IC Socket Contacts with U-Shaped Retained Portions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing integrated circuit (IC) sockets face challenges in transmitting high-speed signals due to variations in contact spacing, leading to degraded signal transmission performance, especially when contacts with flat-plate retained portions are influenced by adjacent contacts.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates contacts with a retained portion having a U-shaped cross-section, featuring a base portion and angled side portions, which allows for uniform spacing and elastic deformation, enabling stable retention and improved high-speed signal transmission by minimizing directional influence from adjacent contacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a retained portion has a flat-plate shape, then the contact can be manufactured with simple structure, but the signal transmission performance degrades due to varying distances to adjacent contacts in different directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by transitioning from a flat-plate shape to a U-shaped cross-section with angled side portions. This asymmetric geometry creates uniform spacing relationships with adjacent contacts in all directions, eliminating the directional variation problem while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard forming processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional configuration by adding angled side portions that extend upward from the base portion. This three-dimensional U-shaped structure adds vertical and angular dimensions to the previously two-dimensional flat plate, enabling uniform spatial distribution and consistent spacing with neighboring contacts.
2Quantity of substance
If contacts are arrayed adjacently with flat-plate retained portions, then the housing can accommodate high density of contacts, but the influence of adjacent contacts varies by direction leading to signal degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The U-shaped cross-section with angled side portions creates a symmetric spatial relationship with adjacent contacts in all directions. This geometric symmetry ensures that the spacing and electromagnetic influence from neighboring contacts are uniform regardless of direction, preventing signal degradation while maintaining high contact density.
3Reliability
If the retained portion has uniform spacing in all directions, then signal transmission performance is maintained, but the contact structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved surfaces by forming the retained portion with a U-shaped cross-section and angled side portions. This curved geometry naturally achieves uniform spacing relationships in all directions, providing isotropic electromagnetic characteristics without requiring complex multi-component structures or additional adjustment mechanisms.
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 configuration ensures consistent signal transmission performance across directions, effectively addressing the limitations of flat-plate shaped contacts by maintaining uniform distances and enhancing the stability of signal transmission, particularly for high-speed signals like those at 100 GHz.
Implementation Method 1
The retained portion has a base portion with a flat-plate shape and a pair of side portions extending at an angle with respect to the base portion on a pair of opposite sides of the base portion. A cross-section of the retained portion parallel to the first surface has a U-shape.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit socket includes a housing having a flat plate portion and a plurality of contacts disposed in the housing. The contacts each have a contact beam projecting outwardly from a first surface of the housing and a retained portion disposed in a passageway in the flat plate portion. The contact beam extends from the retained portion. The retained portion has a base portion with a flat-plate shape and a pair of side portions extending at an angle with respect to the base portion on a pair of opposite sides of the base portion. A cross-section of the retained portion parallel to the first surface has a U-shape.