Patent Publication Number: US-2003235045-A1

Title: CPU carrier unit

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] (a) Field of the Invention  
       [0002] A structural improvement of CPU carrier unit, wherein on a bottom of a top cover of CPU carrier is a formation of a space that is somewhat recessed and elevated, on a bottom side of each pin hole of the top cover is a formation of auxiliary arm that is inserted in a conductive terminal inside each insert hole of the CPU carrier, on a top corresponding to the side of each auxiliary arm on the top cover is a horizontal extension of a flexible clip, to the effect that when each conductive terminal is inserted in the insert hole, the lower half part of the flexible clip is extended into the insert hole, while its upper half part is exposed out of the top of the insert hole, thereby when the CPU is inserted in the top cover, each pin and each auxiliary arm are respectively located at two sides of the flexible clip of the conductive terminal, and when the CPU is moved into position with the top cover, the auxiliary arm pushes an end of the flexible clip toward the pin, enabling firm contact with the pin, thereby achieving electrical conductivity and effectively upgrading product quality.  
       [0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] There is a trend toward the development of high density multiple pins in recent years for the insert units for CPU assembly. Such pin terminals for CPU insertion can satisfy requirements for high precision quality, and can have the feature of compact size that is readily applicable to portable computers and miniaturized personal computers. The CPU carrier units currently in use (such as mPGA 478B) has a structure that is assembled by hinge joining a top cover A and a base unit B. Please refer to FIGS. 1 through 6, wherein, on the top cover A is even distribution of a plurality of pinholes A 1 , and on a base unit B is also even distribution of a plurality of insert holes B 1  corresponding to the pinholes A 1 . In each insert hole B 1  is a conductive terminal C. Said conductive terminal is made of flexible metal plate that is punch pressed to form. As shown in FIG. 2, on a top and extended horizontally are double-sided or single-sided flexible clips C 1  (double-sided arrangement in the present embodiment). On the bottom is a horizontal bottom plate C 2 . The conductive terminal C is assembled to the bottom unit A. The conductive terminal C is inserted in the insert hole B 1 . As shown in FIG. 3, the top edge of inserted conductive terminal C is approximately flush with the top of insert hole B 1 . When all conductive terminals C are inserted in corresponding insert holes B 1 , solder paste D and solder balls E are spread on the bottom of the bottom plate C 2 , then they are welded to a circuit board F in a surface adhesion process for electrical conductivity. Thereby, the whole CPU carrier is fixed onto the circuit board F. Besides, on one side of the base unit B is a snap arm B 2 . By turning the snap arm B 2  from its vertical status to horizontal status and fixing it to a protruded block A 2  on a side of the top cover A, the top cover A is displaced. When the CPU is installed on the CPU carrier unit, all its pins G penetrate all pinholes A 1  on the top cover A, then through the flexible clip C 1  of the conductive terminal C in respective insert hole B 1 . Please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4 simultaneously. The CPU pin G is located slightly to the rear of the conductive terminal C, without contacting the conductive terminal C. When you turn the snap arm B 2  to a horizontal status and fix it to the protruded block A 2  of the top cover A, the top cover A drives the CPU to move slightly forward, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Then, the CPU pins G move to between two flexible clips C 1  of the conductive terminal C, enabling electrical contact with the flexible clip C 1 , so while the CPU is fixed to the CPU carrier, it is in electrical contact with the circuit board F.  
       [0005] However, in such conventional structure, the entire conductive terminal C is made of a metal plate that is punched and bent to form. Due to its flexibility, the shape of a metal plate is not easily controlled during its punching and forming process. It will easily result in error of inconsistent intervals between flexible clips C 1 . Or in actual applications, because of frequent friction on pins G of the CPU due to their frequent travel between the flexible clips C 1 , the flexible clips C 1  will be stretched repeatedly and result in flexible fatigue, and poor connection with the pins G. In addition, in case the computer is frequently carried around and subjected to frequent collisions (such as a portable computer), the vibration will worsen poor connection between the pins G and the conductive terminal C, resulting in failure to start the computer and to operate normally, and seriously affect product quality.  
       [0006] In view of the above, the inventor has devoted in active research, based on many years of experience in the research and development of computer related components, and after repeated conception, test production, tests, and revisions, has come up with the present invention, involving a space that is recessed on the bottom of the top cover of a CPU carrier unit. Extending from a bottom side of each pinhole is an auxiliary arm. Extending horizontally from a top of the conductive terminal is a flexible clip. When inserted in an insert hole on a CPU carrier unit, the lower half of the flexible clip is extended into the insert hole, while its upper half is exposed out of the top of the insert hole, so that when the CPU is inserted in the top cover, the pins and the auxiliary arms on the top cover are respectively located on two sides of the flexible clip of the conductive terminal. When the CPU is moved into position by the top cover, the auxiliary arm pushes the flexible clip corresponding to the conductive terminal towards the pin, enabling firm contact with the pins to achieve better electrical conductivity and avoid errors in production of conductive terminal, or flexible fatigue after use, or poor connection caused by vibration, and to effectively upgrade product quality. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art of CPU carrier unit.  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of conductive terminal inside a conventional CPU carrier unit.  
