Patent Publication Number: US-2011076859-A1

Title: Motherboard, port and conductive terminal structure of connectors used therein

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a motherboard, a port and a conductive terminal structure of connectors used therein, and more particularly to a terminal structure of connectors, a port and a motherboard having the terminal structure, which are installed in a computer. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  which is a perspective view of a conventional motherboard. A conventional motherboard  3  in the computer commonly includes plural types of sockets  30  and ports  32 . Furthermore, each socket  30  on the motherboard  3  has plural conductive terminals (not labeled), for receiving a matching component (not labeled) plugged therein. For example, a memory socket  30   a  is provided for a memory  4  plugged therein. When the memory  4  is plugged in the memory socket  30   a , the memory  4  can be electrically connected with the components on the motherboard  3 . In addition, the port  32  on the motherboard  3  also has plural conductive terminals (not labeled) which are used to receive a matching plug (not labeled) plugged therein. For example, an USB port  32   a  is provided for receiving an USB plug  5  plugged therein. When the USB plug  5  is plugged in the USB port  32   a , the USB plug  5  can be electrically connected with components on the motherboard  3 . 
     If computer players repeatedly exchange the components on the motherboard, such frequent plug-plug actions will wear down the conductive terminals in the sockets or ports on the motherboard. An electroplating layer on the conductive terminals will disappear, and a copper substrate under the electroplating layer will be exposed in the air. The copper substrate exposed in air for a long time will result in oxidization, and the function of the conductive terminal will be affected. 
     Furthermore, even the components on the motherboard are not repeatedly exchanged by computer players, the moisture in the air or the sulfuric molecules in special environment (such as, hot spring area) also will speed the electroplating layer of the conductive terminals of the sockets or ports be consumed. The life time of the sockets or ports can be shortened. In additional, the high temperature environment also will cause the electroplating layer of the sockets or ports to cause an unstable condition, such unstable condition will affect the function of the conductive terminals. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a motherboard has connectors which have conductive terminals formed with an electroplating layer on surfaces thereof. Furthermore, the electroplating layer has a thickness between 0.000128 mm. and 0.00128 mm. Moreover, the electroplating layer can use the material of Au (aurum), Ag (silver), Pt (platinum) or Pd (palladium). 
     One embodiment of the present invention provides a motherboard which includes a printed circuit board and a plurality of connectors. The plural connectors are mounted on the printed circuit board. Each connector has a plurality of conductive terminals, and each of the conductive terminals has a substrate layer and an electroplating layer formed on surfaces of the substrate layer. The electroplating layer has a thickness between 0.000128 mm. and 0.00128 mm. The electroplating layer can use the material of Au, Ag, Pt or Pd. The connectors could be sockets or ports. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention provides a connector having conductive terminals, which includes a substrate layer and an electroplating layer formed on surfaces of the substrate layer. The thickness of the electroplating layer between 0.000128 mm. and 0.00128 mm. The electroplating layer can use the material of Au, Ag, Pt or Pd. 
     In conclusion, the present invention motherboard provides the conductive terminals of the connectors coated with the electroplating layer, which has a thickness between 0.000128 mm. and 0.00128 mm. and the material used thereon could be Au, Ag, Pt or Pd. Therefore, the motherboard of the present invention provides the conductive terminals of the sockets and the ports for effectively avoiding the problem of been worn down because of frequent exchanging accessories. Moreover, in special conditions of environments, the present invention provides the connectors on the motherboard for being able to have a longer life time and higher reliability than conventional ones. 
     For further understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description illustrating the embodiments and examples of the present invention. The description is for illustrative purpose only and is not intended to limit the scope of the claim. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional motherboard; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a motherboard according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a bottom view of a memory socket according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  to  FIG. 2D  are bottom views of each kinds of CPU socket according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2E  is a front view of a conductive terminal according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the motherboard according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a conductive terminal of the socket according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a conductive terminal of the port according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a top view of a motherboard according to the present invention. This embodiment provides a motherboard  1  including a printed circuit board  10  and a plurality of connectors (including plural sockets  12  and ports  13 ). In this embodiment, the motherboard  1  could be an ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) motherboard, a micro ATX (micro Advanced Technology Extended) motherboard, a flex ATX (flex Advanced Technology Extended) motherboard, a WTX motherboard, a BTX (Balanced Technology eXtended) motherboard or other type of motherboard having sockets. 
     Reference is also made to  FIG. 2 . A printed circuit board  10  mounted with a plurality of connectors, such as sockets  12 . Each socket  12  has a plurality of conductive terminal  120 . The conductive terminal  120  are electrically connected with the printed circuit board  10 . The sockets  12  of the printed circuit board  10  includes a memory socket  12   a , a CPU socket  12   b , a PCI socket  12   c , a PCI-E x1 socket  12   d  and a PCI-E x16 socket  12   e , or one of them or their combination. A number of pins of the CPU socket  12   b  would be fitted for an AMD CPU or an Intel CPU. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 2A  is a top view of a memory socket according to the present invention. The memory socket  12   a  of the present invention has 240 conductive terminals  120 , which is fitted for a DDR (Double Data Rate) memory with 240 pins. Reference is made to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2B  to  FIG. 2D . FIG.  2 B to  FIG. 2D  are top views of each kinds of CPU socket according to the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2B , an embodiment illustrated by the present invention has a CPU socket  12   b   1  which is applied to LGA 1156 processor manufactured by Intel Corporation. As shown in  FIG. 2C , an embodiment illustrated by the present invention has a CPU socket  12   b   2  which is applied to a LGA 775 processor manufactured by Intel Corporation. As shown in  FIG. 2D , an embodiment illustrated by the present invention has a CPU socket  12   b   3  which is applied to a SMT AM3 processor manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 2E .  FIG. 2E  is a front view of a conductive terminal  120  according to the present invention. The conductive terminal  120  is assembled in the sockets  12 . 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a conductive terminal of the socket according to the present invention. In the socket  12  of this embodiment, each conductive terminal  120  has a substrate layer  1202 , and two surfaces of the substrate layer  1202  are formed with an electroplating layer  1204  respectively. The substrate layer  1202  would use the material of copper or copper alloy. In this embodiment, the electroplating layer  1204  has a thickness between 0.000128 mm. to 0.00128 mm. Furthermore, the electroplating layer  1204  can use the material of Au, Ag, Pt or Pd. 
     This embodiment in the present invention provides the electroplating layer  1204  used the above-mentioned material and increased the thickness, so that the conductive terminal  120  of the socket  12  can effectively avoid the problem of been worn down because of frequent exchanging accessories. Furthermore, in special conditions of environments, the socket  12  in this embodiment could have a longer life time and higher reliability than conventional socket. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a side view of the motherboard according to the present invention. The plural connectors, which are mounted on the printed circuit board  10  of this embodiment, further have a plurality of ports  13  ( 13   a ,  13   b ,  13   c ,  13   d ,  13   e ,  13   f ,  13   g ,  13   h ,  13   i ,  13   j ,  13   k ,  13   m ,  13   n ,  13   p ). Each of the ports  13  has a plurality of conductive terminals  130 . The conductive terminal  130  are electrically connected with the printed circuit board  10 . The ports  13  on the printed circuit board  10  includes a PS/2 port  13   a , an E-SATA port  13   b , a SATA port  13   c , a VGA port  13   d , a DVI port  13   e , an USB port  13   f , an internet port  13   g , an Audio/Video port  13   h , an IEEE1394 port  13   i , a CPU power port  13   j , a motherboard power port  13   k , a FDD port  13   m , a HDMI port  13   n  and an ATA port  13   p , which would be one of them or an assembly among them. These ports  13  are the best mode used the terminals of the present invention. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a conductive terminal of ports according to the present invention. In the port  13  of this embodiment, each conductive terminal  130  includes a substrate layer  1302 , and two surfaces of the substrate layer  1302  are formed with an electroplating layer  1304 , respectively. The material of the substrate layer  1302  could be Cu (Copper) and Ni (Nickel) or an alloy of Cu and Ni. The alloy of Cu could be CuSn. In this embodiment, the electroplating layer  1304  has a thickness between 0.000128 mm. and 0.00128 mm. The electroplating layer  1304  can use the material of Au, Ag, Pt or Pd. 
     An testing experiment data for thickness of standard electroplating layer according the present invention is as follows: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Material 
                   
