Abstract:
An IC socket includes a base receiving a number of contacts, a lid mounted upon the base, and at least one latch mounted in the base. The lid is able to be operated between a first position away from the base and a second position adjacent to the base. The latch is driven by the lid to open and close. At least one stopper is disposed on the lid and extends into a recess defined on the latch to lock with latch the latch when the lid located at the first position for preventing the lid from dropping from the base.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an integrated circuit (IC) socket, and more particularly to an IC socket having a lid provided with a restraining mechanism to prevent the lid from jumping out of the IC socket so as to ensure a well operation of the IC socket. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Electronic package is installed on a printed circuit board to construct a complete circuit of continuous function. To ensure the security and reliability of the electronic package during using, the electronic package must be tested before using. The test usually undergoes extended period of time at high temperature so that a defective package can be detected earlier. A so-called burn-in socket servers this purpose. The burn-in socket typically comprises a base, a plurality of contacts disposed on the base, latches and a lid for driving the latches to open and close relative to the base. Four clasps provided by the lid engage with outer walls of the base to define a largest distance for the lid upwardly moving. Four springs are mounted at corners of the base to push the lid to move upwardly and close the latches synchronously. The lid is pressed downwardly by fingers of an operator, sometime only one side of the lid is pressed, then another opposite side of the lid may cock and even released the clasps from the base, at this situation, if the operator takes his finger back suddenly, the restored force of the springs will eject the lid from the base, that will damage the IC socket and hurt the operator. 
         [0005]    Therefore, an improved IC socket is needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An object of the present invention is to provide an IC socket having an lid provided with a restraining mechanism to prevent the lid from jumping out of the IC socket. 
         [0007]    To achieve the aforementioned object, an IC socket made in accordance with the present invention comprises a base receiving a plurality of contacts, an lid mounted upon the base, and at least one latch mounted in the base. The lid is able to be operated between a first position away from the base and a second position adjacent to the base. The latch is driven by the lid to open and close and defines a recess. At least one stopper is disposed on the lid and received in the recess when the lid is located at the first position to prevent the lid from removing from the base. 
         [0008]    To further achieve the aforementioned object, an IC socket made in accordance with the present invention comprises a base with a plurality of contacts, an lid mounted to the base, and at least two latches mounted to the base. The lid moves in a vertical direction and has at least one pusher and one stopper. Each latch has a guiding portion pushed by the pusher to open and close and a wall abutting against the stopper in the vertical direction to restrict the lid to the base. 
         [0009]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an assembly perspective view of an IC socket in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an explode perspective view of the IC socket of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a base of the IC socket in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an explode perspective view of a part of a contact module of the IC socket in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a lid of the IC socket in accordance with a first embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a lid of the IC socket in accordance with a second embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a pair of latches of the IC socket in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 1 , showing the lid located at a first position; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 8 , showing the lid located at a second position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show an IC socket used for testing an electronic package (not shown). The socket comprises a base  1 , a contact module  2  mounted in the base  1 , a sliding member  3  mounted upon the base  1 , a pair of latches  4  assembled to opposite sides of the base  1 , and a lid  5  assembled to the base  1  and moveable in a vertical direction. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the base  1  is substantially rectangular and has an opening  10  extending substantially vertically through the base  1 . A pair of cavity  11  are defined adjacent the opening  10  and located at opposite sides of the base  1  for receiving the latches  4 . A plurality of springs  6  are located at four corners of the base  1  to provide flexible force for the lid  5 . The base  1  further includes a plurality of apertures  12  to retain the sliding plate  3 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the contact module  2  is mounted in the opening  10  of the base  1  by a shaft  23  and includes a plurality of board-like plates  21  against with each other, a plurality contacts  22  sandwiched at two adjacent plates  21 . Each contact  22  is configured in a bent shape and comprises a mating portion  221  contacting with the electronic package (not shown), a tail  222  engaging with a printed circuit board (not shown), and a retention portion  223  and two curved portions  224  positioned between the mating portion  221  and the tail  222 . One of the curved portion  224  links the retention portion  223  and the mating portion  221 , and the other curved portion  224  links the retention portion  223  and the tail  222 . When the contacts  22  are assembled in the plates  21 , the mating portions  221  and the tails  222  extend beyond a top and a bottom sides of the plates  21 , respectively. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the sliding member  3  includes a sliding plate  31  used for supporting the electronic package (not shown) and orientating solder balls (not shown) of the electronic package (not shown), and a frame  33  mounted upon the sliding plate  31  for orientating the electronic package (not shown). The sliding plate  31  has a substantially rectangular shape and a plurality of passageways  312  extending through thereof to receive the contacts  22 . The mating portions  221  of the contacts  22  and the solder balls (not shown) of the electronic package (not shown) are both received in the passageways  312  to construct an electrical connection thereof. A plurality of hooks  311  extend downwardly from opposite sides of the sliding plate  31  to engage with the apertures  12  of the base  1  to moveably secure the sliding plate  31  to the base  1 . A plurality of springs (not shown) are located between the siding plate  31  and base  1  for supporting the sliding member  3  moveable with respect to the base  1  in a vertical direction. The frame  33  provided with a plurality snaps  331  is fixed to the sliding plate  31  such that the frame  33  and sliding plate  31  can move together with respect to the base  1 . 
