Land grid array socket connector with location members

A land grid array (LGA) socket connector (10) includes a number of contact segments (120, 140, 160, 180) and location members (122, 142, 162, 182). The contact segments are combined to form a substantially rectangular contact region. The location members are physically separated from one another, and further disposed around the respective corners of the combined contact regions to receive and hold an IC package (2) in position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the art of electrical connectors, and more particularly to a land grid array (LGA) socket connector having separate location members for holding electronic components, such as an LGA package and/or another connector in position.

2. General Background

Land grid array (LGA) packages are becoming one of the popular chip packages in the interconnect market. As input/output (I/O) requirements of the chip package have increased, the LGA package needs to be larger in volume, where it can provide a high quantity of interconnecting contacts for signal transmission to a printed circuit board (PCB). In order to enable an effective and reliable attachment between the LGA packages and the PCBs, various LGA connectors have been developed.

However, with the increasingly large LGA packages, these conventional LGA connectors have many disadvantages. For example, these conventional LGA connectors are designed to be very complex, and thus may occupy much more valuable “real estate” on the supporting printed circuit board, which is undesirable in pursuit of miniaturization of electronic components. Further, these LGA connectors are typically directed to specific LGA packages. That is, one LGA connector is merely applicable to certain types of LGA packages having uniform sizes, and there is no flexibility of the LGA connector for application to another LGA packages with varying sizes. This will increase additional cost of manufacturing electronic components, which involves the application of the LGA connectors.

On the other hand, attempts in forming the large LGA connectors for mating with the increased popularity of LGA packages have been always met with difficulties resulting from material flow and shrinkages problems that were magnified as the contact receiving array formed on the LGA connect became larger. Therefore, if the LGA connector were formed from a multiple smaller sections, some of these problems may be solved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A land grid array (LGA) socket connector according to an embodiment of the present invention include a plurality of contact segments, and location members. The contact segments are adapted for engaging respective connection sections of an IC package. The contact segments are combined to form a substantially rectangular contact region. The rectangular contact regions define corners. The location members are physically separated from one another, and further disposed around the respective corners of the combined rectangular contact regions to receive and hold the IC package in position. Compared with the prior art, such a LGA socket connector is designed to be structurally versatile, and will certainly occupy less room on the supporting printed circuit board. Further, there are no difficulties, including the material flow and shrinkage problems, existing for manufacturing the LGA socket connector, due to having several separate pieces, such as contact segments and location members, combined to form the LGA socket connector.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description of preferred embodiments, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 6, a first LGA socket connector10for electrically connecting an IC package2and a printed circuit board3is shown according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The LGA socket connector10includes four separate LGA connector sections12,14,16and18, and four supporting tabs40.

Each of the LGA connector sections includes a contact region and a location member integrally attached to a corner of the contact region. Specifically, the LGA section12has a first contact segment120with a first location member122attached to its corner10A. The LGA section14has a second contact segment140with a second location member142attached to its corner10B. The LGA section16has a third contact segment160with a second location member162attached to its corner10C. The LGA section18has a fourth contact segment180with a fourth location member182attached to its corner10D.

The contact segments120,140,160and180are combined to form a substantially rectangular contact region or socket body for engaging an array of conductive elements of the IC package2, which is just placed on the rectangular contact region. In this embodiment, a substantially rectangular through hole19is formed in the central section of the contact region. However, in some embodiments, there is no central through hole formed. It should be noted that the rectangular socket body might include any other suitable number of contact segments while still having location members122,142,162, and182attached to the respective corners10A,10B,10C and10D of the combined socket body.

In this embodiment, these location members122,142,162, and182are physically separated from one another, and further located around the respective corners10A,10B,10C and10D of the combined contact region so as to commonly receive and hold the IC package2in position. However, in other alternative embodiments, the location members122,142,162, and182may be located around at least two corners, such as corners disposed diagonally with respect to a diagonal line of the combined contact region, as long as the location members122,142,162, and182can effectively receive and hold the IC package2in position.

