Socket Contact Beams Unequal Lengths Reduce Insertion Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
High performance sockets for BGA devices require low insertion force to accommodate increasing pin counts and finer pitches, while maintaining electrical integrity and allowing for easy customization and replacement of IC devices without disassembling systems.
Innovation Solution
A socket assembly with a housing and contact members featuring major and minor beams, where the distal ends of the major beams generate opposing forces to bias the circuit member toward the housing, reducing insertion force while maintaining electrical coupling, and allowing for various configurations and materials to optimize engagement and redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional two-beam capture systems are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but insertion force is excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The contact member is segmented into multiple beams (at least three beams per contact member) arranged in a specific configuration. This segmentation allows the contact member to distribute and manage insertion forces more effectively, reducing the overall insertion force required while maintaining structural integrity and electrical connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact members are arranged in multiple dimensions within the socket housing, with beams positioned at different locations and orientations. This multi-dimensional arrangement enables the system to capture and distribute forces from multiple directions, reducing insertion force while maintaining contact reliability.
2Quantity of substance
If pin pitch is decreased to increase pin count, then device functionality is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The socket is divided into multiple contact members, each with multiple beams, allowing for a higher pin count within the same form factor. This segmentation enables increased connectivity without requiring each individual contact element to be excessively small, thereby managing manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the geometric parameters of the contact members, including beam dimensions, spacing, and arrangement, to optimize for both high pin count and manufacturability. The specific configuration of multiple beams per contact member allows for adjusted pitch while maintaining reliable electrical contact.
3Adaptability or versatility
If IC devices need to be replaced for customization, then system adaptability is improved, but insertion and removal operations become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The contact members are designed with flexible beams that can dynamically adjust during insertion and removal operations. The beams can deflect to accommodate the BGA device during insertion and return to their original position during removal, facilitating easy device replacement while maintaining reliable electrical contact throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact members utilize flexible beam structures that can bend and deflect during device insertion and removal. This flexibility allows the contact members to accommodate the BGA device without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms, thereby simplifying the replacement operation while enabling system customization.
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 solution achieves a significant reduction in insertion force by up to 50% compared to traditional two-beam capture systems, enabling efficient installation of high pin count IC devices with fine pitches, facilitating system customization and lead-free electronics adoption.
Implementation Method 1
The first plurality of contact members each include major beams and minor beams with proximal ends attached to a center portion, and distal ends extending away from the center portion. The major beams preferably have a length greater than the minor beams. When the first circuit member is engaged with the socket assembly the ball grid array displaces the distal ends of the major beams of the first plurality of contact members to create a plurality of first forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A socket assembly includes a housing with a plurality of through openings that extend between opposite surfaces of the housing. First and second plurality of contact members are positioned in a plurality of the through openings. The contact members each include major beams and minor beams with proximal ends attached to a center portion, and distal ends extending away from the center portion. The major beams preferably have a length greater than the minor beams. When the first circuit member is engaged with the socket assembly the ball grid array displaces the distal ends of the major beams to create a plurality of first and second forces. The first plurality of forces generally oppose the second plurality of forces. The first and second plurality of forces also generate an engagement force that biases the first circuit member toward the housing. The minor beams on the first and second plurality of contact members do not contribute to the engagement force.