Abstract:
In some embodiments, a socket with integral, retractable socket contact protector is presented. In this regard, a contact protector is introduced to protect contacts, and to provide openings through which the contacts can emerge to couple with lands. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of sockets, and, more particularly to a socket with integral, retractable socket contact protector. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In computing devices, processors are placed in sockets which are soldered onto a substrate. In some cases, when a person or machine places a processor in a socket incorrectly or with too much force there can be damage to the socket contacts that may require the motherboard to be replaced. Damage to sockets can be costly and time consuming to a computer manufacturing operation. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a socket and a socket contact protector, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of a socket with integral, retractable socket contact protector, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 3A-3B  are cross-sectional views of an example socket with integral, retractable socket contact protector, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an example socket with integral, retractable socket contact protector, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an example electronic appliance incorporating a socket with integral, retractable socket contact protector, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the invention. 
   Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
     FIG. 1  is a diagram of a socket and a socket contact protector, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention. In accordance with the illustrated example embodiment, assembly  100  may include socket housing  102 , socket contacts  104  and socket contact protector  106 . Socket contact protector  106  includes openings  108  and integrated springs  110  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   Socket housing  102  is usually made of plastic and provides the structural support and limited protection for internal mechanisms of the socket, for example socket contacts  104 . Additionally, the shape of socket housing  102  may provide alignment features for both socket contact protector  106  and a device package intended to mate with the socket. 
   Socket contacts  104  are often thin metal strip formed and cut in a particular shape which provide electrical coupling with pads of a device package. Socket contacts made be of other materials and shapes. In one embodiment, socket contacts  104  rise from the base of socket housing  102  at an angle and are curved at the top end. In this embodiment, socket contacts  104  will tend to move down and out slightly when a downward force is applied, for example when a device package is mated with the socket. This movement of socket contacts  104  is colloquially referred to as a wiping action. 
   Socket contact protector  106 , when installed in socket housing  102 , is designed to protect socket contacts  104  from potential damage and contains openings  108  through which socket contacts  104  can emerge to couple with a device package. Openings  108  may be circular or any other shape to accommodate the particular shape of the socket contacts and penetration of socket contacts  104  through socket contact protector  106 , including accommodating any wiping action of socket contacts  104 . In one embodiment, socket contact protector  106  is a substantially planar, thin, injection-molded plastic table. Socket contact protector  106  may also include integrated springs  110  to provide a means for captivating socket contact protector  106  within socket housing  102  and a means for transitioning socket contact protector  106  between up and down positions as described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     FIG. 2  is a diagram of a socket with integral, retractable socket contact protector, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention. In accordance with the illustrated example embodiment, device package socket  200  may include socket housing  202 , socket contact protector  204 , tabs  206 , and integrated springs  208  coupled as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Socket contact protector  204 , which was molded to align in shape and dimensions within the contact field of device package socket  200 , is shown installed and captivated within socket housing  202  after integrated springs  208  (and possibly others not shown) have been snapped under tabs  206 . When there is no force placed on socket contact protector  204 , and therefore no compression of integrated springs  208 , the top surface of socket contact protector  204  extends slightly above the contacts of device package socket  200 . When a force is placed on socket contact protector  204 , for example when a device package is installed in device package socket  200 , integrated springs  208  are compressed and socket contact protector  204  retracts (or lowers along the z-axis) exposing the contacts of device package socket  200  which emerge through corresponding openings in socket contact protector  204 . Through designed alignment with socket housing  202  and integrated springs  208 , socket contact protector  204  is able to move through a slight up and down range in the z-axis, but is constrained to very limited movement in the x-axis or y-axis given the close x-y fit between features on the contact protector and corresponding features in the socket housing. One skilled in the art would appreciate that the physical alignment of socket contact protector  204  within socket housing  202  can facilitate proper installation of socket contact protector  204  into socket housing  202 . 
