Integrated circuit carrier

Abstract: An electrical conductive pattern is deposited on the surface of a frame constituting an integrated circuit carrier. To bring leads extending from an integrated circuit package in contact with the electrical conductive pattern, a plurality of first contact portions are formed on the inner end side of the electrical conductive pattern. In addition, to bring a plurality of contact pieces extending from an integrated circuit socket, a plurality of second contact portions are formed on the outer end side of the electrical conductive pattern. Thus, the leads extending from the integrated circuit package are reliably brought into electrical contact with the contact pieces via the first contact portions, the electrical conductive pattern and the second contact portions. The arrangement of the electrical conductive pattern in that way makes it possible that the leads are spaced away from each other at an interval smaller than an interval between adjacent contact pieces.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to an integrated circuit (IC) carrier. More particularly, the present invention relates to an IC carrier which assures reliable contact between an IC package and an IC socket when the IC package is carried by the IC carrier while it is installed on the IC socket. Basically, the IC carrier serves to protect a main body of each IC package and contact pieces extending from the same when the IC package is handled during transportation, measuring or the like. A fundamental structure of the IC carrier is typically disclosed in an official gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 58-56444. According to this prior art, the IC carrier includes a square frame having a small thickness of which central part defines an IC receiving portion. When an IC package is received in the IC receiving portion, a plurality of leads projecting sideward of the IC package are individually received in the corresponding slots formed in the surface of the frame of the integrated circuit carrier, and a plurality of locking pawls arranged along the peripheral edge of the integrated circuit receiving portion are engaged with the integrated circuit package so that the integrated circuit package is carried by the IC carrier while it is received in the integrated circuit receiving portion. Subsequently, when the IC carrier having the IC package carried thereby is installed on an IC socket, a plurality of contacts extending from the IC package are brought in contact with leads receiving in the slots. In the case where the leads extending from the IC package are arranged in the spaced relationship at a comparatively large interval between adjacent leads, the contact pieces can be brought in electrical contact with the leads without any particular problem. In recent years, there has been recognized a remarkable tendency that a plurality of leads extending from an IC package are spaced away from each other at a possibly small interval between adjacent leads. However, with the conventional IC carrier thus constructed, it becomes very difficult from the technical view point that a plurality of contact pieces are brought into direct contact with the corresponding slots spaced away each other at a very small interval which is present to cope with the foregoing latest tendency. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the aforementioned background. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an IC carrier which assures that a plurality of leads extending from an IC package received in an IC circuit receiving portion of the IC carrier can reliably be brought into electrical contact with a plurality of contact pieces extending from an IC socket via a plurality of first contact portions and a plurality of second contact portions wherein the leads are spaced away from each other at an interval much smaller than an interval between adjacent contact pieces. According to the present invention, there is provided an IC carrier as defined in claim 1. Usually, the electrical conductive pattern extends from the surface portion along the inner edge of the frame to the outer peripheral surface of the same so that the first contact portions are formed on the leads on the inner end side of the electrical conductive pattern and the second contact portions are formed for the contact pieces on the outer end side of the same. Alternatively, the electrical conductive pattern extends from the surface portion along the inner edge of the frame to the outer peripheral surface of the same so that the first contact portions are formed for the leads on the inner end side of the electrical conductive pattern and the second contact portion are formed for the contact pieces on a part of the electrical conductive pattern located on the outer peripheral surface of the frame. In addition, alternatively, the electrical conductive pattern extends from the surface portion along the inner edge of the frame to the upper surface portion of the same located opposite to the first-mentioned surface portion so that the first contact portions are formed for the leads on the inner end side of the electrical conductive pattern and the second contact portions are formed for the contact pieces on a part of the electrical conductive pattern located on the upper surface portion of the frame. Otherwise, the electrical conductive pattern extends from the surface portion along the inner edge of the frame to an inclined outer peripheral surface of the same so that the first contact portions are formed for the leads on the inner end side of the electrical conductive pattern and the second contact portions are formed for the contact pieces on a part of the electrical conductive pattern located on the inclined outer peripheral surface of the frame. It is important for the IC carrier that the first contact portions are spaced away from each other at a small interval and the second contact portions are spaced away from each other at a large interval larger than an interval between adjacent first contact portions. It is likewise important for the IC carrier that each first contact portion is dimensioned to have a width smaller than that of each lead. Consequently, the IC carrier constructed in the above-described manner makes it possible to sufficiently satisfy the latest request raised from users for reducing an interval between adjacent leads extending from the IC package as far as possible. