Patent ID: 6069481
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A test socket for temporary connection of a ball grid array (BGA) type semiconductor device having a large number of connecting ball terminals protruding downward from and arranged in a matrix pattern on a bottom surface of said BGA type semiconductor device to a test circuit, said test socket comprising:a socket body of electrically insulating material having contact receiving through holes arranged in the same matrix pattern as that of the connecting ball terminals so that said connecting ball terminals are received in said contact receiving holes, respectively, when the BGA type semiconductor device is temporarily received on the socket body; anda plurality of contact pins, each accommodated in each of the contact receiving holes; wherein:each of said contact pins is made of an elastic thin metal sheet having high electrical conductivity and formed in a tuning fork shape to obtain a forked contact pin having a terminal portion at one end and a pair of arms defining a forked portion at the other end, andeach of said contact receiving through holes comprises:a slit recess formed with a predetermined depth from a top surface of the socket body capable of mounting therein the forked portion of each said forked contact pin,a bottom through hole formed at a bottom of the slit recess to reach a rear surface of the socket body through which the terminal portion of each said forked contact pin is passed and extended downward from the rear surface, whereby said terminal portion of each said forked contact pin can be outer connected to the test circuit, anda top circular recess formed atop of the slit recess in the top surface of the socket body in which the pair of arms of the forked portion of each said contact pin accommodated in the slit recess are exposed at tip portions thereof so that each said connecting ball terminal of the BGA type semiconductor device can elastically contact with said tip portions when said semiconductor device is received on the socket body.