Abstract:
An IC socket ( 1 ) includes an insulative housing ( 2 ) and large numbers of contacts ( 9 ) received therein. The housing defines arrayed contact receiving cavities ( 22 ) for accommodating the contacts. The cavities are arranged in array by first partition walls ( 24 ) and second partition walls ( 25 ), which are perpendicular to each other. The first partition wall is higher than the second partition wall. Each first partition wall is provided with protruding portions ( 240 ) and sunken portions ( 241 ), which are alternatively arranged.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to an IC (integrated circuit) socket, on which an LGA (land grid array) package is mounted. 
   2. Description of the Related Arts 
   Modern computer systems increase in performance and complexity at a very rapid pace, driven by intense competition and market demands. In order to meet ever-increasing performance requirements, the area and volumetric interconnect densities of electronic board assemblies must increase accordingly. In combination with other competitive forces, this demand has driven the need for improved high-density socket technologies in computer applications, and the connector industry has responded with a variety of new alternatives to meet these needs. One of the most attractive of the new connector types is the land grid array (LGA) socket connector, which permits direct electrical connection between an LGA integrated circuit and a printed circuit board. LGA socket connectors are an evolving technology in which an interconnection between mating surfaces of an IC or other area array device and a printed circuit board is provided through a conductive terminal received in the socket connector. Connection is achieved by mechanically compressing the IC onto the socket connector. 
   A conventional IC socket for an LGA IC package with conductive pads generally comprises an insulative housing, and a plurality of contacts accommodating in the housing. For contacting with pads of the LGA IC package, the contact is provided with a spring arm extending out of the housing. However, the spring arm is easily to be damaged by inadvertently force, because there&#39;s no protective structure to protect the spring arms. In order to solve this problem, an improved IC socket appears. The improved IC socket is provided with a plurality partition walls surrounding the spring arms for protect the arms, which can solve the problem mentioned above. However, a new problem is produced. As known, the contact is inserted into the housing with carrier strip linking therewith. After the contact is positioned, the carrier strip must be removed away. Due to the partition walls, the strip frequently interferes with the partition wall, which seriously affect the operation efficiency. 
   In view of the above, what is needed is an IC socket which can effectively protect the contacts received therein, and can improve operation efficiency simultaneity. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the present invention, an improved IC socket is provided to resolve the disadvantages described above. The IC socket comprises a insulative housing and a plurality of contact received therein. The housing defines a plurality of arrayed contact receiving cavities for accommodating the contacts. The cavities are arranged in array by a plurality of first partition walls and a plurality of second partition walls, which are perpendicular to each other. The first partition wall is higher than the second partition wall. Each first partition wall is provided with protruding portions and sunken portions, which are alternatively arranged. 
   Due to the partition walls, the contacts can be protected even if inadvertently force is applied to the socket, and due to the sunken portions, the strip can be removed away without interfere with the partition walls. 
   Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded isometric view of an IC socket in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an insulative housing of the IC socket; 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an electrical contact of the IC socket; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the circled part V in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but illustrates the contacts received in the housing; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the circled part VII in  FIG. 6 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , showing a virtual material strip linking the contacts. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
   Referring first to  FIGS. 1–2 , the IC socket  1  comprises an insulative housing  2 , a metallic reinforcing plate  4  surrounding the housing  2 , a metallic cover member  6  pivotally assembled to one end of the reinforcing plate  4 , and a actuating lever  8  pivotally assembled to the other end of the reinforcing plate  4 . The housing  2  is mountable on a circuit board (not shown). 
   An IC package receiving recess  20  is formed in the housing  2 . A plurality of contacts  9  are located in the IC package receiving recess  20 . An IC package (not shown) is secured in the housing  2  by first pressing the cover member  6  downward so that the IC package is urged against the contacts  9 , then engaging the actuating lever  8  with an engaging piece  61  at the foot of the cover member  6 . The reinforcing plate  4 , the cover member  6 , and the actuating lever  8  will collectively be referred to as a fixing mechanism. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIGS. 5–6 , the insulative housing  2  is generally rectangular and is molded from an insulative material. The IC package receiving recess  20  is also rectangular as defined by outer peripheral walls  21 . Contact receiving cavities  22  are formed and arranged in a matrix. Each contact  9  is housed in a corresponding contact receiving cavity  22 . A pair of opposed peripheral walls are formed with a plurality of channels  210 . The contact receiving cavities  22  are defined in a matrix arrangement by first partition walls  24  and second partition walls  25 , which are perpendicular to each other. Specially, the first partition wall  24  is higher than the second partition wall  25 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the first partition wall  24  comprises protruding parts  240  and sunken parts  241 , which are alternately arranged. Top surface of the protruding parts  240  forms a seating plane for carrying the IC package. It&#39;s noted that each of the channels  210  is aligned with not only a line of contact receiving cavities  22 , but also a line of sunken portions  241 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 4 , which is a isometric view of one contact  9  used in the IC socket  1 . The contact  9  is formed from conductive material strip  95  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) by stamping. Each contact  9  comprises a base portion  90  secured in the contact receiving cavity  22 , a soldering pad  91  perpendicularly extending from a lower end of the base portion  90 , a linking portion  92  connecting the strip  95 , and a spring arm  93  extending from a lateral edge of the linking portion  92 . A contacting tip  94  is formed at a distal end of the spring arm  93 . The base portion  90  is provided with a plurality of barbs  901  for interferentially securing the contact  9  in the cavity  22 . 
   When the IC package is mounted on the IC socket  1 , the spring arms  93  flex downward against lands (not shown) of the IC package. The contacting tips  94  flex below the protruding portion  240  of the first partition wall  24 . Finally, the IC package is supported by the seating plane formed by the protruding portions  240 . 
   During mounting or dismounting of the IC package, a finger (not shown) may inadvertently touch or press the spring arms  93 . However, downward movement of the finger is restricted by the first partition walls  24  thus preventing excessive force on the spring arms  93 . The spring arms  93  remain within their ranges of elastic deformation as the finger contacts the first partition walls  24 . Therefore, plastic deformation of the spring arms  44  is prevented. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7–8 , contacts  9  are inserted into the cavities  22  with material strip  95  linking with the linking portions  92 . After the contacts  9  are positioned in the housing  2 , the linking portions  92  are positioned adjacent the sunken portions  241  of the first partition wall  24 , and the strip  95  must be removed form the linking portions  92 . Accordingly, the strip  95  must be cut away form the top ends  920  of the linking portions  92 . And then, the strip  95  is removed along a direction AB shown in  FIG. 8  via the sunken portions  241  and finally is removed from the housing  2  via the channels  210 . 
   By virtue of the sunken portions  241  of the first partition wall  24 , the strip  95  does not interfere with the first partition wall  241 , which improve operation efficiency. 
   Furthermore, although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various alterations and modifications can be made to the embodiments without in any way departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.