Floating socket connector

Abstract

This relates to board-mounted and bus-mounted power connectors. [Solution] The socket connector is configured to be mounted on a component such as a printed circuit board. The socket connector includes a base having a passage and a channel extending outward from the passage, a cylindrical portion including a wall having an outwardly extending flange, at least one biasing member engaging with the flange and surrounding the wall, and a contact fixed within the cylindrical portion. The wall is fixed within the passage, and the flange is fixed within the channel. The cylindrical portion is configured to move within the base, aligning the centerline of the pins inserted into the socket connector with the centerline of the holes in the component.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Related Applications This application claims domestic priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 423,285, filed November 17, 2016; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 428,753, filed December 1, 2016; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 450,641, filed January 26, 2017; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 460,323, filed February 17, 2017; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 504,827, filed May 11, 2017. The entire contents of each of the above U.S. Provisional Patent Applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of connectors, and more specifically, to board-mounted and bus-mounted power connectors.

Background Art

[0003] Power connectors are used in devices that consume large amounts of power and, as a result, use high currents. In some cases, multiple connectors are mounted in an array on printed circuit boards and bus bars. In larger arrays of power connectors, it can be difficult to align male pins with female socket connectors due to the accumulation of tolerances. High-power systems also generate heat, and the resulting system expansion when high currents flow can cause relative movement between the male pins and the female socket connectors.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The socket connector is configured to be mounted within a hole in a component such as a printed circuit board. The socket connector includes a base, a cylindrical portion including a passage extending through the interior and a channel extending outward from the passage, a wall having a passage through the interior and a flange extending outward from the wall, at least one biasing member engaging with the flange and surrounding the wall, and contacts fixed within the passage of the cylindrical portion. The wall of the cylindrical portion is fixed within the passage of the base, and the flange of the cylindrical portion is fixed within the channel of the base. The cylindrical portion is configured to move within the base to align the centerline of the pins inserted into the socket connector with the centerline of the hole in the component. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0005] The present invention is illustrated as an example and is not limited to the accompanying drawings, and similar reference numerals in the drawings indicate similar elements.

[0006] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a socket connector. [Figure 2] This is a side view showing the socket connector. [Figure 3] This is an exploded perspective view showing the socket connector. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the socket connector. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a side view showing the socket connector. [Figure 6] This is a side view showing the socket connector in Figure 4, with the pins engaged. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a socket connector engaged with a component such as a printed circuit board. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a socket connector engaged with a component such as a printed circuit board. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a socket connector engaged with a component such as a printed circuit board. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a socket connector engaged with a component such as a printed circuit board. [Figure 11] This is a side view showing the base of the socket connector in Figure 1. [Figure 12] Figure 1 is a side view showing the cylindrical portion of the socket connector. [Figure 13] This is a perspective view showing the contacts of a socket connector. [Figure 14] This is a side view showing the contact points. [Figure 15] This is an end view showing the contact points. [Figure 16] This is a cross-sectional view showing two socket connectors mounted on components such as busbars and printed circuit boards by pins. [Figure 17] This is an end view showing a socket connector with mounted pins. [Figure 18] This is a perspective view showing an alignment tool used for surface mounting socket connectors onto components. [Figure 19] This is a cross-sectional view showing a socket connector, components, and alignment tool. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] The following "Modes for Carrying Out the Invention" are illustrative embodiments and are not intended to limit the combination(s) expressly disclosed. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, the features disclosed herein can be combined to form additional combinations that have not been shown separately for the sake of brevity.

[0008] The floating socket connector 20, when used with pins 200 mounted within the socket connector 20, connects the components 300 together to form an electrical connection. For example, the socket connector 20, when used with pins 200, may be used to connect a printed circuit board or flexible circuit to a busbar or a pair of busbars that may be arranged in parallel, or to connect a first printed circuit board or flexible circuit to a second printed circuit board or flexible circuit. In one embodiment, the socket connector 20 is a power connector. As can be seen from the figure, the socket connector 20 provides a floating connection structure. The “floating connection structure” means that the socket connector 20 and pins 200 can move relative to each other. This floating design allows for some misalignment between the socket connector 20 and pins 200, and the socket connector 20 automatically compensates for the misalignment while maintaining electrical contact.