Referring also toFIGS. 3 and 6, each of the location members includes a pair of locating holes102, and a pair of locating elements112, such as having a post shape with a predetermined height, for being received within the corresponding locating holes102. These locating holes102are disposed along respective lengthwise sides and lateral sides of the combined contact region, such that when the locating posts112are inserted into the respective locating holes102, the inserted locating posts112are employed to engage an outer periphery edge of one electronic component, such as the single IC package2; or to engage more electronic components, such as the single IC package2and another electrical connector (not shown) required to be placed on the IC package2. Specially, each pair of locating posts112is located around the corresponding contact segment corner, and respectively disposed along the corresponding lengthwise side and lateral side of the combined contact region. In this embodiment, each pair of locating posts112is arranged in opposed relationship with respect to a corresponding diagonal line of the combined contact region. Further, as particularly shown inFIG. 4, each of the locating posts112is spaced from the corresponding lengthwise side or lateral side of the combined contact region with a predetermined distance. The distance may be varied according to different embodiments. It should be noted that each of the locating posts112is required to have a height greater than that of the IC package2, or that of the IC package2and another different electrical connector (not shown) if that different electrical connector is needed to be placed onto the top surface of the IC package2in some particular applications of the present invention.

As particularly shown inFIG. 4, the diagonally-disposed location members122and162further include a pair of alignment apertures103for corresponding to alignment holes20formed in the IC package2. The alignment apertures103are disposed along one of diagonal lines of the rectangular contact region. In this embodiment, each of the alignment apertures103is arranged between two locating holes102of each location members. As such, when the alignment holes20of the IC package2and the alignment apertures103of the location members122and162are correctly matched or aligned with each other, it can be ensured that the IC package2is correctly mounted onto the LGA socket connector10.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 5, in this embodiment, four separate supporting tabs40, with its height slightly less than the locating posts112, are provided to be soldered onto the printed circuit board3, and disposed along the respective lengthwise sides and lateral sides of the combined contact region so as to support the IC package2when the IC package2are placed onto the LGA socket connector10. However, in other embodiments, any suitable numbers of supporting tabs40are employed to support the IC package2placed on the LGA socket connector10.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, in assembly, the LGA connector sections12,14,16and18with no locating posts112are in sequence soldered onto the printed circuit board3such that the separate LGA connector sections12,14,16and18are combined to form a complete rectangular LGA socket connector10. That is, the respective location members122,142,162and182and the corresponding contact segments120,140,160and180are simultaneously soldered onto the printed circuit board3, due to the integral connection between the location members122,142,162and182and the corresponding contact segments120,140,160and180. Four supporting tabs40are disposed along the respective lengthwise sides and lateral sides of the combined contact region, and also soldered onto the printed circuit board3so as to support the IC package2, to be placed onto the printed circuit board3. The IC package2is placed onto the LGA socket connector20in a manner that the alignment holes20of the IC package2align with the corresponding alignment apertures103formed on the location members142and182. The locating posts112are then inserted into the respective locating holes102of the location members122,142,162and182so as to commonly receive and hold the IC package2in position.

Referring toFIG. 7, an LGA connector section12′, being part of a second LGA socket connector, is shown according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This LGA connector section12′ is similar to the LGA connector section12of the first embodiment, except that the shape of the location member112′ is different from that of the location member112. That is, the location member112′ includes a pair of locating elements112′ each shaped as a wall extending along a lengthwise side or a lateral side of the corner of the LGA connector section12′. The locating wall112′ is configured to have a sufficient width and height thereof so as to hold the IC package in position around the corner of the second LGA socket connector.

Thus, from the above description, it can be seen that the locating elements may have any suitable shape or configuration other than the locating posts112of the first embodiment or the locating walls112′ of the second embodiment, as long as these locating elements are configured to hold the IC package in position around each corner of the first or second LGA socket connector.

Referring toFIGS. 8 to 10, a third LGA socket connector30for electrically connecting an IC package4and a printed circuit board5is shown according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The third LGA socket connector30includes four separate contact segments320,340,360and380, and four location members322,342,362and382located around respective corners30A,30B,30C and30D of the contact segments320,340,360and380while not physically attached to the corresponding contact segment corners30A,30B,30C and30D.

