Burn-in Socket Contacts with Three Tips for Solder Ball Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional burn-in sockets fail to reliably engage with solder balls due to their contact configuration, leading to inconsistent electrical connections during high-temperature testing of integrated circuits.

Innovation Solution

The burn-in socket design features contacts with a spring section, a contact section extending upwardly, and a retention section extending downwardly, equipped with three tips at the top end to securely contact and support solder balls, ensuring reliable electrical connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the contact section is configured as a sheet, then the structure is simple, but the contact reliability with solder balls deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact structureVSAvoidcontact reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The contact section is segmented into three separate contact tips instead of a single sheet, allowing each tip to independently engage with the solder ball and improve contact reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The contact section transitions from a two-dimensional sheet to a three-dimensional structure with multiple tips extending in different directions, enabling multi-point contact with the solder ball

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If the contact section is a sheet, then manufacturing is easy, but electrical connection consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact manufacturingVSAvoidelectrical connection consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The contact section is divided into multiple discrete tips, each capable of making independent electrical contact with the solder ball, ensuring consistent electrical connection regardless of minor positioning variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design provides multiple contact points for stable positioning and reliable electrical connection with solder balls, enhancing the durability and performance testing of integrated circuits during high-temperature burn-in processes.

Implementation Method 1

a spring section movable in the base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7815442B2Burn-in socket with improved contacts

Publication Date: 2010.10.19 HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO LTD

AI summary

A burn-in socket for electrical connecting with package having solder balls, includes a base and a number of contacts received in the base. Each contact has a spring section movable in the base, a contact section extending upwardly from the spring section and a retention section extending downwardly from the spring section. The contact section includes three tips at a top end thereof for contacting with the solder balls of the package thereby supporting the solder balls.