[0009] The pin 200 is of a conventional type and is formed from a body 202 having both ends 202a and 202b and an outer surface 202d that defines the outer diameter. The center line 204 of the pin 200 is provided along the length of the pin 200 between the ends 202a and 202b and defines the longitudinal axis.

[0010] The component 300 is conventional. Each component 300 has first and second surfaces 300a, 300b and a through-hole 302 through which a floating socket connector 20 can be mounted. The center line 304 of the through-hole 302 is provided along the height of the component 300 between surfaces 300a, 300b and defines the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the first and second surfaces 300a, 300b are planar.

[0011] The socket connector 20 includes a base 30, a contact assembly 32 mounted within the base 30, and at least one biasing member 34. All components of the socket connector 20 are formed of a conductive material such as metal. The base 30 is attached to the component 300 as described herein. The contact assembly 32 is configured to move relative to the base 30 and thus relative to the component 300 to which the base 30 is attached.

[0012] In one embodiment as shown in FIGS. 7-9, the base 30 is annular and has a generally U-shaped cross-section. The base 30 includes a vertical outer wall 36, a first wall 38 extending inwardly from an end of the outer wall 36, and a second wall 40 extending inwardly from an end opposite the outer wall 36. In some embodiments, the first wall 38 and the second wall 40 are perpendicular to the vertical outer wall 36. The inner surfaces 38c, 40c of the first wall 38 and the second wall 40 form a passage 42 therethrough that extends from a first end 30a of the base 30 to a second end 30b of the base 30. A centerline 44 of the base 30 is provided along the length of the base 30 between the ends 30a, 30b and defines a longitudinal axis. The surfaces 36c, 38b, 40a of the outer wall 36, the first wall 38, and the second wall 40 each form a channel 46 that communicates with the passage 42 and extends outwardly therefrom. The channel 46 has a height that extends in the same direction as the centerline 44 and is smaller than the height of the passage 42 that extends in the same direction as the centerline 44. In one embodiment, the surfaces 38b, 40a of the channel 46 are parallel to each other, and the surface 36c is perpendicular to the surfaces 38b, 40a. In one embodiment, the channels 46 are spaced apart although close to the second end 30b of the base 30. In some embodiments, the walls 36, 38, 40 are annular such that the passage 42 and the channels 46 are provided in a cylindrical shape.

[0013] In some embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 9, and 11, the outer surface 36d of the outer wall 36 has serrations.

[0014] In some embodiments, such as those shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 9, and 11, the lip 48 extends outwardly from the outer surface 36d of the outer wall 36 proximate to the first end 30a.

[0015] In one embodiment, such as that shown in FIG. 10, the second wall 40 extends outwardly rather than inwardly from the outer wall 36. As a result, the channel 46 is open with respect to the second end 30b of the base 30.

[0016] The contact assembly 32 includes a cylindrical portion 50, a contact 52, and a cap 54.

[0017] The cylindrical portion 50 is formed by a vertical wall 56 and a flange 58 that extends outwardly from the outer surface 56d of the vertical wall 56. The inner surface 56c of the wall 56 forms a passage 60 that extends from the first end 50a of the cylindrical portion 50 to the second end 50b of the cylindrical portion 50. The center line 62 of the cylindrical portion 50 is provided along the length of the cylindrical portion 50 between its ends 50a, 50b and defines a longitudinal axis.

[0018] In some embodiments, the wall 56 and the flange 58 have a circular cross-section. The flange 58 can be provided at any position along the outer surface 56d of the wall 56. As shown in the drawings, the flange 58 is spaced from but proximate to the first end 56a of the wall 56.

[0019] In some embodiments, such as those shown in FIGS. 7, 9, and 10, a flange 64 extends inwardly from the inner surface 56c of the wall 56, is spaced from the flange 58, and restricts the passage 60. In one embodiment, the flange 64 extends inwardly from the wall 56 at the first end 56a of the wall 56 and thus restricts the first end 60a of the passage 60. In some embodiments, the flange 64 is annular. The flange 64 may be omitted.

