Pillar-Shaped Conductive Particles for Test Socket Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive particles in existing testing sockets, being spherical, face challenges in maintaining stable electrical connections due to point contact, which leads to increased resistance and potential separation from the elastic material, resulting in non-uniform operation and resistance deviations over time.
Innovation Solution
The use of conductive particles with a pillar shape, featuring a predetermined depth and length greater than width, and convex parts on top and bottom, allowing for improved rigidity and surface contact, reducing resistance and enhancing durability by maintaining contact under increased pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If spherical conductive particles are used in testing sockets, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the electrical connection stability deteriorates due to point contact between particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inverse of spheroidality by using non-spherical conductive particles with flat surfaces. The conductive particles are designed with at least one flat surface instead of spherical curvature, enabling stable face-to-face contact with adjacent particles and electrodes, thereby resolving the point contact issue while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through molding processes.
2Duration of action of moving object
If spherical conductive particles are used, then the initial electrical connection can be established, but resistance increases and connection stability deteriorates over time due to particle separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs non-spherical conductive particles with flat surfaces that provide stable contact areas. This geometric modification prevents particle separation during repeated compression and release cycles, maintaining low resistance and stable electrical connections over extended operational periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of conductive particles from spherical to non-spherical shapes with specific surface characteristics. This parameter modification fundamentally alters the contact mechanics between particles, enabling durable and stable electrical connections that resist degradation over time.
3Productivity
If spherical conductive particles are used, then the testing socket can be manufactured, but non-uniform operation and resistance deviations occur due to limited compression range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses non-spherical conductive particles with flat surfaces that maintain consistent contact during compression. This geometric feature ensures uniform operation across all testing positions and prevents resistance deviations, thereby improving manufacturing precision without compromising productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is a conductive particle used for a testing socket electrically connecting a lead of a device to be tested and a pad of a test board by being arranged between the device to be tested and the test board, wherein the conductive particle has a predetermined depth d and has a length l that is greater than a width w, the conductive particle having a body part in a pillar shape, a first convex part having an upper surface, formed in a top of the body part, and a second convex part having a lower surface, formed in a bottom of the body part.