IC Socket Sliders for Zero Insertion Force Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IC sockets face issues with unreliable connections due to dimensional mismatches between IC packages and socket platforms, leading to relative movement and interference, which can prevent zero insertion force (ZIF) and stability.
Innovation Solution
An IC socket design featuring a socket body with contacts, a rotatable cover, and sliders that extend into the receiving space to securely position the IC package without insertion force, ensuring reliable electrical connection by engaging with the package when closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the socket platform dimension is larger than the IC package dimension, then the IC package can be accommodated, but relative movement occurs between the IC package and positioning walls leading to unreliable connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sliders that can dynamically adjust their position along guide rails. When the cover is closed, the driving member pushes the sliders to extend toward the IC package, providing lateral support and preventing relative movement. When opened, the sliders retract, allowing easy insertion. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between needing stable positioning (when closed) and easy insertion (when open).
Solution Approach 2:
The sliders act as intermediary elements between the positioning walls and the IC package. Instead of relying solely on fixed positioning walls that create gaps, the sliders extend to fill the gap and provide direct lateral support to the IC package edges, eliminating relative movement and ensuring reliable connection without interfering with insertion.
2Stability of the object's composition
If an extra positioning member is added to make the IC package steady, then positioning stability improves, but zero insertion force cannot be achieved due to interference during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning members (sliders) are designed to be dynamic rather than static. They extend only when needed (when the cover is closed) and retract when not needed (when open for insertion). This eliminates the interference problem during insertion while maintaining positioning stability during operation, achieving both ZIF and stable positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliders are positioned in advance along the guide rails, ready to extend. When the cover is closed, the driving member automatically pushes them into the extended position before the IC package is fully seated, ensuring immediate lateral support without requiring additional insertion force from the user.
3Ease of manufacture
If the socket structure is simplified without extra positioning members, then ease of manufacture improves, but connection reliability deteriorates due to relative movement
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is segmented from the fixed positioning walls and assigned to separate, movable slider components. This segmentation allows the sliders to be independently controlled and extended only when needed, providing reliable positioning without requiring a complex fixed structure. The modular design maintains manufacturing simplicity while improving connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing dynamic sliders instead of static positioning structures, the patent achieves reliable connection with minimal structure. The sliders extend only when the cover is closed, providing support exactly when needed, and retract when open, maintaining ease of manufacture and simple design.
Data Source
AI summary
An IC socket includes a socket body with a plurality of contacts disposed therein, a cover rotatablely coupled to the socket body and at least one slider in the socket body. The socket body defines a receiving space for receiving an IC package, and the cover has a driving member. The slider has one end engageable with the driving member and the other end extending toward the receiving space. When the IC socket is in a close position, the slider touches the IC package or close to the IC package to keep a reliable connection between the IC socket and the IC package.