Patent ID: 7714602
Filing Date: 2010-05-11
Classification: G01R,H01R

Abstract:
1. A test socket for temporary connection of a ball grid array integrated circuit device to a test circuit, the test socket comprising: a base of electrically insulating material; an array of contacts supported by the base, the array including a pattern of contacts corresponding to the ball grid array of the integrated circuit device, each contact including a set of two cantilever arms opposing to each other and terminating in tip portions adapted to grasp one ball of the ball grid array integrated circuit device; a nest assembly having two comb structures, each comb structure having an end frame and a plurality of parallel cantilever racks each with projections, the two comb structures being combined so that the cantilever racks of two comb structures are positioned alternately and are capable of moving in a direction parallel to the combined cantilever arms, the nest assembly being combined with the array of contacts so that the one of each contact is engaged with the projection of the cantilever rack of one comb structure and the other of each contact is engaged with the projection of the cantilever rack of the other comb structure, allowing the each opposing tips of the contacts to move between the free and opened states by the movement of the comb structures in the direction parallel to the cantilever racks; a lever assembly for spacing the opposing paired tips of the contacts away from each other to define a gap therebetween adapted to receive the ball, the lever assembly having two rectangular frames including a pair of distal and proximal cross member and a pair of side members connecting between the opposite ends of the distal and proximal cross members to form the rectangular frame, the two rectangular frames being assembled with the side members of the frames intersected with each other at substantially mid-portions thereof, the lever assembly so assembled being positioned on the base so that the distal cross members are capable of forcing the end frames of the comb structures toward each other by depressing the proximal cross members of the lever assembly; and latches mounted to the base each latch capable of engaging and disengaging with a heat sink mounted on the ball grid array integrated circuit device in response to a movement of the lever assembly.