[0020] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 8, the flange 66 extends outward from the outer surface 56d and is spaced apart from the flange 58. In one embodiment, the flange 66 extends outward from the wall 56 at the second end 56b of the wall 56. In some embodiments, the flange 66 is annular. The flange 66 may be omitted.

[0021] The contact point 52 is generally hollow, and this generally corresponds to the shape of the inner surface 56c of the wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50. The contact point 52 may be made of a gold-plated alloy.

[0022] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 13 to 15, the contact 52 is formed from an annular connection 68 having a plurality of separate cantilevered flexible beams 70 such that a passage 72 is formed inside the contact 52, extending from the first end 52a to the second end 52b of the contact 52. The centerline 74 of the contact 52 is provided along the length of the contact 52 between the ends 52a and 52b, defining the longitudinal axis.

[0023] The connecting portion 68 has a first end 68a and a second end 68b, an inner surface 68c and an outer surface 68d. In one embodiment, the connecting portion 68 is discontinuous on its outer circumference so that a slot 76 is provided.

[0024] In some embodiments, the connector 68 has a plurality of spaced projections 78 extending from its second end 68b. In one embodiment, the projections 78 extend longitudinally parallel to the centerline 76. Each projection 78 has a length considerably shorter than the length of the connector 68. In one embodiment, the projections 78 extend coplane with the connector 68. In one embodiment, the projections 78 have a curved shape that matches the curved shape of the connector 68.

[0025] In some embodiments, the connecting portion 68 has a plurality of spaced-apart recesses or protrusions 80a, 80b provided thereon. In one embodiment, the protrusions 80a, 80b are formed as spherical domes. In one embodiment, the protrusions 80a, 80b are elongated. The protrusions 80a, 80b may be aligned on the outer circumference of the connecting portion 68. The protrusions 80a, 80b may alternate between protrusions 80a extending outward from the outer surface 68d of the connecting portion 68 and protrusions 80b extending inward from the inner surface 68c of the connecting portion 68. Other patterns of outwardly extending protrusions 80a and inwardly extending protrusions 80b may be provided on the outer circumference of the connecting portion 68. The number of outwardly extending protrusions 80a may differ from the number of inwardly extending protrusions 80b.

[0026] The beams 70 extend from the first end 68a of the connection section 68. Each beam 70 is parallel to the centerline 74 and spaced radially away from it. The beams 70 are spaced apart from each other on the outer circumference of the connection section 68.

[0027] In one embodiment, each beam 70 has a first portion 82 extending at a predetermined angle from the connecting portion 68 at a corner 84, and a second portion 86 extending at a predetermined angle from the end of the first portion 82 at a corner 88. The first portion 82 is angled inward toward the center line 74, and the second portion 86 is angled outward toward the center line 74. The corners 88 may be rounded. In one embodiment, the corners 88 are aligned on the outer circumference of the contact point 52 and define the inner diameter. The inner diameter defined by the corners 88 is smaller than the inner diameter of the pin 200.

[0028] In one embodiment, each beam 70 has a recess 90 along its inner surface 70c, spaced apart from the free end 86a of the second portion 84. The recess 90 has elongated side edges 92, 94 extending parallel to the centerline 74 of the contact point 52, and side edges 96, 98 at the opposite ends of the side edges 92, 94. The recess 90 extends along a portion of the first portion 82, along the corner 84, and along a portion of the second portion 88. As shown in Figure 17, the recess 90 can accommodate the outer circumference of the body 202 of the pin 200, providing two contact points with each beam 70.

[0029] The contact point 52 may be punched out from a flat material and rolled into a predetermined shape. The contact point 52 may be machined into a predetermined shape.

[0030] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 7, 9, and 10, the cap 54 has an annular first wall 100 defining a central passage 102, and a second wall 104 extending radially outward from the first wall 100 and perpendicular to the first wall 100. In one embodiment, the cap 54 further has an annular third wall 106 (see Figure 8) extending perpendicularly from the second wall 104 and substantially parallel to the first wall 100.

