Patent ID: 6162080
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
A socket positioning and installing an integrated circuit on a circuit board, said integrated circuit having multiple, parallel leads having a pair of opposing contact surfaces, said leads extending from one side of the integrated circuit, said socket comprising a base, multiple electrically conductive contacts mounted on said base and electrically connected independently of the other contacts to the circuit board and including one contact for each of said leads, each of said contacts including a pair of offset, resilient, parallel, engagement members defining a gap therebetween for receiving a corresponding lead when the integrated circuit is installed in the socket and a connecting member connecting said engagement members and extending across said gap, each of said engagement members yieldably engaging a contact surface of said corresponding lead when the integrated circuit is installed in the socket, and a top slidably mounted on said base and movable toward and away from said contacts, said top including electrically nonconductive spreader members engaging both of said engagement members of each contact and urging the engagement members of each contact away from one another as the top is moved toward the base to permit the leads to be installed in their corresponding contacts, whereby upon movement of the top away from the base the engagement members are released to yieldably engage the leads.