Patent ID: 9638714
Date: 2017-05-02
CPC Classifications: G01R

Claim:
1. A socket for making electrical connection between an integrated circuit device under test (DUT) having a plurality of contacts and a load board having a plurality of contact pads so that a signal may be transmitted therebetween wherein said contact and its corresponding pad are generally vertically aligned along a contact axis, comprising: a. a pin guide housing having a top and bottom, said guide being interposed between said contacts and said pads and including a plurality of spaced apart insulating and separating plates thereby defining a plurality of slots for receiving pin pairs; with said slots being generally at least partially axially aligned along said contact axis; said guide further including a longitudinal bore substantially orthogonal to said axis and extending through at least some of said plates thereby creating a cavity for an elastomer; b. an elongated elastomer sized to be received within said bore; c. a multi-piece pin pair including: a first upper pin leg having a contact tip at its distal end, an upper body portion extending from said tip and a upper hinge part at its proximal end; a second lower pin leg having a load board pad contact portion at its distal end, a lower hinge part at its proximal end, and a lower body portion extending from said pad contact portion to said hinge part; said hinge parts being hingeably joined to make a rotational and electrical pivotable link contact therebetween, said upper body portion including curved inner periphery shaped to engage said elastomer; said lower body portion including a curved inner periphery shaped to engage said elastomer; so that said legs surrounds, at least in part, said elastomer when in said pin guide said contact tip and said load board pad contact on said pin pair being generally in axial alignment with axis while said upper and lower body portions of said pin pairs are at least partially out of alignment with said axis, when said legs are contained within said slot.