LGA Socket Pin Spring-Loaded Structure for Damage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Land grid array (LGA) socket pins are prone to damage during manufacturing, making them difficult to detect and costly to repair, often requiring the entire printed circuit board (PCB) to be scrapped if damaged.
Innovation Solution
A socket design featuring a housing with pins that include a spring-loaded structure, comprising a stud, spring, and contact sections, which provides an interference fit and allows for elastic deformation to absorb forces, preventing damage and maintaining electrical connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If pins are made very small for space efficiency, then space utilization is improved, but pin strength and damage resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is divided into multiple sections: a head portion, a body portion, and a contact portion. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the head can be larger for strength while the contact portion remains small for space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the pin have different properties - the head portion has greater diameter for strength and insertion guidance, while the contact portion is smaller for electrical connection and space saving. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall pin strength and space efficiency.
2Area of stationary object
If pins are made very small for space efficiency, then space utilization is improved, but detection of damage becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pin includes a colored band or indicator on the head portion that changes color or becomes visible when the pin is damaged or improperly inserted, making detection easier despite the small size of the pin.
Solution Approach 2:
A visual indicator or marker is introduced as an intermediary element that translates the internal state of the small pin into an externally observable signal, facilitating damage detection without increasing the pin's functional size.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional pin design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but repair feasibility deteriorates when damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is designed as a modular component that can be independently replaced. The head portion can be removed and replaced without affecting the contact portion or the PCB, enabling easy repair while maintaining simple manufacturing of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin head is designed to be replaceable - when damaged, only the head portion needs to be discarded and replaced with a new one, while the functional contact portion is retained and reused, improving repairability.
4Area of stationary object
If pins are made small for space efficiency, then space utilization is improved, but the likelihood of damage during manufacturing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pin includes a flexible or compliant section that can absorb mechanical shocks and stresses during handling and assembly, preventing damage before it occurs. This cushioning effect protects the critical contact portion from manufacturing-related damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin head is designed with features that guide proper insertion and alignment before the critical contact portion engages, preventing misalignment damage during the manufacturing assembly process.
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
The socket design reduces the likelihood of damage to pins and the PCB, minimizing repair needs and ensuring reliable electrical connections during manufacturing and installation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-loaded structure, comprising a stud, spring, and contact sections, which provides an interference fit and allows for elastic deformation to absorb forces
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, a socket for an electronic device includes a housing and pins connected to the housing. The housing includes a base extending laterally and having an inner face and an outer face; a riser connected to the base and extending away from the outer face; a wall extending laterally, connected to the riser, and having an exterior face and an interior face that faces the outer face of the base; mounting ports extending through the base from the inner face to the outer face; and exit ports extending through the wall from the interior face to the exterior face. Each pin includes a portion extending at least partially though one mounting port; a portion extending between the base and the wall; and a portion extending through one exit port.