[0031] The contact 52 is fixed within the passage 60 of the cylindrical portion 50 such that the second end 52a of the contact 52 is approximately aligned with the second end 50b of the cylindrical portion 50, the first end of the contact 52 is spaced apart from the first end 50a of the cylindrical portion 50, and the centerlines 62 and 74 are aligned. The outer surface 68d of the connecting portion 68 is close to the inner surface 56d of the wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50, and the outwardly extending projection 80a abuts against the inner surface 56d of the wall 56. The cap 54 fixes the cylindrical portion 50 and the contact 52 together. In one embodiment, the cap 54 is press-fitted onto the cylindrical portion 50 and the contact 52. In another embodiment, the cap 54 is crimped onto the cylindrical portion 50 and the contact 52. The wall 100 of the cap 54 abuts and engages with the inwardly extending projection 80a of the cylindrical portion 50. The wall 100 of the cap 54 has a diameter smaller than the diameter defined by the inwardly extending projection 80a. Therefore, when the wall 100 of the cap 54 engages with the connector 68, the projections 80a and 80b deform. The wall 104 engages with the end 56b of the wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50. In some embodiments, the end of the projection 78 abuts and engages with the wall 104, forming an electrical path. In embodiments of the cap 54 that include the wall 106, the wall 106 engages with the flange 66. In some embodiments, the flange 66 is fixed within a recess of the wall 106.

[0032] In one embodiment, the biasing member 34 is a wave spring. In one embodiment, the biasing member 34 is a spring washer. In one embodiment, the biasing member 34 is a thrust washer.

[0033] The contact assembly 32 is fixed within the base 30. The wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50 is fixed within the passage 42 of the base 30. The wall 56 extends outward from the ends 30a and 30b of the base 30. The flange 58 of the cylindrical portion 50 is fixed within the channel 46 of the base 30 and extends into the passage 42 of the base 30. The contact assembly 32 may be fixed such that the first end 56a of the wall 56 is close to the wall 38 of the base 30, or the second end 56b of the wall 56 is close to the wall 38 of the base 30. The wall 56 has a smaller diameter than the passage 42 of the base 30, and the flange 58 has a smaller diameter than the channel 46 of the base 30 but a larger diameter than the passage 42 of the base 30. As a result, the contact assembly 32 can move relative to the base 30 but cannot be pulled outward from the first end 30a of the base 30.

[0034] When the cylindrical portion 50 shown in Figures 7 to 9 is used, in one embodiment, a first biasing member 34 is fixed between the flange 58 and the first wall 38, abuts against them, and further surrounds the wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50, and a second biasing member 34 is fixed between the flange 58 and the second wall 40, abuts against them, and further surrounds the wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50. In one embodiment, only the first biasing member 34 is provided, and the flange 58 engages with the second wall 40. In another embodiment, only the second biasing member 34 is provided, and the flange 58 engages with the first wall 38. The socket connector 20 of this embodiment is mounted on the component 300 either by surface mounting or by press-fitting the socket connector 20 into the through hole 302. When surface mounted, either the first wall 38 or the second wall 40 of the base 30 is attached to the component 300, for example, by soldering the base 30 to a conductive trace on the component 300, and the wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50 is fixed within the through-hole 302 of the component 300. The wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the through-hole 302. When press-fitted, the outer surface 36d of the wall 36 of the base 30 engages with the wall, forming the through-hole 302 of the component 300. The through-hole 302 is plated, providing an electrical connection to the conductive trace on the component 300. When press-fitted, the lip 48 prevents the socket connector 20 from moving further into the through-hole 302. If the wall 36 has serrations, the serrations bite into the wall, forming the through-hole 302. As a result, the contact assembly 32 can move relative to the base 30 and relative to the component 300, but the base 30 cannot move relative to the component 300.

