Abstract:
The chip connection device&#39;s main feature is a structurally simple and rigid engagement member. The engagement member mainly contains a knob having only a top cylinder for turning and indication, an eccentric base cylinder to cause reliable relative lateral movement of the top and base plates of the chip connection device, and a flange between the top and base cylinders. The flange is sandwiched between a top board and a base board of the engagement member and the engagement member is in turn housed between the extensions from the top and base plates of the chip connection device. A clamping member is further provided to clamp the extensions from the top and base plates vertically together and, therefore, the plates can only be engaged into relative lateral movement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     (a) Technical Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention generally relates to electronic connection devices, and more particularly to a chip connection device capable of achieving superior electrical connectivity by the relative lateral displacement of the chip&#39;s top and base plates.  
         [0003]     (b) Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Chip connection devices are commonly found in computing devices. As the chips are constantly upgrading and getting more complicated, the chip connection devices are facing greater challenges which, on one hand, require superior electrical connectivity to the great number of delicate pins of the chips and, on the other hand, require easy installation and removal of the chips to and from a circuit board.  
         [0005]      FIG. 14  is a conventional chip connection device taught by R.O.C. (Taiwan) Patent Publication No., 250387. As illustrated, the chip connection device contains a base plate A 1  with pin holes A 2  each having a terminal C 1  inside, a top plate B 1  with pin holes B 2  corresponding to the pin holes A 2 , a protection member D 1 , and an engagement member E 1 .  
         [0006]     On the top surface of the base plate A 1 , there is a T-shaped indentation A 4  with a through hole A 3  in the center. The protection member D 1  contains a T-shaped base board D 3  and a T-shaped top board D 2 , both made of a metallic material. The base board D 3  has a rectangular through opening D 4  in the center and is positioned inside the indentation A 4  of the base plate A 1 . The top board D 2  is positioned in an indentation (not shown) on the bottom surface of the top plate B 1 . The top plate B 1  has a through hole B 3  in the center of the indentation. The circumference of the through hole B 3  consists of a larger arc and a smaller arc. There are two corners B 4  formed at where the two arcs interface with each other.  
         [0007]     The top board D 2  has an elongated through slot D 5  whose middle section is curved outward to form two arcs D 6 . From the circumference of the slot D 5 , two blocks D 7  are extended upward and, when assembled, the two blocks D 7  are adjacent to the corners B 4  of the top plate B 1 .  
         [0008]     The engagement member E 1  is integrally formed to have a number of cylinders stacked vertically. From top to bottom and in decreasing diameters, there are a first cylinder E 3 , a second cylinder E 4 , a third cylinder E 5 , and fourth cylinder E 6  which, when assembled, will be in the through hole or opening B 3 , D 5 , D 4 , and A 3 , respectively. At the interfaces between the cylinders and the boards and plates, a number of washers F 1  are used. A block E 2  is extended from the circumference of the cylinder E 3 .  
         [0009]     The operation of the chip connection device is as follows. First, a chip is positioned on the top plate B 1  so that its pins penetrate through the pin holes B 2  and A 2 . As the engagement member E 1  is turned so that the block E 2  is swung from one corner B 4  to another, the top plate B 1  is laterally displaced, relative to the base plate A 1  (as the base plate A 1  is fixed on the circuit board). As such, the pins of the chip are moved to establish reliable electrical contact with the terminals C 1  inside the pin holes A 2 .  
         [0010]     The disadvantages of the foregoing chip connection device are as follows. First, the structure of the engagement member E 1  is too complicated and therefore is difficult to manufacture. Secondly, the blocks E 2  and D 7  are the most vulnerable parts of the device and their strength should be reinforced. In addition, the positioning of the engagement member E 1  is not reliable; some external impact would easily cause the engagement member E 1  to escape from the chip connection device.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a structurally simple and rigid engagement member to achieve the relative lateral movement of the top and base plates of the connection device. To achieve this objective, the engagement member of the present invention mainly contains a knob having only a top cylinder for turning and indication and an eccentric base cylinder to cause reliable relative lateral movement.  
         [0012]     A second objective of the present invention is to achieve reliable and robust positioning of the engagement member. To achieve this objective, the knob of the engagement member contains a flange between the top and base cylinders. The flange is sandwiched between a top board and a base board of the engagement member and the engagement member is in turn housed between the extensions from the top and base plates of the chip connection device.  
