Electrical connector having protecting protrusions

Abstract

A land grid array connector (10) for electrically connecting a CPU package to a printed circuit board includes a housing (30) having a top surface (320) and a number of terminals received in passageways (31) of the housing. Each of the terminals has a retention portion (52), a spring arm (54) extending from the retention portion beyond the top surface. A contacting portion (58) is formed on a topmost part of the spring arm for electrically mating with a corresponding pad formed on a bottom of the CPU package. A plurality of protrusions (324) is formed on the top surface for protect the terminals from being accidental damaged, A common supporting surface (326) is formed cooperatively by the protrusions, above the contacting portion in a direction perpendicular to the top surface. This can protect the contacting portion of the terminal from being collided. As a result reliable electrical connection between the package and contacts of the land grid array connector is secured.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the invention [0002] The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to a land grid array (LGA) connector for electrically connecting an electronic package such as a CPU chip, to a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB). [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] Land grid array (LGA) electrical connectors are widely used in the connector industry for electrically connecting CPU chips to PCBs. A conventional LGA electrical connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,624. The electrical connector generally comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of electrical terminals received in the housing. Each terminal has a relatively long spring arm extending beyond outside the housing, for electrically mating with a corresponding pad on a CPU chip. However, the connector has a shortcoming that there is no protecting means for the terminals. When the connector is collided by an exterior o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide a new LGA connector with terminals, whereby the connector can protect the terminals from being accidental damaged.

[0007] To achieve the aforementioned object, an LGA connector 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided. The connector comprises an insulative housing having a top surface and a plurality of passageways received in the housing. The terminals each have a retention portion secured in the housing and a spring arm extending from the retention portion. A contacting portion is formed at a topmost part of the spring arm, exposing above the top surface a distance in a direction perpendicular to the top surface. A plurality of protrusions is formed on the top surface. Said protrusions project beyond the top surface, for protecting the terminals from collided damage. A common supporting surface is formed on a top of said protrusions, the supporting surface being higher than the contacting portion in the direction perpendicular to the top surface.

Problems solved by technology

However, the connector has a shortcoming that there is no protecting means for the terminals.

When the connector is collided by an exterior object, the spring arm is prone to be accidental damaged because of undue force generated during the colliding.

The terminal being damaged is difficult to effectively mating with the pad on the CPU chip.

This can thereby affect reliable electrical connecting between the connector and the CPU chip.

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