Socket With Side-Contact Probes for PCBA Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing socket technologies require a special inspection structure on PCBA when connection terminals are not accessible from the lower surface, leading to increased size and cost.
Innovation Solution
A socket design with a main body and probes that include a fixed and movable part, allowing the probes to contact side surfaces of connection terminals within a cavity or opening, eliminating the need for a special inspection structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If probes contact connection terminals from under the lower surface of the PCBA, then inspection can be performed, but a special inspection structure must be provided on the PCBA which increases size and cost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having probes contact terminals from the lower surface (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by having probes contact the side surfaces of connection terminals from the lateral direction. This eliminates the need for special inspection structures on the PCBA while maintaining inspection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a vertical contact approach (probes from lower surface) to a lateral contact approach (probes from side direction). By changing the dimension of probe approach from bottom-up to side-to-side, the need for special PCBA inspection structures is eliminated
2Reliability
If special inspection structure is provided on the PCBA, then probes can contact connection terminals, but the size of the PCBA increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the inspection capability from the PCBA structure itself. Instead of embedding inspection patterns or extended regions into the PCBA, the socket provides all necessary inspection functionality through its probe structure that contacts side surfaces of terminals, eliminating the need for additional PCBA features
3Reliability
If special inspection structure is provided on the PCBA, then probes can contact connection terminals, but the cost of the PCBA increases
Solution Approach 1:
The socket is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides both the inspection capability and the structural support for contacting terminals. By making the socket a multi-functional component that handles both inspection and terminal access, the need for separate special inspection structures on the PCBA is eliminated, reducing manufacturing cost
Data Source
AI summary
A socket has a main body that accommodates a PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) to be inspected. The PCBA includes a substrate mounted with an electronic component, and terminals protruding from the substrate and having side surfaces exposed at an outer peripheral surface of the substrate, and the terminals are positioned within a cavity or opening of the main body in a state in which the PCBA is accommodated in the cavity or opening. The socket further has probes respectively including a fixed part fixed to the main body, and a movable part movable with respect to the fixed part, and a pressing part to press against the movable part of the probe. The movable part includes a tip end part that moves to a position contactable to the side surface of one terminal within the cavity or opening, when the pressing part presses against the movable part.