     FIGS. 3A-3B  are cross-sectional views of an example socket with integral, retractable socket contact protector, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention. In accordance with the illustrated example embodiment, view  300  of device package socket  200  includes socket contacts  302 , socket contact protector  303 , openings  304 , integrated spring  306 , socket base  308 , and vertical space  310 , coupled as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
   Socket contacts  302  are aligned with corresponding openings  304  in socket contact protector  303 . The top surface of socket contact protector  303  in this example is above socket contacts  302 , providing protection which would be recognized by one skilled in the art. Vertical space  310  is the distance which the bottom of socket contact protector  303  is suspended above socket base  308 . In one embodiment, this distance is about 0.4 mm. While as shown integrated spring  306  maintains vertical space  310  by acting on socket base  308 , other configurations or types of springs or mechanical means may be utilized to provide vertical space  310 . 
     FIG. 3B  depicts view  300  of device package socket  200  with the addition of device package  312 . In this example embodiment, an actuation force has been applied to seat device package  312 , possibly through the use of, for example, a socket lever or metal clip (not shown). This actuation force pushes socket contact protector  303  down until it contacts socket base  308 . As socket contact protector  303  is forced down, socket contacts  302  emerge through openings  304 . Socket contacts  302  are then able to contact pads, for example land grid array (LGA) pads, of device package  312 . If the actuation force were removed, integrated spring  306  would unload and return socket contact protector  303  to the up position depicted in  FIG. 3A . 
     FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an example socket with integral, retractable socket contact protector, depicting view  400  in  FIG. 3B . As shown, socket contact  404  is extending through opening  406  of table  402  to contact land  408  of device package  414 . To achieve the coupling of socket contact  404  and land  408 , a downward force would be applied to device package  414  thereby forcing table  402  down onto surface  412  of socket housing  410 . Land  408  is a conductive element of a land grid array (LGA). One skilled in the art would appreciate that while shown as part of a device package socket, the contact protector of the present invention can be applied to protect contacts in any number of applications, including but not limited to power connectors, I/O connectors, or other connections where a contact is to couple with a LGA-style land. 
     FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an example electronic appliance incorporating a socket with integral, retractable socket contact protector, in accordance with one example embodiment of the invention. Electronic appliance  500  is intended to represent any of a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional electronic appliances, laptops, desktops, cell phones, wireless communication subscriber units, wireless communication telephony infrastructure elements, personal digital assistants, set-top boxes, or any electric appliance that would benefit from the teachings of the present invention. In accordance with the illustrated example embodiment, electronic appliance  500  may include substrate  502 , processor socket  504 , socket contact protector  506 , socket contacts  507 , processor  508 , memory socket  510 , memory module  512 , and network controller  514  coupled as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   Substrate  502  may be a fiberglass motherboard with components soldered to it. For example, socket contacts  507 , memory socket  510  and network controller  514  may be soldered to a surface of substrate  502 . Conductive elements, either on a surface of or embedded within substrate  502 , provide the means for electrically coupling the various components with one another. 
   Processor socket  504  may include socket contacts  507  and a socket contact protector  506  as depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 A, or  3 B. 
   Processor  508  may represent any of a wide variety of control logic including, but not limited to one or more of a microprocessor, a programmable logic device (PLD), programmable logic array (PLA), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a microcontroller, and the like, although the present invention is not limited in this respect. 
   Memory module  512  may represent any type of memory device(s) used to store data and instructions that may have been or will be used by processor  508 . Typically, though the invention is not limited in this respect, memory module  512  will consist of dynamic random access memory (DRAM). In one embodiment, memory module  512  may consist of Rambus DRAM (RDRAM). In another embodiment, memory module  512  may consist of double data rate synchronous DRAM (DDRSDRAM). The present invention, however, is not limited to the examples of memory mentioned here. 
   Network controller  514  may represent any type of device that allows electronic appliance  500  to communicate with other electronic appliances or devices. In one embodiment, network controller  514  may comply with a The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) 802.11b standard (approved Sep. 16, 1999, supplement to ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition). In another embodiment, network controller  514  may be an Ethernet network interface card. 
   Many of the methods are described in their most basic form but operations can be added to or deleted from any of the methods and information can be added or subtracted from any of the described messages without departing from the basic scope of the present invention. Any number of variations of the inventive concept is anticipated within the scope and spirit of the present invention. In this regard, the particular illustrated example embodiments are not provided to limit the invention but merely to illustrate it. Thus, the scope of the present invention is not to be determined by the specific examples provided above but only by the plain language of the following claims.