[0035] When the cylindrical portion 50 shown in Figure 10 is used, in one embodiment, a first biasing member 34 is fixed between and abuts against the flange 58 and the first wall 38, further surrounding the wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50, and a second biasing member 34 abuts against the opposite side of the flange 58, surrounding the wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50. When mounted on the component 300 as described herein, the second biasing member 34 abuts and engages with the surface 300a of the component 300. In one embodiment, only the first biasing member 34 is provided, and the flange 58 engages with the surface 300a of the component 300. In another embodiment, only the second biasing member 34 is provided, and the flange 58 engages with the first wall 38. The socket connector 20 of this embodiment can be simply surface mounted on the component 300. The second wall 40 of the base 30 is attached to the component 300, for example by soldering, and the wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50 is fixed within the through hole 302 of the component 300. The wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the through hole 302. As a result, the contact assembly 32 can move relative to the base 30 and the component 300.

[0036] The pin 200 can be inserted into the contact 52 from either direction. That is, the pin 200 can be inserted into the contact 52 such that it first passes through the connector 68 and then engages with the corner 88 of the contact 52, or the pin 200 can be inserted into the contact 52 such that it first passes through the free end 86a of the beam 70 and then engages with the corner 88 of the contact 52. When the pin 200 engages with the corner 88 of the contact 52, the beam 70 bends and becomes approximately straight. The outward-facing end 86a of the second portion 86 may be in contact with the inner surface 56c of the wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50. An electrical signal flows from the pin 200, through the beam 70, through the connector 68, through the cylindrical portion 50 and the cap 54, through the biasing member 34, and through the base 30 to the component 300.

[0037] The flange 58 of the cylindrical portion 50 is radially translated and can rotate within the channel 46 of the base portion 30. The biasing member 34 biases the flange 58 against the opposing walls 38, 40 of the cylindrical portion 50 to maintain the electrical contact between the flange 58 and the base portion 30, and as a result, maintains the electrical contact with the contact 52. Since the contact assembly 32 is movable relative to the base portion 30, any misalignment between the socket connector 20 and the pin 200 is automatically compensated for while maintaining the electrical contact. When misaligned, the centerline 204 of the pin 22 does not align with the centerline 44 of the base portion 30 during insertion. If misalignment exists, the contact assembly 32 moves or floats due to the flange 58 to engage with the biasing member 34 and compress the biasing member 34.

[0038] In this regard, if the two biasing members 34 are provided in the form of springs, these springs may have different spring properties to provide a stiffer spring and a softer spring. The softer spring flexes first to provide tolerance, and after the softer spring has flexed, the stiffer spring flexes to provide tolerance. For example, if wave springs are provided, one wave spring may have more waves than the other wave spring. For example, one wave spring may have 12 waves and the other wave spring may have 6 waves. In a preferred embodiment, the stiffer spring has twice as many waves as the softer spring.

[0039] An example of the implementation of a socket connector 20 using connector 300 is shown in Figure 16. In Figure 16, a pair of busbars 300' and a printed circuit board 300'' are provided. Each pin 200 is fixed to one of the corresponding busbars 300' and electrically isolated from the other of the corresponding busbars 300'. Each pin 200 is received by the corresponding socket connector 20, which is mounted on the printed circuit board 300'', and makes electrical contact with the socket connector 20 as described herein. The contact assembly 32 moves relative to the base 30 to compensate for any tolerance stack. Movement due to expansion caused by heat generation can also be absorbed by floating between the contact assembly 32 and the base 30.