     [0009]FIG. 3 is a section view of a conventional CPU carrier unit with the insertion of a CPU, but a top cover and CPU are not moved to their positions.  
     [0010]FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3 showing the positions of conductive terminal and CPU pin inside the insert hole.  
     [0011]FIG. 5 is a section view of a conventional CPU carrier unit with the insertion of a CPU, and a top cover and CPU are moved to their positions.  
     [0012]FIG. 6 is a section view taken along line B-B in FIG. 5 showing the positions of conductive terminal and CPU pin inside the insert hole.  
     [0013]FIG. 7 is a structural view of a bottom of the top cover of the invention (a bottom view).  
     [0014]FIG. 8 is a view of the conductive terminal in the invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 9 is a section view of the invention of CPU carrier with the insertion of CPU, but the top cover and CPU are not moved to position.  
     [0016]FIG. 10 is a section view taken along line C-C showing the positions of conductive terminal, auxiliary arm and CPU pin inside the insert hole.  
     [0017]FIG. 11 is a section view of the invention of CPU carrier with the insertion of CPU, and the top cover and CPU are moved to position.  
     [0018]FIG. 12 is a section view taken along line D-D showing the positions of conductive terminal, auxiliary arm and CPU pin inside the insert hole.  
                               BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF NUMERALS                                                10   top cover           11   space           12   pinhole           13   auxiliary arm           20   base           21   insert hole           30   conductive terminal           31   flexible clip           40   solder paste           50   solder ball           60   circuit board           70   CPU           71   pin                      
 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0019] For better understanding of the structural characteristics and anticipated performance of the present invention, please refer to the detailed description and drawings as follows.  
     [0020] As shown in FIGS. 7 through 10, the present invention involves mainly a space  11  that is somewhat recessed and elevated on a bottom of a top cover  10  of CPU carrier unit, and an auxiliary arm  13  that is vertically extended from a specified position from the bottom side of each pinhole  12  of the top cover  10 , length of each auxiliary arm  13  no longer than a height of inside the space  11  on the bottom of the top cover  10 . At a top of a conductive terminal  30  that is inserted in each insert hole  21  of a base  20 , on a side corresponding to the auxiliary arm  13  of the top cover  10 , is a vertically extension of arched flexible clip  31 . When each conductive terminal  30  is inserted in the insert hole  21 and fixed by solder  40  and solder ball  50  to a circuit board  60 , the lower half of the flexible clip  31  is extended in the insert hole  21  (thereby fixing the conductive terminal  30  in a transverse position inside the insert hole  21 ). The upper half of the flexible clip  31  is exposed out of a head of the insert hole  21  (inside the space  11  on the bottom of the top cover  10 ).  
     [0021] In such a structure, when a CPU  70  is inserted in the top of the top cover  10 , each pin  71  running through each pin hole  12  of the top cover  10  and reaching into each corresponding insert hole  21  on the base  20 , the pin  71  is located at a rear part inside the conductive terminal  30 , without contacting the flexible clip  31 . Meanwhile, when the top cover  10  is in this position (when a snap arm is somewhat in a vertical status), the auxiliary arm  13  extending from a side of each pinhole  12  is located at the outside of the flexible clip  31  of the conductive terminal  30  (slightly to the front of the pin  71 ), so the pin  71  and the auxiliary arm  13  are respectively located at two sides of the flexible clip  31 . When the snap arm of the base  20  is turned to a level status and fixed, it brings the top cover  10  along with the CPU  70  to move into position, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, each auxiliary arm  13  and pin  70  is pulled and moved to a position somewhat ahead of the conductive terminal  30  shown in the drawing. Then, the auxiliary arm  13  serves to push an end of the flexible clip  31  of the conductive terminal  30  to move towards the pin  71 , thereby the flexible clip  31  is forced into firm and solid contact with the pin  71 . Therefore the above structural design is capable of preventing error in measurement and configuration when the conductive terminal  30  is pressed to form, or flexible fatigue from frequent use. Due to the tight contact, it will resist outside impact and vibration, and ensure consistent electrical contact. Due to loosened allowance for the production of conductive terminal  30 , it made production quicker and easier, and higher satisfactory rate of products, thereby effectively enhancing the quality of finished computer products, and significantly increase their market competitiveness.  
     [0022] With sophisticated structural design, the present invention will effectively improve on the shortcoming of poor connection between CPU connector pins and the conductive terminals that are inserted in a conventional CPU carrier. By means of the auxiliary arms installed on the sides of the pinholes, and design of correct configuration of the flexible clip of the conductive terminal, the auxiliary arms serve to push the flexible clip into firm contact with CPU pins, enhancing better electrical conductivity and product durability, upgrading product quality and market competitiveness. With those advantages over the conventional similar products, the present invention has it inventive step, improvement and applicability. Therefore, this application is filed for a patent right. Your favorable consideration will be appreciated.