantially rectangular having forward extent 54 for
accommodating the integrated circuit 12 and a rear extent 56
for facilitating interconnection. Forward extent 54 includes a
cavity 58 which is exteriorly accessible from above, as
shown in the drawings of Figs. 5 and 6. Cavity 58 receives
and supports the integrated circuit 10. Thus, the integrated
circuit 10 is inserted in tray 44 in a direction along arrow
"B"; that direction being perpendicular to the direction
of insertion of tray 44 narrow "A").
Rear extent 56 supports therein a plurality of electrical
; terminals 60, positioned for connection with integrated
circuit 10. 'terminals 60 are elongate members each including
a socket 62 at one end thereof and a tail 64 extending
oppositely from socket 62. The terminals 60 are arranged
in two rows in tray 44 for alignment with the two rows of
apertures 52 of housing 42. Sockets 62 of terminals 60
are of conventional design including a pair of spring biased
i;lwardly directed legs 62a and 62b which frictionally accom-
modate the pin-type second extents 32 of contacts 28 of header
20. Tails 64 extend from the sockets 62 and into the cavity
58 of forward extent 54. As oriented in Figs. 5 and 6, the
upper row 6Oa of terminals 60 include tails 64a which extend
into cavity 58 and are positioned along one side thereof, that
side being adjacent sockets 62. The lower row 60b of
terminals 60 have tails 64b which extend along the lower
surface 44a of tray 44 to the opposite side of cavity 58.
Both of tails 64a and 64b haze cantilevered end extents 65 which
extend into cavity 58. Cantilevered end extents 65 can be
of any conventional design, including a dual berm extent
as shown in Figs. 5 and 7 or an alternate single beam
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1 extent 2S shown in Fig. 6.
As shown in Fig. 5, the integrated circuit 10 is
inserted into cavity 58 along the direction of arxow ~Bn.
The opposed leads 16 are placed in electrical engagement
with the cantilevered end extents 65 of terminals 60,
thus placing the integrated circuit 10 in electrical
contact with the terminals 60. In order to assure proper
electrical engagement the leads 16 may be vapor phase
soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the cantilevered
end extents 65 of terminals 60. As further described herein-
below, inasmuch as the integrated circuit 10 is fully enclosed
by socket assembly 40, upon insertion of tray 44 into housing
42, more effective interfaces between the leads 16 and end
extents 65 may be provided. For example, interfaces such
as gold-to-gold may be employed in an enclosed connection
where not feasible in exposed connections.
As above mentioned, tray 44 is slidably insertable into
channel 46 of housing 42 along the direction of arrow "A".
To assure proper engagement of housing 42 with tray 44,
housing 42 includes two rows of windows 66 and 68 across
each of the planar walls 42a and 42b. The fixst row of
windows 66 is adjacent open face 48 and the second row of
windows 68 is more rea~wardly disposed. Engageable with
each of windows 66 and 68 are spring extents 70 of terminals
60. Each of the spring extents 70 of terminals 60 takes the
form of a tang which is struck and bent away from a portion
of socket 62~ As the tray 44 is inserted in housing 42,
the spring extent 70 of each terminal 60 will deflect
inwardly to permit passage of tray 44. Once the spring
extent 70 is aligned with window 66, it will spring outwardly
into window 66 to lock the tray 44 in position. The
inclined position of spring extent 70 will permit further
inward progression of tray 44 but will prohibit withdrawal
thereof. The engagement of the spring extents 70 with windows
66 provides a pre-latched position to allow access to cavity
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58 for insextion of the integrated circuit 10, yet prevents
the tray 44 frGm falling out from the housing 42. As the tray
44 is further inserted into channel 46 of housing 42, the
spring extent 70 will again deflect inwardly permitting such
further insertion. upon engagemPnt with the second row
of windows 68 the spring extents will spring outwardly
and engage the windows 68. This will lock the tray 44
in closed position in housing 42. In this position,
sockets 62 of terminals 60 will be adjacent to and aligned
with apertures 52 of housing 42 (FigO 7) and provide
connection access for the contacts 32 of header 20.
The tray 44 i5 locked into the channel 48 of housing
42, with integrated circuit 10 being electrically connected
to terminals 60. The socket assembly 40 provides a full
enclosure for integrated circuit lO, permitting handling of
the socket assembly 40 without adversely effecting, either
mechanically or electrically, the integrated circuit 10
housed therein.
Referring to Fig. 7, the insertion of the socket assembly
40 including the integrated circuit 10 may be described. The
socket assembly 40, as above-described includes integrated
circuit 10 loaded into tray 44 and the tray 44 inserted and
locked into housing 42. Also, as above-described header 20
is secured to the circuit board 12. The socket assembly 40
is moved along one suxface of circuit board 12 in a direction
parallel thereto. As no vertical displacement (relative to
circuit board 12~ is needed for insertion the socket assembly
40 may be inserted between two closely spaced circuit boards
12 and 13. As socket assembly 40 is inserted into header
20, the second extents 32 of contact 28 are received in
sockets 62, providing electrical connection therebetween.
A conventional cooperative locking mechanism on the header
legs 24 and ~6 and the housing 42, locks the socket assembly
40 onto the header 20.
In order to assure proper orientation of the socket
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1 assembly 40 with respect to header 20, polarization means
is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the polarization
means takes the form of a key 75 (Fig. 3) on each of legs
24 and 26 which engages a key-way 77 on either side of
housing 42 fig. 5). This key and key-way arrangement
prevents inverted insertion of socket assembly 40.
In repairing or replacing the integrated circuit 10
it may become necessary to remove the socket assembly 40
from header 20, without distributing the arrangement of circuit
boards 12 and 13 or adjacent connections. Thus, a pair of
opposed slots 80 are provided on opposite sides of housing
42 (Fig. 5j. Slots 80 permit engagement of a insertion/removal
tool (not shown) which facilitates removal of socket
assembly 40. The insertion/removal tool is typically a
finger-type tool which can be inserted between the spaced
circuit boards 12 and 13. The fingers of the tool engage
slots 80 on each side of housing 42.
Various other changes to the foregoing, specifically
disclosed embodiments and practices will be evident to those
skilled in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing preferred
embodiments are intended in an illustrative and not in
a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is set forth
in the following claims.