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from reading of the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is illustrated in the following drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an IC carrier in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2A is a plan view of the IC carrier shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 2B is a side view of the IC carrier shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 2C is a plan view of the IC carrier shown in Fig. 1 as seen from the bottom side; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the IC carrier by which an IC package by which an IC package is carried; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the IC carrier shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an assembly consisting of an IC carrier, an IC package and an IC socket, particularly illustrating by way of example that the IC package is brought into contact with the IC socket; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an assembly consisting of an IC carrier, an IC package and an IC socket, particularly illustrating by way of another example that the IC package is brought into contact with the IC socket; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an assembly consisting of an IC carrier, an IC package and an IC socket, particularly illustrating by way of a further example that the IC package is brought into contact with the IC socket; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an assembly consisting of an IC carrier, an IC package and an IC socket, particularly illustrating by way of a still further example that the IC package is brought into contact with the IC socket. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention will now be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof. As typically shown in Fig. 1, an IC carrier 1 is substantially constructed by a square frame 2 and includes an IC receiving portion 3 defined by the frame 2 at the central part of the latter. In addition, the IC carrier 1 includes a plurality of latch members 4 (two latch members in the shown case) in the frame 2, and the latch member 4 can disengageably be engaged with an IC package 6 when the latter is received in the IC receiving portion 3. As an example, each latch member 4 is constructed such that two torsion bars 5 are arranged to extend along two opposing sides of the IC receiving portions 3 and two latch arms 4a each having an engagement pawl 4b formed at the foremost end thereof area caused to stand upright from each torsion bar 5 so as to allow the respective engagement pawls 4b to be engaged with and disengaged from the IC package 6. When an IC package 6 is received in the IC receiving portion 3, it is brought into engagement with the latch member 4 along the whole edge thereof and a plurality of leads 6a projecting sideward of four sides or two sides of the IC package 6 are held on the surface of the frame 2, whereby the IC package 6 is carried by the IC carrier 1. In the shown case, a plurality of leads 6a project from four sides of the IC package 6 and the foremost end of each lead 6a is held on the surface of the frame 2. An electrical conductive pattern 7 is deposited on the surface of the frame 2 by employing a printed wiring process while the respective leads 6a are held on the frame 2 in that way. The electrical conductive pattern 7 is practically utilized in such a manner that all the leads 6a extending from the IC package 6 come in contact with one part of the electrical conductive pattern 7 via a plurality of first contact portions 7a to be described later, while a plurality of contacts 8a held by an IC socket 8 come into contact with another part of the electrical conductive pattern 7 via a plurality of second contact portions 7b to be described later. Figs. 5 to 8 show four examples each of which illustrates by way of sectional view that the electrical conductive pattern 7 comes into contact with leads 6a and contact pieces 8a. As is apparent from the drawings, the electrical conductive pattern 7 extends from the surface portion along the inner edge of the frame 2 to the surface portion along the outer edge portion of the same. In a first example as shown in Fig. 5, while the foremost ends of the leads 6a extending from the IC package 6 are held on the surface portion along the inner edge of the frame 2, a plurality of first contact portions 7a are formed between the inner end part of the electrical conductive pattern 7 and the foremost ends of leads 6a, and a plurality of second contact portions 7b are formed between the outer end part of the electrical conductive pattern 7 and the contact pieces 8a each extending from the IC socket 8 while exhibiting a U-shaped contour. The first contact portions 7a are spaced away from each other at a smaller interval between adjacent ones, while the second contact portions 7b are spaced away from each other at a larger interval between adjacent ones. With such construction, the leads 6a extending from the IC package 6 are brought into pressure contact with the first contact portions 7a arranged in the spaced relationship at a small interval equal to the interval between adjacent leads 6a, while the contact pieces 8a extending from the IC socket 8 are likewise brought into pressure contact with the second contact portions 7b arranged in the spaced relationship at a large interval larger than an interval between adjacent leads 6a. To establish correct contact of the electrical conductive pattern 7 with each contact piece 8a, the position of each second contact portion 7b is properly determined depending on a manner of depositing the electrical conductive pattern 7 on the frame 2. In Fig. 5, reference numeral 9 designates a retaining cover placed above the IC socket 8. The retaining cover 9 serves to depress the IC carrier 1 with its own dead weight in order to normally maintain reliable contact between the leads 6a and the contact pieces 8a. In a second example as shown in Fig. 6, the electrical conductive pattern 7 extends from the surface portion along the inner edge of the frame 2 to the outer peripheral surface of the latter so that a plurality of second contact portions 7b are formed between a part of the electrical conductive pattern 7 on the outer peripheral surface of the frame 2 and the contact pieces 8a standing upright from the IC socket 8. With the IC carrier 1 shown in Fig. 6, the IC package 6 is held by the contact force given by all the contact pieces 8a. In a third example as shown in Fig. 7, the electrical conductive pattern 7 extends from the surface portion along the inner edge of the frame 2 not only to the outer peripheral surface of the