                 Au 
                 Ni 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Average 
                 0.00043 
                 mm. 
                 0.00191 
                 mm. 
               
               
                   
                 Testing Time 
                 5 
                 sec. 
                 5 
                 sec. 
               
               
                   
                 Standard Deviation 
                 0.0000102 
                 mm. 
                 0.0000653 
                 mm. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Rate Of Change 
                 2.37% 
                 3.43% 
               
               
                   
                 Data Number 
                 5 
                 5 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Range 
                 0.000027 
                 mm. 
                 0.000172 
                 mm. 
               
               
                   
                 Minimum 
                 0.00042 
                 mm. 
                 0.00183 
                 mm. 
               
               
                   
                 Maxmum 
                 0.000443 
                 mm. 
                 0.002 
                 mm. 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Therefore, because of the material used in the electroplating layer  1304  and increase of thickness, the conductive terminal  130  of the port  13  in this embodiment can effectively avoid the problem of been worn down because of frequent exchanging accessories. Furthermore, in special conditions of environments, the port  13  in this embodiment could have a longer life time and higher reliability than conventional port. 
     In conclusion, the present invention provides the motherboard  1 , wherein the conductive terminal  120 ,  130  in the sockets  12  and the ports  13  have the electroplating layer  1204 ,  1304  coated on its surface. Furthermore, the electroplating layer  1204 ,  1304  has a thickness between 0.000128 mm. and 0.00128 mm. Moreover, the electroplating layer  1204 ,  1304  can use the material of Au, Ag, Pt or Pd. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides the conductive terminals  120 ,  130  of the sockets  12  and the ports  13  on the motherboard  1 , which can effectively avoid the problem of been worn down because of frequent exchanging accessories. Moreover, the present invention provides the sockets  12  and the ports  13  on the motherboard  1  have a longer life time and higher reliability than conventional ones. 
     The description above only illustrates specific embodiments and examples of the present invention. The present invention should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the present invention, provided they fall within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following appended claims.