Deflectable Element Socket Contacts for High-Density Pin Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional female pin contacts for high-density packaged devices, such as ball grid array packages, are costly and difficult to manufacture due to the need for precise tooling, especially when the pitch is small, making it challenging to reuse these packages after testing and rework on circuit boards.
Innovation Solution
The use of deflectable element socket contacts with a substrate having pin receiving regions and deflection regions allows for the insertion of male pins, enabling electrical connection without the need for complex and costly tooling, as the deflectable elements can be formed to accommodate pins of varying diameters and pitches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional female pin contacts are used for high-density packaged devices, then electrical connection is achieved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase due to the need for precise tooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs deflectable elements that can dynamically adjust their position and shape to accommodate male pins during insertion. These elements deflect to allow pin insertion and then return to their original position to establish electrical contact, providing both reliable connection and ease of manufacture without requiring precise tooling for high-density pitches
Solution Approach 2:
The deflectable elements change their physical state from a deflected position (allowing insertion) to an undeflected position (establishing contact). This parameter change enables the contact structure to adapt to varying pin diameters and pitches without requiring different tooling, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and complexity while maintaining reliable electrical connection
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional female pin contacts with small pitch are manufactured, then high-density electrical connection is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to the need for precise tooling
Solution Approach 1:
The deflectable elements are designed with specific local properties - they have controlled flexibility in the deflection region while maintaining structural integrity elsewhere. This local quality allows them to accommodate small pitch requirements through deflection rather than requiring precise tooling throughout the entire contact structure, thereby achieving high-density connection without proportionally increasing manufacturing precision requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic deflection capability of the elements allows them to self-adjust to the precise positioning requirements of small pitch contacts. Rather than requiring the tooling to achieve precise positioning, the deflectable elements naturally conform to the pin positions through their elastic deformation, reducing the manufacturing precision burden on the tooling while maintaining contact precision
3Ease of manufacture
If male pins are inserted into deflectable element socket contacts, then electrical connection is enabled without complex tooling, but the deflectable elements must be formed to accommodate varying pin diameters and pitches
Solution Approach 1:
The deflectable element design provides universal adaptability by incorporating elements that can deflect to accommodate a range of pin diameters and pitches. The same basic contact structure can serve multiple pin specifications through the deflection mechanism, enabling manufacturing simplicity while maintaining versatility across different pin configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The deflectable elements utilize parameter changes in their physical state (deflected vs. undeflected positions) to accommodate varying pin specifications. By allowing the elements to change their shape and position dynamically, the same contact structure can adapt to different pin diameters and pitches without requiring different tooling or designs, thus achieving both manufacturing simplicity and adaptability
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 solution reduces manufacturing costs and complexity while enabling the reuse of high-density packaged devices by providing a reliable and efficient electrical connection, facilitating easier rework on circuit boards.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of deflectable element socket contacts may include an end connection portion and first and second deflectable elements... The first and second deflectable elements may be configured to deflect within the first and second deflection regions, respectively, when a male pin is received in the pin receiving region
Data Source
AI summary
An adapter apparatus includes a substrate having a plurality of openings defined therethrough. Further, a deflectable element socket contact is provided in each of the openings. When a conductive male pin is positioned in contact between first and second deflectable elements of the deflectable element socket contact, at least a portion of the first and second deflectable elements are caused to deflect within first and second deflection regions, respectively, of the defined opening.