Land grid array connector assembly with pick up cap

A land grid array connector assembly (10) of the present invention includes an LGA connector (12) and a pick up cap (13) attached thereon. The LGA connector includes an insulative housing (20), a plurality of electrical contacts (28) received in the housing, a metal clip (24) pivotably mounted to an end of the housing, and a lever (26) pivotably mounted to an opposite end of the housing for engaging with the clip. The clip has a generally rectangular window (240) with a plurality of inner edges (241). The pick up cap includes a flat plate (32) for being sucked by a vacuum suction device and a plurality of peripheral latches (324, 325) depending from the flat plate for snappingly engaging with the inner side edges of the window of the clip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a land grid array (LGA) connector assembly which comprises an LGA connector and a pick up cap, the pick up cap being mounted to the connector for providing a flat top surface to be engaged by a vacuum suction device, whereby the LGA connector assembly can be moved onto a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the connector is to be mounted.

2. Description of Related Art

On many production lines, electronic components such as land grid array (LGA) connectors are accurately positioned on circuit substrates such as printed circuit boards (PCBs) by means of vacuum suction devices. Such an LGA connector typically comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of electrical contacts received in the housing, a metal clip pivotably mounted to an end of the housing, and a lever pivotably mounted to an opposite end of the housing for engaging with the clip. The clip has a generally rectangular window in a middle thereof. The contacts each have first contact portions protruding outwardly from a top portion of the housing, for electrically connecting with a multiplicity of metal contact pads of an electronic package such as an LGA central processing unit (CPU). Because of this configuration of the LGA connector, a pick up cap has to be pre-attached on the top portion of the housing. The pick up cap typically has a plurality of latches snappingly engaging with corresponding outer edges of the clip, thereby mounting the pick up cap onto the LGA connector. The pick up cap has a flat top surface. The vacuum suction device is then able to engage on the flat top surface of the pick up cap, in order to reliably move and accurately position the LGA connector onto the PCB.

Referring toFIG. 4, a conventional land grid array (LGA) connector assembly5is illustrated. The LGA connector assembly comprises an LGA connector51and a pick up cap52attached thereon. The LGA connector51comprises an insulative housing511, a plurality of electrical contacts512received in the housing511, a metal stiffener515partly covering and reinforcing the housing511, a metal clip513pivotably mounted to an end of the stiffener515, and a lever514pivotably mounted to an opposite end of the stiffener515for engaging with the clip513. The contacts512each have first contact portions protruding outwardly from a top portion of the housing511, for electrically connecting with a multiplicity of metal contact pads of an LGA package (not shown). The pick up cap52has a flat plate521for being sucked by a vacuum suction device, and a plurality of latches522depending from the flat plate521for snappingly engaging with front edge5130and rear edge5131of the metal clip513.

However, the front edge of the clip513comprises a pressed portion5132for being pressed by the lever514, and the front edge5130beside the pressed portion5132is designed to downwardly slant, for forming a smooth transition therebetween. The slant front edge5130of the clip513increases difficulty and unreliability of engaging the pick up cap52onto the connector51.

In view of the above, a new land grid array connector assembly with improved pick up cap which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a land grid array connector assembly which has an LGA connector and a pick up cap mounted on the connector, wherein the pick up cap can be tightly attached onto the connector.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, a land grid array connector assembly accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an LGA connector and a pick up cap attached thereon. The LGA connector comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of electrical contacts received in the housing, a metal clip pivotably mounted to an end of the housing, and a lever pivotably mounted to an opposite end of the housing for engaging with the clip. The clip has a generally rectangular window with a plurality of inner edges. The pick up cap comprises a flat plate for being sucked by a vacuum suction device and a plurality of peripheral latches depending from the flat plate for snappingly engaging with the inner side edges of the window of the clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is an exploded isometric view of a land grid array connector assembly10in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The connector assembly10comprises a land grid array connector12and a generally rectangular pick up cap13. The pick up cap13is attached onto the connector12, for providing a flat top surface to be engaged by a vacuum suction device. The LGA connector12can thereby be moved onto a circuit substrate (not shown), such as a printed circuit board (PCB), on which the connector12is to be seated.

The connector12comprises a generally rectangular insulative housing20, a plurality of contacts28received in the housing20, a metal stiffener/frame22partly covering and reinforcing the housing20, a metal clip24pivotably mounted onto an end of the stiffener22, and a lever26pivotably mounted to an opposite end of the stiffener22for engaging with the metal clip24.

