Patent Publication Number: US-2011053426-A1

Title: Lower profile electrical contact and electrical socket using the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electrical contact and an electrical socket using the same, and more particularly to an electrical contact having a lower profile structure and an electrical socket having the same lower profile contacts thereby lowering and benefiting an overall height of the socket for compact application. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,634 issued to Liao on Apr. 29, 2003 discloses a conventional electrical contact and electrical socket for electrically connecting a pin of an electrical package and a PCB (printed circuit board). The electrical contact  1  of the electrical socket comprises a base portion  10  extending in a vertical direction, an engaging portion  11  extending from a top end of the base portion  10 , and a solder pad  12  extending from a bottom end of the base portion  10 . The engaging portion  11  and the solder pad  12  also extend along the vertical direction. 
     However, such conventional contact may not be useful in certain application, such a thin and compact environment. The base portion, engaging portion and the solder pad are disposed at positions having different heights relative to a same horizontal plane. In other words, the three portions are disposed at different horizontal plane. Therefore, the whole height of the electrical contact is bulky for the above-described application. Accordingly, it is inevitable that a socket incorporated with such contact will also featured with a bulky dimension not suitable for compact and thin application. 
     In view of the above, an improved electrical contact and electrical socket that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a low profile contact terminal and an electrical socket incorporated with such contacts is also benefited with low profile suitable for compact and thin applications. 
     To achieve the above-mentioned object, an electrical contact and an electrical socket incorporated with such contacts are provided. The electrical contact comprises a blade serving a number of retaining portions thereon; and a spring arm extending parallel to the blade and attached to the blade by a curved portion so that a contacting space is formed between the spring arm and the blade for receiving and engaging with a pin leg of an electronic component. The electrical socket is incorporated with a plurality of same contacts. The electrical contact has a lower profile and the electrical socket incorporated with such contacts is benefited with low profile suitable for compact and thin applications. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a contact of an electrical socket in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the electrical contact as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the electrical contact as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the electrical socket in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an interconnect assembly of the invention for using with the electrical socket for electrically connecting a pin of an electrical package and a PCB; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an interconnect assembly of the invention for using with the electrical socket for electrically connecting a pin of an electrical package and a PCB. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the contact  12  is used for electrically connecting a pin  2  leg of an electrical package (not shown) with a PCB  4  via a solder ball  3 . The contact  12  includes a blade  120  serving as a first contact portion  1202  and a number of retaining portions  1200  used to physically engage with a portion of a passage of a socket connector. The contact  12  further includes a solder retaining portion  124  in which the solder ball  3  thereof. The solder retaining portion  124  is substantially orthogonal to the blade  120 . The solder retaining portion  124  is located at a lowest position when the contact  12  is inserted into the passageway  100 . A spring arm  122  extends from the solder retaining portion  124  and is substantially in parallel to the blade portion  120 . Both the blade  120  and the spring arm  122  define a receiving space  126  in which the pin leg  2  of a CPU can be electrically disposed therein. 
     The space  126  further comprises a lead-in space  126  and a contacting space  128  disposed in turn along the vertical direction. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a top end of the blade  120  is substantially flush with a top end of the spring arm  122 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the blade  120  has a planar surface facing the spring arm  122 , the number of retaining portions  1200  being disposed on opposite edges of the blade  120 . The spring arm  122  is configured with a curved structure, which has a peak  1220  projecting toward the blade. The peak  122  will contact with the pin leg  2  jointly with the first contacting point  1200  disposed on the blade  120 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the solder retaining portion  124  is of a curved structure and interconnects a bottom end of the blade  120  and a bottom end of the spring arm  122 . Moreover, the solder retaining portion  124  defines an opening for receiving the solder ball  3  therein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , the electrical socket  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing  10  having a plurality of passageways  100 , and a plurality of contacts  12  received in the passageways, respectively. The blade  120  of the contact  12  is fixed in corresponding passageway  100 . The spring arm  122  moveably extends in the corresponding passageway  100 . Accordingly, the contacting point  1202  on the blade forms a stationary contacting point and the peak  1220  forms a moveable contacting point. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-6 , an interconnect assembly using the electrical socket  1  for electrically connecting the pin leg  2  to the PCB  4  via the solder ball  3  is shown. When the pin leg  2  is inserted into the space  126  defined by the blade  120  and the spring  122 , the spring arm  122  will be deformed under press from the pin leg  2  and move away from blade  120 . Accordingly, the peak  1220  will move away from blade  120 . When the pin leg  2  is reached or located within the contacting space  128 , the peak  1220  will hold the pin leg  2  in the contacting space  128  jointly with the first contacting portion  1202 . Accordingly, electrical connection between the electrical socket  1  and the pin  2  leg is established. 
     According to the present invention, the spring arm  122  is parallel to the blade  120  so that the contact  12  has a lower height in the vertical direction. Therefore, the electrical socket  1  is benefited with low profile suitable for compact and thin applications so as to meet industry trend of miniaturization of electrical component. 
     While the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes known to persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the present invention are considered within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.