Curved Back Plate Connector Assembly for Chip Module Warpage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector assemblies for mounting chip modules to printed circuit boards face challenges in ensuring proper contact due to warpage of the chip module, which can lead to inadequate contact with the socket connector contacts, especially when the chip module bulges upward after packaging.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly design featuring a back plate with a curved inner region and a flat outer region, where fasteners extend through the flat outer region to fasten the seating mechanism and back plate on opposite sides of the PCB, providing a desired force distribution and ensuring proper contact despite potential warpage of the chip module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional flat back plate is used, then the manufacturing and assembly are simple, but the contact reliability deteriorates when chip module warpage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The back plate is designed with different geometric characteristics in different regions: the inner region has a curved surface that conforms to the PCB curvature to maintain contact under warpage conditions, while the outer region remains flat to provide stable mounting surfaces for fasteners. This local differentiation allows the back plate to simultaneously address contact reliability and assembly simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner region of the back plate features a curved surface geometry that matches the natural curvature of the PCB. This curvature allows the back plate to accommodate PCB warpage and maintain consistent contact pressure across the seating mechanism, improving reliability without requiring complex active compensation mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the back plate is designed with curved surface to accommodate warpage, then the contact consistency improves, but the fastener installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The back plate is segmented into two distinct functional regions: a curved inner region that contacts the PCB to ensure contact consistency under warpage, and a flat outer region that provides stable, level surfaces for fastener installation. This segmentation allows each region to optimize its function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different geometric properties are assigned to different regions of the back plate: the inner region has curvature to match PCB warpage and maintain contact, while the outer region has a flat surface to facilitate easy fastener installation. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between contact consistency and installation ease.
3Device complexity
If fasteners extend through the curved inner region, then the structure is simplified, but the force distribution on PCB becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The back plate geometry is segmented into curved and flat regions, and the fastener placement is correspondingly segmented: fasteners are positioned to extend through the flat outer region where they can be easily installed, while the curved inner region provides the necessary contact surface. This spatial segmentation ensures both structural feasibility and uniform force distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat outer region of the back plate provides level surfaces specifically optimized for fastener attachment, ensuring uniform force distribution when fasteners are installed. This local flatness compensates for the curvature in the inner region, allowing the overall structure to maintain both simplicity and force distribution uniformity.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly for mounting a chip module to a printed circuit board (PCB) includes: a seating mechanism including a socket connector, a metallic seat frame, and a metallic load plate; a back plate; and plural fasteners extending through the seating mechanism, the PCB, and the back plate to fasten the seating mechanism and the back plate on two opposite sides of the PCB, wherein the back plate has a curved inner region and a flat outer region and the fasteners extend through the flat outer region of the back plate.