Abstract:
An electrical connector with a heat dissipating device adapted to physically in contact with an electrical package disposed on a socket connector comprises a load plate having a substantially rectangular configuration defining a central opening having a first length and a first width and a heat plate having longitudinal sides and traversal ends. A heat plate has a heat pipe attached thereon and arranged such that the heat plate is disposed under the load plate, while the heat pipe is arranged above the load plate when rotated.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, and more particularly to an electrical connector assembly with a heat dissipating device to efficiently dissipating heat generated from a CPU (Central Process Unit) mounted within the socket assembly. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,848 issued to Lai on Mar. 3, 1998 discloses a typical connector socket, and which is generally referred to as a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket. In general, the socket includes a base with a plurality of contacts assembled therein, and a cover moveably attached to the base. A lever with a cam mechanism is arranged between the base and cover to drive the cover from a first position to a second position. When the lever is located in a vertical position, the cover is located at the first position, in which a hole in the cover is completely in aligned with a corresponding passageway in the base. In this position, pins of the CPU can be inserted from the cover into the passageway without any engagement with the contact. When the CPU is properly seated on the cover, then the lever is moved from the vertical position to a horizontal position, and simultaneously driving the cover from the first position to the second position. During this process, the pins of the CPU are then in contact with the contact within the base. The Lai &#39;848 is specially directed to a desk-top computer. 
         [0005]    CPU socket used on notebook is substantially similar to what is used on the desktop computer, and the only difference is on the lever used on &#39;848 patent was replaced by a screw with a cam mechanism. When the screw is driven or rotated, the cover is driven to move along the base, therefore the pins of the CPU are then in contact with the contact within the base, and no detailed description is given here. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,001,197 issued to Shirai on Feb. 21, 2006 discloses another type of socket, and which can be generally called LGA socket. The original pins type of chip occupies more space on the bottom surface of the CPU. In order to increase input/output speed, conductive pads are introduced to replace the pins so as to directly and electrically contact with contact terminals within the socket. No doubt, the speed is increased. 
         [0007]    As clearly shown in Figures of Shirai &#39;197, it is different configuration from to what Lai &#39;848 discloses. The socket generally includes a metal stiffener with a housing securely supported therein. Then a metal clip is pivotally assembled to the stiffener. On the other hand, the clip is pivotally assembled to one side of the stiffener and when the clip is closed to the stiffener, the lever has a cam which can lock the clip to a closed position. By this arrangement, the CPU is seated on the housing before the clip is closed, and then the clip will tightly press the CPU toward the housing for ensuring proper electrical connection therebetween. 
         [0008]    Shirai &#39;197 can be applied to the desktop computer for which has more room for the operation of the lever, while it is almost impossible to apply Shirai &#39;197 directly to the notebook in view of its compact, and thin space. 
         [0009]    Another factor to be considered is the configuration of the CPU. The CPU generally includes a substrate and a die mounted upon the substrate. Even the CPU is rigid, it is still vulnerable to deform or warp for downward force applied thereon is not evenly distributed. In Shirai &#39;197 patent, the die is not pressed by the clip which has a window for it. The die is in direct contact with a heat sink. As a result, when applying the so-called LGA socket to notebook, how to provide a mechanism functionally similar to Shirai &#39;197, while keep downward force evenly distributes to both die and substrate, is a motive for the present invention. 
         [0010]    The configuration of heat sink is another factor to be considered. Typically, the heat sink device includes a bottom plate and a plurality of parallel heat sink clip disposed on the bottom plate. As the heat sink device generally has a big volume, it applied to the desktop computer is ok, while it is almost impossible to apply to the notebook in view of its compact and thin space. 
         [0011]    Therefore, there is need to supply an improved electrical connector assembly with a heat dissipating device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly with a heat dissipate device which can dissipate heat for the CPU and exert a downward force to the CPU to prevent the CPU warp. 
         [0013]    In order to achieve the object set forth, a heat dissipating device adapted to physically in contact with an electrical package disposed on a socket connector comprises a load plate having a substantially rectangular configuration defining a central opening having a first length and a first width and a heat plate having longitudinal sides and traversal ends. A heat plate has a heat pipe attached thereon and arranged such that the heat plate is disposed under the load plate, while the heat pipe is arranged above the load plate when rotated. 
         [0014]    In order to further achieve the object set forth, an electrical connector assembly comprises a socket, a load plate disposed upon the socket assembly, a heat plate and a heat pipe. The load plate has a substantially rectangular configuration defining a central opening having a first length and a first width. A heat plate with a heat pipe attached thereon forms an entity heat sink, and assembles the heat sink to the load plate such that the load plate is clamped by the heat pipe and heat plate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an electrical connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the electrical connector assembly shown in  FIG. 1 , showing a heat pipe mounted on a heat plate; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the electrical connector assembly shown in  FIG. 2 , showing the next assembly composed of the heat pipe and heat plate assembled to a load plate; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the electrical connector assembly shown in  FIG. 3 , showing the load plate rotated 90 degrees respective to the assembly composed of the heat pipe and heat plate; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is assembled perspective view of the electrical connector assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a heat plate and a load plate of the electrical connector assembly; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a partial view of the heat plate and an electrical package shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the heat plate and the electrical package shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electrical connector assembly of the present invention is used to a printed circuit board  60  and comprises an electrical connector  20  mounted on the printed circuit board  60 , an electrical package  30  received in the electrical connector  20  and a heat dissipating device disposed on the electrical package  30 . The heat dissipating device comprises a heat sink  40  and a load plate  50 . 