latter but also to the upper surface portion of the same located opposite to the first-mentioned surface portion. In this example, a plurality of first contact portions 7a are formed between the inner end part of the electrical conductive pattern 7 and the foremost ends of the leads 6a, while a plurality of second contact portions 7b are formed between an upper part of the electrical conductive pattern 7 located on the last-mentioned surface portion of the frame 2 and the foremost ends of the contact pieces 8a standing upright from the IC socket 8. When a cover 11 arranged above the IC socket 8 is depressed, the contact pieces 8a are deformed and displaced away from the second contact portions 7b. On the contrary, when the cover 11 is released from the depressed state, the contacts 8a are displaced in the forward direction so that they are brought into pressure contact with the second contact portions 7b from above, and at the same time, the IC package 6 is held on the IC socket 8 by the contact force given by the contact pieces 8a. In a fourth example as shown in Fig. 8, the electrical conductive pattern 7 extends from the surface portion along the inner edge of the frame 2 to an inclined outer peripheral surface 12 of the latter so that a plurality of second contact portions 7b are formed between a part of the electrical conductive pattern 7 on the inclined outer peripheral surface 12 and the foremost ends of the contact pieces 8a. This example is substantially same to the third example with the exception that the second contact portions 12 are formed on the inclined outer peripheral surface 12 of the frame 2. An important thing common to the first to fourth examples as mentioned above with reference to Figs. 5 to 8 is that an elastic member 10 made of an electrical insulating material such as rubber or the like is disposed on the IC socket 8 in the embedded state so as to support each lead 6a extending from the IC package 6 from below. When the frame 2 is depressed so as to allow each first contact portion 7a on the electrical conductive pattern 7 to come into pressure contact with the corresponding lead 6a, the elastic member 10 is compressed, and subsequently, the lead 6a is raised up by the reactive force appearing as a result of the compression of the elastic member 10, whereby an adequate contact pressure is reliably maintained between the leads 6a and the first contact portions 7a. Of course, it is obvious that the electrical conductive pattern 7 is previously deposited on the surface of the frame 2 corresponding to each of the first to fourth examples as mentioned above. While the present invention has been described above with reference to a single embodiment and four examples, it should of course be understood that the present invention should not be limited only to the embodiment and the examples but various changes or modifications may be made without departure from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: An integrated circuit carrier including a frame (2), an integrated circuit receiving portion (3) defined by said frame and a plurality of latch members (4) adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from an integrated circuit package when received in said integrated circuit receiving portion whereby a plurality of leads (6a) extending from said integrated circuit package (6) are held on the surface of said frame so that said integrated circuit package is carried by said integrated circuit carrier via said leads; characterized by an electrical conductive pattern (7) deposited on the surface of said frame, including a plurality of first contact portions (7a) for bringing said leads in contact with said electrical conductive pattern, and a plurality of second contact portions (7b) for bringing a plurality of contact pieces (8a) extending from an integrated circuit socket (8) in contact with said electrical conductive pattern, said first contact portions being spaced away from each other at an interval and said second contact portions being spaced away from each other at an interval larger than an interval between adjacent first contact portions, whereby said leads are reliably brought in electrical contact with said contact pieces via said first contact portions, said electrical conductive pattern and said second contact portions. An integrated circuit carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical conductive pattern extends from the surface portion along the inner edge of said frame to the outer peripheral surface of the same so that said second contact portions are formed for said contact pieces on the outer end side of the frame. An integrated circuit carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical conductive pattern extends from the surface portion along the inner edge of said frame to the outer peripheral surface of the same so that said first contact portions are formed for said leads on the inner end side of said electrical conductive pattern and said second contact portions are formed for said contact pieces on a part of said electrical conductive pattern located on the outer peripheral surface of said frame. The integrated circuit carrier according to claim 1, wherein said electrical conductive pattern extends from the surface portion along the inner edge of said frame to the upper surface of the same located opposite to the first-mentioned surface portion so that said first contact portions are formed for said leads on the inner end side of said electrical conductive pattern and said second contact portions are formed for said contact pieces on a part of said electrical conductive pattern located on the upper surface portion of said frame. An integrated circuit carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical conductive pattern extends from the surface portion along the inner edge of said frame to an inclined outer peripheral surface (12) of the same so that said first contact portions are formed for said leads on the inner end side of said electrical conductive pattern and said second contact portions are formed for said contact pieces on a part of said electrical conductive pattern located on said inclined outer peripheral surface of said frame. An integrated circuit carrier as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each first contact portion is dimensioned to have a width smaller than that of each lead.

Inventors: MATSUOKA NORIYUKI, MATSUOKA, NORIYUKI
Applicants: YAMAICHI ELECTRONICS CO LTD, YAMAICHI ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H05K7
IPC codes: H05K7, H01L23, H01R33