Inspection Socket Asynchronous Contact for Hybrid IC Leads

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hybrid type semiconductor devices with different types of lead terminals pose a challenge in achieving simultaneous conduction during inspection, as existing sockets struggle to effectively contact and ensure conduction between varying lead terminal forms.

Innovation Solution

A socket with asynchronous contact mechanisms for different lead terminals, where the contact operation of one terminal is performed after the other, ensuring reliable conduction and minimizing terminal damage during release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single inspection operation is used to inspect hybrid type semiconductor packages with different types of lead terminals, then inspection efficiency is improved, but it becomes difficult to achieve reliable conduction with all lead terminal types simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection efficiencyVSAvoidconduction reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The socket is divided into multiple independent contact mechanisms, each dedicated to a specific lead terminal type. Each contact mechanism can operate independently to establish conduction with its corresponding lead terminal type, allowing simultaneous inspection of hybrid packages with different lead terminal types while maintaining reliable conduction for each type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The contact mechanisms are designed with movable contact terminals that can be actuated independently. This dynamic capability allows each contact mechanism to engage with its corresponding lead terminal type as needed during a single inspection operation, enabling both high productivity and reliable conduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If contact terminals are brought into contact with different types of lead terminals simultaneously, then inspection operation is simplified, but terminal damage may occur during contact release

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection operation simplicityVSAvoidterminal damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The release mechanisms are designed to automatically actuate in a predetermined sequence before the inspection operation is completed. This preliminary action ensures that contact terminals are released from their lead terminals in the correct order, preventing damage during the release phase while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of releasing all contact terminals simultaneously after contact, the system inverts the sequence by releasing contact terminals in reverse order of their engagement. This inverted release sequence prevents terminal damage by ensuring that contact terminals are released only after their corresponding lead terminals are securely engaged, while maintaining simple operation through automatic sequencing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11415624B2Socket for inspection

Publication Date: 2022.08.16 YAMAICHI ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An IC socket (2) includes a first contact terminal (15a) that contacts a gull wing type lead terminal (1b) of an IC device (1), a second contact terminal that contacts a J-type lead terminal, a cam portion (3d) and a sliding portion (15c5) for bringing the first contact terminal (15a) into contact with the gull wing type lead terminal (1b), and a latch (6) for bringing the second contact terminal into contact with the J-type lead terminal. An asynchronous operation in which a contact operation by the cam portion (3d) and the sliding portion (15c5) is performed after a contact operation by the latch (6) is performed.