[0040] To facilitate surface mounting of the socket connector 20 to the component 300, an alignment tool 400 (see Figure 18) is used. The alignment tool 400 includes a cylindrical inner wall 402, a cylindrical outer wall 404, and a bottom wall 406 that separates the cylindrical inner wall 402 from the cylindrical outer wall 404. The inner wall 402 and the outer wall 404 are parallel to each other and extend in the same direction from the bottom wall 406. The end of the cylindrical inner wall 402 may be closed by a wall 408. The cylindrical outer wall 404 has a plurality of finger portions 410 extending from the inner surface of the outer wall 404. When used as shown in Figure 19, the socket connector 20 is positioned on the alignment tool 400 such that its cylindrical inner wall 402 is fixed within the passage 72 of the contacts 52, its base 406 engages with the second end 104b of the wall 104 of the cap 54, and its finger portion 410 on the cylindrical outer wall 404 engages with the outer surface 56d of the wall 56 of the cylindrical portion 50, extending into the passage 42 of the base 30. The assembled socket connector 20 and alignment tool 400 are then fixed within the through-hole 302 of the component 300 until the wall 38 or 40 of the base 30, which is surface-mounted to the component 300, engages with the surface 300a of the component 300. The cylindrical outer wall 404 is slightly smaller in dimensions than the through-hole 302 so that its outer surface 402d engages with the wall to form the through-hole 302 within the component 300. After the wall 38 or 40 of the base 30 is surface-mounted onto the component 300, the aligned centerlines 62, 74 and contact 52 of the cylindrical portion 50 are aligned with the centerline 304 of the component 300. After the socket connector 20 is surface-mounted onto the component 300, the alignment tool 400 is removed from the socket connector 20 by pulling the alignment tool 400 out from the opposite side of the through-hole 302.

[0041] In the context of the description of the invention (in particular in the context of the claims below), the terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and “at least one,” as well as similar references, shall be interpreted to encompass both singular and plural forms unless otherwise specifically indicated herein or explicitly contradicted by the context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (e.g., “at least one of A and B”) shall be interpreted to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more listed items (A and B), unless otherwise specifically indicated herein or explicitly contradicted by the context. The terms “equip,” “have,” “include,” and “contain” shall be interpreted as unrestrictive terms (i.e., “list of, but not limited to…”) unless otherwise specifically indicated herein. The descriptions of value ranges in this specification are intended, unless otherwise specifically indicated herein, to function merely as a simplification of referring individually to each distinct value within the range, and each distinct value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually described herein. All processes described herein may be carried out in any preferred order unless otherwise specifically indicated herein or unless it is clearly contrary to the context. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language provided herein (e.g., "etc.") is intended merely to better illustrate the invention and does not constitute a limitation to the scope of the invention unless specifically claimed. The language in the specification should not be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0042] Preferred embodiments of the present invention include those described herein and the best modes known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect that those skilled in the art will adopt such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend that the invention will be carried out in ways other than those specifically described herein. Accordingly, the present invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter described in the claims appended herein, as permitted by applicable law. Furthermore, any combination of the above elements in all of those possible variations is incorporated into the invention unless otherwise specifically indicated herein or is clearly contrary to the context.

Claims

1. A first member, at least in part, is made of a conductive material, is configured to be attached to a first electrical component, has opposing first and second ends, the first member extends through the first member in a first direction, and defines a first passage that opens at at least one of the first and second ends of the first member, A second member, at least in part, is made of a conductive material, the second member is configured to receive a second electrical component, to move within the first member, and has opposing first and second ends, the second member extends through the second member in the first direction and defines a second passage opening at at least one of the first and second ends of the second member, the second passage is bounded by the inner surface of the wall of the second member, the wall is located within the first passage, and the second member is held by the first member so as not to separate from the first member, A third member, at least in part, is made of a conductive material, and is configured to maintain the electrical connection between the first member and the second member, thereby maintaining the electrical connection between the first electrical component and the second electrical component, The first member defines a channel extending outward from the first passage in a second direction, and the first direction is different from the second direction. The second member has a flange extending outward in the second direction from the outer surface of the wall, the flange being at least partially located within the channel of the first member, and is a socket connector.

2. A socket connector configured to be mounted on an electrical component, A base having an outer wall, a first wall extending inward from the outer wall, and a second wall extending inward from the outer wall, wherein the inner surfaces of the first and second walls form a substantially cylindrical passage extending between the first and second ends of the base and opening at the first and second ends, and the inner surface of the outer wall and the first and second walls communicate with the passage and form a channel extending outward from the passage, A cylindrical portion comprising an annular wall having both ends, a passage extending between the two ends of the annular wall, and a flange extending outward from the annular wall, wherein the annular wall has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the passage in the base and is located within the passage in the base, the flange is located within the channel in the base, and the cylindrical portion is configured to move within the base. A first biasing member is located between the first surface of the flange and the first wall of the base and contacts the first surface of the flange and the first wall of the base, A second biasing member is located between the second surface of the flange and the second wall of the base and contacts the second surface of the flange and the second wall of the base, A socket connector equipped with the following features.