         [0025]    The electrical connector  20  electrically connected with the electrical package  30  and the printed circuit board  60  comprises a substantially rectangular insulative housing  201  with a cavity  202  and a plurality of contacts (not shown) received in the cavity  202 . The contacts engage with the electrical package  30  at a top end thereof and solder to the printed circuit board  60  at a bottom end thereof. 
         [0026]    The electrical package  30  comprises a substrate  301  and a die  302  disposed in the middle of the substrate  301  and protruding from the substrate  301 . 
         [0027]    The heat sink  40  includes a metal heat plate  401  and a metal heat pipe  402 . The heat plate  401  is substantially rectangular configuration corresponding to the electrical package  30  and defines a longitudinal side and a traversal side. The heat plate  401  comprises a first pressing portion  4011  depressed in a bottom surface thereof and protruding out off top surface thereof, and a second pressing portion  4012  symmetrically disposed in the traversal sides of the heat plate  401 . The first pressing portion  4011  has a recess at a bottom end thereof used for receiving the die  302  of the electrical package  30 . When assemble the heat plate  401  upon the electrical package  30 , the first pressing portion  4011  of the heat plate  401  presses the die  302  of the electrical package  30  and the second pressing portion  4012  presses the substrate  301  of the electrical package  30  so as the electrical package  30  can keep in a good condition. 
         [0028]    The load plate  50  is used for pressing the electrical package  30  toward the electrical socket  20 , and made of metal material or other material, in the present embodiment, the load plate  50  is made of metal material. The load plate  50  is substantially rectangular configuration and comprises a pair of parallel retaining portions  501  in traversal sides and a pair of parallel loading portion  502  connected with the retaining portion  501  in longitudinal sides. The corners of the retaining portion  501  define a plurality of holes  5011  for a plurality of screws  7  or the like extending therethrough to fasten the load plate to the printed circuit board  60 . The retaining portion  501  and loading portion  502  form an opening  503  therebetween to allow the heat plate  401  passing through. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  to  FIG. 5  is shown assembly processes of the electrical connector assembly: first solder the electrical connector  20  to the printed circuit board  60 ; then put the electrical package  30  to the cavity  202  of the electrical connector  20 ; at last assemble the heat dissipate device upon the electrical package  30 . The assembly processes of the heat dissipate device is different to generally processes, which essentially comprises steps as follows: (1) solder the heat pipe  402  to the heat plate  401  to form an entity heat sink  40 ; (2) put the entity heat sink  40  into the opening  503  of the load plate  50  to make the heat pipe  402  above the load plate  50  and the heat plate  401  in the opening  503  of the load plate  50 ; (3) rotate the load plate  50  to make the load plate  50  pressed the second pressing portion  4012  of the heat plate  401 , in present embodiment, the load plate  50  is rotated substantially 90 degrees; (4) fasten the load plate  50  to the circuit board  60  by screws  7 . 
         [0030]    To achieve the assembly of the heat dissipate device processes as above said, the opening  503  of the load plate  50  and the heat plate  401  must achieve some special structures.  FIG. 6  describes some special structures of the opening  503  of the load plate  50  and the heat plate  401 . We use “d” to represent the length of the opening  503 , “c” to represent the width of the opening  503 , and use “b” and “a” respectively to represent the length and width of the heat plate  401 . The special structures are as follows: firstly, the heat plate  401  must be rectangular configuration, i.e. b&gt;a. The ends of the long sides must provide the second pressing portion  4012  for supporting the load plate  50  and the first pressing portion  4011  which is higher than the second pressing portion  4012  (as  FIG. 7  shown) for distributing a force to the die  302  and the substrate  301  of the electrical package  30 ; secondly, the longitudinal sides and the traversal sides of the opening  503  of the load plate  50  is bigger or equal than the respectively longitudinal sides and the traversal sides of the heat plate  401 , i.e. d≧b, c≧a, thereby the heat plate  401  can be put into the opening  503  of load plate  50 ; thirdly, the length of the heat plate  401  must be bigger than the width of the opening  503 , i.e. b&gt;c, under this condition, after rotating the load plate  50  respective to the heat plate  401 , the loading portion  502  of the load plate  50  could press on the second pressing portion  4012  of the heat plate  401 . As has been said, we can use one expression to illustrate the special structure that is d≧b&gt;c≧a. 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the heat plate  401  assembled to the electrical package  30 . Understandably, the die  302  of the electrical package  30  supports the first pressing portion  4011  and the substrate  301  of the electrical package  30  supports the second pressing portion  4012 , thus the die  302  and the substrate  301  could bear the force simultaneously for preventing the warp of the electrical package  30 . The loading plate  50  mounted to the print circuit board  60  has two main functions: the first is to secure the electrical package  30  on the electrical connector  20  to establish well electrical connection; the second is to secure the heat plate  401  on the electrical package  30  for dissipating heat from the electrical package  30 . 
         [0032]    The principle of the present invention is first soldered the heat plate  401  and the heat pipe  402  together as an entity heat sink  40  and then assembled the heat sink  40  to the load plate  50  to make the load plate  50  positioned between the heat plate  401  and heat pipe  402  and clamped by the heat sink  40 . Accordingly, when in the process of soldering the heat plate  401  and the heat pipe  402  together, the load plate  50  will not be warped. If we first assemble the heat plate  401 , load plate  50  and then weld the heat pipe  402  on the heat plate  401 , understandably, this will generate quantity of heat to make the load plate  50  warped. 
         [0033]    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.