The housing20defines a generally rectangular cavity202in a middle thereof. The cavity202is used for receiving an electronic package such as an LGA central processing unit (CPU) (not shown) therein. A multiplicity of passageways200is defined in a portion of the housing20under the cavity202, the passageways200receiving a corresponding number of contacts28therein respectively.

The stiffener22comprises a pair of lateral sides220each having an L-shaped cross-section, a front end224having a U-shaped cross-section, and a rear end226having an L-shaped cross-section. The housing21is fittingly received in the stiffener22. An elongate chamber2240is defined in the front end224of the stiffener22. A pair of spaced slots2260is defined in the rear end226of the stiffener22. An ear2201extends arcuately from an edge of one of the lateral sides220of the stiffener22.

The lever26comprises a pair of locating portions260pivotably received in the chamber2240of the stiffener22, an offset actuating portion262between the locating portions260, and an operating portion264extending perpendicularly from an end of one of the locating portions260. The operating portion264is disposed outside of the stiffener22. When oriented at a horizontal position parallel to the top face of the housing20, the operating portion264engages with the ear2201.

The clip24defines a substantially plate configuration with a generally rectangular window240in a middle thereof, and the window240defines a plurality of inner edges241. The clip24comprises a pair of opposite lateral sides242and a pair of opposite ends243perpendicular to the lateral sides242. The lateral sides242each bend arcuately towards the housing20in a middle thereof, for pressing the LGA CPU in the cavity202. The bended lateral sides therefore each form a concave area248thereof. The clip24also comprises an engaging portion241extending arcuately from an end thereof, a pair of spaced securing portions244extending arcuately from an opposite end thereof and pivotably received in the slots2260of the stiffener22, and a tail245between the securing portions244.

When the clip24is oriented at a horizontal position parallel to the top surface of the housing20, the engaging portion241of the clip24engages with the actuating portion262of the lever26thereby pressing the CPU on the contacts28. When the clip24is oriented at a position perpendicular to the top face of the housing20, the tail245abuts against the stiffener22to prevent the clip24from being over-rotated.

Referring also to FIG2, the pick up cap13comprises a substantially rectangular flat plate32with a pair of opposite lateral sides and a pair of ends perpendicular to the lateral sides. A pair of latches324,325depends form each lateral side of the flat plate32respectively for snappingly engaging with the inner edges241of the metal clip24. A pair of extending portions34extends from two opposite ends of the flat plate32. One of the lateral sides defines a T shaped deforming portion320, and the deforming portion320comprises a connecting portion321and a beam323perpendicular to the connecting portion321. The connecting portion321connects the beam323in a middle thereof, and therefore the connecting portion321and the beam323cooperatively forms the T shaped deforming portion320. A pair of first latches324extends downwardly from the beam323, and a pair of second latches325extends from the lateral side opposite to the deforming portion320. The first and second latches324,325each define a clasp327for mounting the pick up cap13onto the clip24. Each edge of flat plate32has a plurality of protrusions322extending outwardly and laterally for engaging with a corresponding inner edge241of the window240. Two pairs of guiding portions328are defined on a surface of the flat plate32, in communication with the edges of the opposite ends, for facilitating attachment of the pick up cap13onto the connector12.

Referring to FIG3, in attaching the pick up cap13onto the connector12, the pick up cap13is disposed over the connector2, with the second latches325loosely clasping to a corresponding inner edge241of the window240and the first latches324loosely contacting with the opposite inner edge. Then pressing down the pick up cap13, the first latches324abut against the corresponding inner edge of the window240. The first latches324elastically deflect inwardly. When the first latches324snappingly clasp the edges of the window240, and the protrusions322abut against the corresponding edge of the window240, the pick up cap13is thereby securely mounted onto the connector12. Furthermore, the extending portion34of the pick up cap13is attached onto corresponding concave area248of the clip24, preventing the whole pick up cap13from going through the window240. In this position, a vacuum suction device (not shown) can engage the top surface of the pick up cap13for moving the connector assembly1to a desired location on the PCB.

As appreciated from the foregoing description, the pick up cap13engages with the inner edges241of the clip24. Therefore, the attachment of the pick up cap13onto the clip is reliable, even if the clip defines a slant front edge. Furthermore, the concave248of the lateral side242can receive the extending portion34of the pick up cap13, therefore low profile of the connector assembly is also achieved.