3. A first member, at least a portion of which is made of a conductive material, and configured to be attached to a first electrical component, A second member, at least a portion of which is made of a conductive material, wherein the second member is configured to receive a second electrical component, is held by the first member, and is configured to float relative to the first member, First and second biasing members held within the first member, configured to maintain an electrical connection between the first member and the second member, thereby maintaining an electrical connection between the first electrical component and the second electrical component, A socket connector equipped with the following features.

4. The socket connector according to claim 3, wherein the second member has a cylindrical outer wall and a flange extending outward from the cylindrical outer wall, the flange being configured such that the second member is held by the first member.

5. The socket connector according to claim 4, wherein the flange has a first outer surface, the first member has a first inner surface, and the first biasing member is held between the first outer surface of the flange and the first inner surface of the first member.

6. The socket connector according to claim 5, wherein the first biasing member is a wave spring.

7. The socket connector according to claim 5, wherein the flange has a second outer surface, the first member has a second inner surface, and the second biasing member is held between the second outer surface of the flange and the second inner surface of the first member.

8. The socket connector according to claim 7, wherein the second biasing member is a wave spring.

9. The socket connector according to claim 7, wherein the second biasing member surrounds the cylindrical outer wall of the second member.

10. The socket connector according to claim 9, wherein the second biasing member is a wave spring.

11. The socket connector according to claim 5, wherein the first biasing member surrounds the cylindrical outer wall of the second member.

12. The socket connector according to claim 11, wherein the first biasing member is a wave spring.

13. The socket connector according to claim 4, further comprising a removable alignment device made of a non-conductive material, the removable alignment device having an inner wall, an outer wall, an end wall, and a bottom wall, wherein the end wall closes a first end of the inner wall, the bottom wall separates a second end of the inner wall from the outer wall, at least a portion of the inner wall is located within the cylindrical outer wall of the second member, and at least a portion of the outer wall is located around the cylindrical outer wall of the second member.

14. The socket connector according to claim 3, wherein the first and second biasing members are wave springs.

15. The socket connector according to claim 3, further comprising a contact held within the second member, the contact being configured to maintain an electrical connection between the second electrical component and the second member, thereby maintaining an electrical connection between the first electrical component and the second electrical component.

16. The socket connector according to claim 15, further comprising a removable alignment device made of a non-conductive material, the removable alignment device having an inner wall, an outer wall, an end wall, and a bottom wall, wherein the end wall closes a first end of the inner wall, the bottom wall separates a second end of the inner wall from the outer wall, at least a portion of the inner wall is located within the contact, and at least a portion of the outer wall is located around the second member.

17. A socket connector configured to be implemented in a component, A first member having opposing ends, a first passage extending between the opposing ends, and a channel extending outward from the first passage, A second member comprising a wall having opposing ends, a second passage extending between the opposing ends of the wall, and a flange extending outward from the wall, wherein the wall is located within the first passage of the first member, the flange is located within the channel of the first member, and the second member is configured to move within the first member. A first biasing member that engages with the first side of the flange and surrounds the wall, A second biasing member that engages with the opposing second side of the flange, A contact point located within the second passage of the second member, A socket connector equipped with the following features.

18. The socket connector according to claim 17, wherein the first member is a base and the second member is a cylindrical portion.

19. The socket connector according to claim 17, wherein the first biasing member is a wave spring.

20. The socket connector according to claim 17, wherein the second biasing member is a wave spring.

21. The socket connector according to claim 17, wherein each of the first and second biasing members is a wave spring.

22. The socket connector according to claim 17, wherein the first biasing member engages between the first side of the flange and the first member, and the second biasing member engages between the second side of the flange and the first member.

23. The socket connector according to claim 17, further comprising the contact and a cap attached to the second member.

24. The socket connector according to claim 17, wherein the outer surface of the first member is configured to engage with a wall forming a through hole of the component.

25. The socket connector according to claim 24, wherein the outer surface of the first member is serrated.

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