         [0013]     A third objective of the present invention is to achieve strict and smooth lateral relative movement of the top and base plates of the chip connection device. To achieve this objective, a clamping member is provided to clamp the extensions from the top and base plates vertically together and, therefore, the plates can only be engaged into relative lateral movement.  
         [0014]     The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.  
         [0015]     Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a chip connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a top-down angle.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view showing the various components of the chip connection device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective enlarged view showing the details in the circle A of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded view showing the various components of the chip connection device of  FIG. 1  in a bottom-up angle.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective exploded view showing the various components of the engagement member of the chip connection device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0021]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are perspective and perspective sectional views showing the engagement member of the chip connection device of  FIG. 1  when it is not engaged.  
         [0022]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective and perspective sectional views showing the engagement member of the chip connection device of  FIG. 1  during its engagement.  
         [0023]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are perspective and perspective sectional views showing the engagement member of the chip connection device of  FIG. 1  after its engagement.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are enlarged perspective sectional views showing the interactions between the chip&#39;s pins and the terminals before and after the chip connection device is engaged, respectively.  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is a perspective exploded view showing the various components of a conventional chip connection device.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0027]     As shown in FIGS.  1  to  4 , an embodiment of the present invention contains a rectangular base plate  1 , a rectangular top plate  2 , and an engagement member  3 . The base plate  1  has an array of pin holes  11  and each pin hole  11  allows the accommodation of a terminal  12 . The terminals  12  are extended downward through the base plate  1  so as to be soldered to the electrical contact points of a circuit board. On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 3 , each terminal  12  contains two oppositely positioned conducting pieces  122  extended laterally toward a front direction and closing in towards each other at their end sections  122 . Along two opposing sides (hereinafter a first side and a second side) in the front-back direction of the base plate  1 , there are a number of retainer elements  14 , respectively. Along a third side, the base plate  1  has a first extension  13 . The first extension  13  has an indentation  131  on the top surface with a through hole  132  in the center of the indentation  131 . Along each of two opposing sides (hereinafter a first side and a second side) in the front direction perpendicular to the third side of the base plate  1 , the first extension  13  has a notch  133 .  
         [0028]     The top plate  2  is positioned on top of and joined to the base plate  1 . The top plate  2  also has an array of pin holes  21 , corresponding to the pin holes  11  of the base plate  1 . Along two opposing sides (hereinafter the first and second sides) in the front direction of the top plate  2  that are adjacent to the first and second sides of the base plate  1 , there are a number of latch element s  22  each with a hook  221  on the inner surface for engaging the retainer elements  14  of the base plate  1  when the cover and base plates  1  and  2  are joined together. Along a third side of the top plate  2  that is adjacent to the third side of the base plate  1 , the top plate  2  has a rectangular second extension  23 . The second extension  23  has an indentation  231  on the bottom surface with a through hole  232  in the center of the indentation  231 . Along each of two opposing sides (hereinafter a first side and a second side) in the front direction perpendicular to the third side of the top plate  1 , the second extension  23  has a side-to-side step  233 .  
         [0029]     the engagement member  3  is positioned inside the space formed by the indentations  131  and  231  of the first and second extensions  13  and  23 . The engagement member  3  has a knob  31  sandwiched between a base board  33  and a top board  32 . The base board  33  and the top board  32  can be made of a metallic material. The knob  31  has a circular flange  312  with a missing segment. On top of the circular flange  312 , there is a slim top cylinder (not numbered) in the center. The cylinder has a radial block  3122  extended from the circumference (see point B of  FIG. 5 ) outwards to the chord of the missing segment (see point A of  FIG. 5 ). On top of the cylinder, there is a diametric slot  3121  and a small blind hole  311  opposite said radial block  3122  across the slot  3121 . Beneath the circular flange  312 , there is a slim base cylinder  3123  positioned eccentrically and adjacent to the chord of the missing segment. Right beneath the base cylinder  3123  and the diametric slot  3121 , there is a stick (not numbered) parallel to and of substantially the same length as the diametric slot  3121 . The base board  33  contains a through hole  331  for accommodating the base cylinder  3123 . On the other hand, the top board  32  contains a through hole  321  for accommodating the top cylinder. The circumference of the hole  321  consists of a larger arc  322  and a smaller arc (not numbered), each spanning about 180 degrees, that are located next to the first sides and the second sides of the first and second extensions  13  and  23 , respectively. At where the larger arc  322  meets the smaller arc, thereby, two corners  3221  and  3222  are formed.  