The contact segments320,340,360and380are combined to form a substantially rectangular socket body for engaging an array of conductive elements of the IC package4, which is just placed on the socket body. It should be noted that the rectangular socket body might include any suitable numbers of contact segments other than four contact segments320,340,360and380of this embodiment, for some manufacturing considerations, such as difficulties resulting from material flow and shrinkage problems that the conventional large socket body typically encounter.

The combined socket body defines four sides including lengthwise sides311,313and lateral sides312,314, and four corners30A,30B,30C and30D, at which the respective lengthwise sides311,313and lateral sides312,314intersect. The location members322,342,362and382are physically separated from one another, and located around the respective corners30A,30B,30C and30D of the combined socket body so as to commonly receive and hold the IC package4in position.

More specifically, each of the location members322,342,362and382includes a pair of locating elements316, such as having a wall shape. The locating walls316are respectively disposed along the lengthwise sides311,313and the lateral sides312,314of the corresponding socket body corners30A,30B,30C and30D, such that when the IC package4is placed onto the LGA socket connector30, these locating walls316are employed to engage an outer periphery edge of one electronic component, such as the single IC package4; or to engage more electronic components, such as the single IC package4and another different electrical connector (not shown) if that different electrical connector is needed to be placed onto the top surface of the IC package4in some particular embodiments of the present invention. In this embodiment, each pair of locating elements316is arranged in opposed relationship with respect to a corresponding diagonal line of the combined socket body. The locating element316is spaced from the lengthwise side or lateral side of the corresponding corner of the combined socket body with a predetermined distance. The distance may be varied according to different applications. In this embodiment, since the locating elements316are not physically attached to the socket body, and thus movable with respect to the socket body, different distances can be obtained measuring from the locating elements316to the corresponding sides311,312,313and314of the socket body, thereby being capable of receiving various IC packages with varying sizes. It should be noted that the locating elements316might have any other suitable shape, such as the locating posts312of the first embodiment, as long as these locating elements316are configured to hold the IC package4in position around each corner30A,30B,30C or30D of the LGA socket connector30.

In addition, as particularly shown inFIG. 10, the diagonally-disposed location members322and362further include a pair of alignment apertures303for corresponding to alignment holes40formed in the IC package4. The alignment apertures303are disposed along one of the diagonal lines of the rectangular contact region, and arranged between the locating walls316of each location members322and362. As such, when the alignment holes40of the IC package4and the alignment apertures303of the location members322and362are correctly matched or aligned with each other, it can be ensured that the IC package4is correctly mounted onto the LGA socket connector30.

Referring toFIGS. 8 and 9, in assembly, the contact segments320,340,360and380are in sequence soldered onto the printed circuit board5such that the separate contact segments320,340,360and380are combined to form a complete rectangular socket body. The locating members322,342,362and382are disposed along the respective sides311,312,313and314around the corners30A,30B,30C and30D of the socket body with predetermined distances from the locating walls316to the corresponding lengthwise sides311,313or lateral sides312,314of the socket body such that the region surrounded by the locating walls316is adapted for receiving and holding the IC package4in position. These disposed locating members322,342,362and382are further soldered to the printed circuit board5. The IC package4is then placed onto the LGA socket connector30in a manner that the alignment holes40of the IC package4align with the corresponding alignment apertures303formed on the location members322,342,362and382, thereby assuring the correct mounting of the IC package4. As such, with the location members322,342,362and382pre-located around the respective body corners, the IC package4is thus held in position.

In this embodiment, since the distances between the respective locating walls316and the corresponding sides311,312,313and314of the socket body is adjusted by moving the locating walls316with respect to the socket body, the region defined therebetween is capable of receiving different IC package with varying sizes. In other words, such a LGA socket connector30with separate location members322,342,362and382can be applicable for various IC packages, not merely limited to one type of IC package. This will certainly cost down the manufacturing of electronic components, which involves the application of the LGA socket connector30.

From the above descriptions, the present LGA connectors10,30are designed to be structurally versatile compared with the prior art, and will certainly occupy less room on the supporting printed circuit board. Further, there are no difficulties, including the material flow and shrinkage problems, existing for manufacturing the present LGA socket connectors10,30, due to having several separate pieces, such as contact segments and location members, combined to form the present LGA socket connectors10,30.

While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, the description of the invention is illustrative and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various of modifications to the present invention can be made to preferred embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.