         [0023]    The lid  5  has a rectangular frame configuration and is surrounded by four side walls  50 . The lid  5  can move between a first position far away the base  1  and a second position adjacent to the base  1 . A pair of longitudinal side walls  50  have four clasps  51  extending downwardly to engage with outer walls of the base  1  so as to define a largest distance for the lid  5  upwardly moving. A plurality of pusher  52  with curved surfaces protrude from a pair of traversal side walls  50  of the lid  5  to push the latches  4  to open and close with regard to the base  1 . A plurality of stoppers  54  are disposed on the pusher  52  of the side walls  50  and extend into an inner space of the frame-liked lid  5 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , it shows the first embodiment of the lid  5 , in the first embodiment, four holes  53  are defined on and extend through the pushers  52  of the traversal side walls  50 , and four stoppers  54  configured with metallic rods insert into the holes  53 .  FIG. 6  shows a second embodiment of the lid  5 ′, the stoppers  54 ′ are integrally formed with the lid  5 ′ and no holes are defined. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , the latches  4  is configured with a lateral top section  41  and a longitudinal bottom section  42 . A pressing portion  410  is formed at front end of the top section  41 , adapted for pressing the electronic package (not shown). A guiding portion  411  with an inclined surface is formed at rear end of the top section  41  and is pushed by the pusher  52  so that the latch  4  can be rotated to open and close. A pair of recesses  412  are defined on two opposite sides of the guiding portion  411  with a top wall  4120  to limit the stopper  54  when the lid  5  is located at the first position (see  FIG. 8 ). A through hole  420  extends through side surfaces of the bottom section  42  of the latch  4 , and an axis  43  passes through the through hole  420  to secure the latch  4  to the base  1 . The latch  4  rotates around to the axis  43 . A spring  8  is horizontally disposed in the base  1  and perpendicular to the axis  43  to provide a spring force to open the latch  4 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the lid  5  located in the first position, and  FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the lid  5  located in the second position. Referring to  FIG. 8 , in order to put the electronic package (not shown) in to the IC socket, the lid  5  is pressed downwardly by an outside force exerting thereon, and meanwhile the latches  4  rotates to open by the spring force of the springs  8 . At this situation, the lid  5  is located at the second position as shown in  FIG. 9  and the electronic package (not shown) is put in the frame  33 . After that, releasing the lid  5 , the lid  5  returns to the first position by the springs  6  and the latches  4  are closed with respect to the base  1  by the pushers  52  of the lid  5 . The latches  4  press on the electronic package (not shown) to bring the sliding plate  31  and frame  33  to downwardly move, and the contacts  22  are also pressed to be lower than the initial heights so as to construct a reliable electrical connection between the contacts  22  and the electronic package. When the lid  5  returns to the first position, the stoppers  54  abuts against the top wall  4120  of the recess  412  and the clasp  51  engage with the base  1  to prevent the lid  5  from jumping out of the base  1 . In that case, the lid  5  is ensured located in the IC socket even one edge thereof is pressed. 
         [0026]    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.