         [0030]     Along the circumference of the through hole  232  of the second extension  23 , there are two opposing protrusions  2321  across the center right adjacent to the corners  3221  and  3222  of the top board  32 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the relative position of the blind hole  311  against the protrusions  2321  indicates the operation status of the engagement member  3 .  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the assembly of the engagement member  3  is as follows. First, the base board  33  and the top board  32  are placed inside the indentations  131  and  231 , respectively. Then, the knob  31  has its top cylinder fitted inside the through hole  321  of the top board  32  and the top plate  2  are joined to the base plate  1 . The flange  312  is therefore interposed between the top board  32  and the base board  33 ; and the base cylinder  3123  is inside the through hole  331  of the base board  33 . The radial block  3122  and the corners  3221  and  3222  together define a range limiting the turn of the knob  31 .  
         [0032]     Additionally, a U-shaped clamping member  4  is installed laterally to clamp the first and second extensions  13  and  23  together, so as to prevent the first and second extensions  13  and  23  from separation when the knob  31  is operated. The clamping member  4  has two vertical arms  41  for clamping the first and second extensions  13  and  23  by their first and second sides. The top portions  43  of the arms  41  are bended towards each other and received by the steps  233  of the second extension  23 . In the middle section of each arm  41 , there is a laterally positioned flexible stick  42  so that, when the clamping member  4  is slipped on the first and second extensions  13  and  23 , the sticks  42  will stick into the notches  133  of the first extension  13 . The clamping member  4  can be made of a metallic material.  
         [0033]     FIGS.  6  to  11  illustrate the operation of the engagement member  4 . To use the engagement member  4 , a hand tool such as a screwdriver with the cabinet tip is inserted into the slot  3121  to turn the knob  31 . Initially, the status of the knob  31  is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . During the course of turning the knob  31 , the radial block  3122  is swung from the corner  3221  towards the corner  3222 . In the mean time, the eccentric base cylinder  3123  at the bottom of the knob  31  is turned as well, which will push the circumference of the through hole  331  of the base board  33 . As the base plate  1  (and therefore the base board  33 ) is fixed to a circuit board, the top board  32  (and therefore the top plate  2 ) is, in turn, advanced laterally in the front direction, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . As the radial block  3122  is turned all the way to the corner  3222 , the top plate  1  will achieve the greatest distance of lateral advancement relative to the base plate  1 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In other words, as the knob  31  is turned, its bottom eccentric base cylinder  3123  is tuned as well to exert force on the fixed base plate  1 . The counter force in turn causes the top plate  2  to slide in the front direction relative to the base plate  1 .  
         [0034]      FIGS. 12 and 13  show the configurations of the chip connection device before and after a chip is “locked.” As shown in  FIG. 12 , initially, the knob  31  of the chip connection device is at an “open” status (i.e., the base plate  1  and the top plate  2  have no relative lateral displacement). A chip is placed on top of the top plate  2  with its pins  5  penetrating through the pin holes  21  of the top plate  2  into the pin holes  11  of the base plate  1 . As illustrated, the pins  5  do not have any contact with the conducting pieces  122  of the terminals  12 . By turning the knob  31  so that the radial block  3122  is swung from the corner  3221  to the corner  3222 , as described earlier, the top plate  2  is shifted in the front direction. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the lateral displacement of the top plate  2  in the front direction causes the chip&#39;s pins  5  to slide between the end sections  1221  of the conducting pieces  122  to achieve reliably electrical conductivity between the pins  5  and the terminals  12 . To remove the chip, the knob  31  is turned from this “closed” status until the radial block  3122  is swung back to the corner  3221  (i.e., the “open”status). The lateral and reversed displacement of the top plate  2  causes the chip&#39;s pins  5  to break out of the end sections  1221 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . The chip then can be removed out of the chip connection device of the present invention.  
         [0035]     Please note the blind hole  311  functions as an indicator of the knob  31 &#39;s status. In alternative embodiments, this indicator can also be implemented as a small bump. In addition, the slot  3121  has an elongated shape for turning the knob  31  by a screwdriver with a cabinet tip. In other embodiments, the slot  3121  can have other appropriate shapes such as a cross or a hexagon for turning by a screwdriver with Philips tip and a hex wrench, respectively.  
         [0036]     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.  
         [0037]     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.