Patent Publication Number: US-2023140671-A1

Title: Socket connector device cross reference to related application

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 110140850, filed on Nov. 2, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
     The present invention provides a connector device, in particular, a socket connector device for use with a central processing unit. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Competition and market demands promote development of faster and more efficient electrical systems. In particular, due to the demands and applications of central processing unit (CPU) technology, sizes of semiconductor central processing units are gradually shrinking. As there are more transistors per unit area, higher levels of integration are realized for the CPU, and the computing speed and efficiency are also increasing. That is to say, the design of CPU chips will continue to develop toward higher density computing, higher density storage, and tighter connection. 
     Conventional central processing unit (CPU) sockets connecting motherboards and CPU chips mainly utilize pin grid array (PGA) packaging technology. In the PGA packaging technology, pins are made on one side of the CPU, and can be directly inserted into small holes of the CPU socket to complete the installation. However, with the development of the CPUs, the way of connecting by pins no longer meets the requirements. Therefore, land grid array (LGA) packaging technology and ball grid array (BGA) packaging technology are provided. In the LGA packaging technology, pins are placed on the CPU socket to connect to the planar contact points on a bottom of the CPU chip. In the BGA packaging technology, pins are placed on the CPU socket to connect to solder ball contact points on a bottom of the CPU chip. Although the contact points of different CPU chips vary in number and arrangement, it can be certain that the CPU chips will have higher levels of integration and greater density in the future to meet the requirements of faster transmission speed, stronger computing capability, and efficiency. 
     However, since the pins on the conventional CPU sockets are formed by pressing, they are not suitable for a spacing between the contacts points of a high-integration chip. That is to say, the pins do not meet a minimum spacing between the contact points of the CPU chip. For chips with solder balls on the top, problems like solder skip or no solder sometimes occur when soldering the chips and a circuit board using surface mount technology (SMT). Insertion failure easily occur because the pins have no protection mechanism. Further, to make replacement, the chip using BGA packaging technology needs to be disassembled by using a hot air gun or reflow soldering, so the replacement process is complicated and difficult, and it is also easy to cause damage to the PCB. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself to study the above-mentioned conventional techniques and tried his best to solve the above-mentioned problems to make improvement. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a socket connector device which can replace a connector used for a central processing unit (CPU) of a current/future motherboard. Each row of terminals has high strength, high transmission ability, a good supporting and elastic structure, and low power loss. The socket connector device is very suitable for the current/future high-transmission CPU or hybrid high-speed chips. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a socket connector device which can maintain a direction of each terminal and prevent the terminals from being crooked due to collision of external forces. A service life of the terminals is prolonged. 
     The present invention provides a socket connector device mating with a central processing unit comprising a plurality of conductive portions, the socket connector device comprising: a circuit module, a terminal module, and a cover plate. The terminal module is disposed on and connected to the circuit module, wherein the terminal module comprises a terminal block, a plurality of rows of terminals integrally formed with the terminal block, and a support housing protecting the terminal block, each of the terminals comprises a first contact end and a second contact end, the first contact end and the second contact end are arranged corresponding to each other and protrude from the support housing, each of the first contact ends electrically contacts one of the conductive portions, and each of the second contact ends electrically contacts the circuit module. The cover plate is rotatably mounted on the terminal module to enable the conductive portions of the central processing unit to electrically contact or not contact the terminals of the terminal block. 
     In one embodiment, the terminal module further comprises a limiting member and an assembly component, the limiting member and the assembly component together limit and position the terminal block, the limiting member comprises a first positioning component and a plurality of rows of limiting slots, the first positioning component is detachably assembled to the support housing, the assembly component comprises a second positioning component and a plurality of rows of guiding through grooves, and the second positioning component is positioned and assembled to the support housing. 
     In one embodiment, the first positioning component comprises a plurality of hooks and a plurality of guide pins, the second positioning component comprises a plurality of elastic hooks and a plurality of positioning pins, the support housing comprises a plurality of first limiting holes, a plurality of first guiding holes, a plurality of second limiting holes, and a plurality of second guiding holes, each of the hooks and each of the guide pins are engaged with one of the first limiting holes and one of the first guiding holes, respectively, and each of the elastic hooks and each of the positioning pins are engaged with one of the second limiting holes and one of the second guiding holes, respectively. 
     In one embodiment, after the terminal block is positioned and assembled onto the assembly component and positioned to the support housing, the limiting member is assembled to the support housing, wherein the support housing further comprises a plurality of fixing holes for positioning and fastening the cover plate. 
     In one embodiment, each of the terminals further comprises a fastening portion connecting the first contact end and the second contact end of the terminal, and wherein in each of the terminals, the first contact end comprises a first extension portion and a first top portion connected to the first extension portion, the second contact end comprises a second extension portion and a second top portion connected to the second extension portion, and a thickness of the fastening portion is greater than a thickness of the first extension portion and a thickness of the second extension portion. 
     In one embodiment, the rows of the terminals are spaced apart from each other, any two adjacent rows of the terminals are oriented toward opposite directions, a distance between any two adjacent rows of the terminals ranges from 0.4 millimeter (mm) to 1 mm, and a spacing between any two adjacent terminals in each row of the terminals ranges from 0.2 mm to 0.9 mm. 
     In one embodiment, the limiting member further comprises a limiting recess for accommodating the central processing unit, and a shape of the limiting recess corresponds to an outline of the central processing unit. 
     In one embodiment, the circuit module further comprises a circuit substrate and a support plate positioned on the circuit substrate, the circuit substrate is provided with a plurality of conductive pads corresponding to the second contact ends, and each of the conductive pads is provided for electrically contacting one of the second contact ends. 
     In one embodiment, the circuit module further comprises a plurality of positioning elements, the circuit substrate and the support plate each comprise a plurality of through holes, and the positioning elements are inserted in the through holes to position the support plate on one side of the circuit substrate. 
     In one embodiment, the cover plate further comprises a cover body, two positioning brackets disposed on the cover body, and an operating lever pivotally connected to one side of the cover body, the two positioning brackets are rotatably positioned on the support housing, and the operating lever can be rotated to lift or cover the cover plate. 
     In one embodiment, the cover body further comprises a locking limiting portion and a limiting groove, the locking limiting portion protrudes from a front edge of the cover body for limiting rotation of the operating lever with respect to the cover body, and the limiting groove is defined at a position adjacent to one side of the locking limiting portion for positioning at least one fastener to keep a closed state of the cover plate. 
     In one embodiment, when to set the cover plate in a closed state, the operating lever is rotated to be restricted by the locking limiting portion, such that the cover body presses the central processing unit to make the central processing unit contact the terminals of the terminal block; and when to set the cover plate in an open state, the operating lever is rotated to be released from the restriction of the locking limiting portion, such that the cover body releases the central processing unit to make the central processing unit detached from the terminals of the terminal block. 
     The socket connector device of the present invention is easy to assemble and has design flexibility, and can be directly used to replace a connector of a current CPU, thus achieving high compatibility. A spacing between any two adjacent terminals in the terminal module ranges from 0.2 mm to 0.9 mm, so as to achieve an extremely fine-pitch structure, which meets the requirements for a gradually narrowing spacing between conductive portions of the current CPU. Each of the terminals also has high strength, high conductivity, and low impedance, so the terminals can alleviate a temperature rising problem caused by high impedance when transmitting signals or currents, which can not only improve overall transmission efficiency, but also prolong a service life. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       In order to make the above-mentioned content easier to understand, the present invention is described below with reference to the preferred embodiments and in combination with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic perspective view of a socket connector device in a closed state according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective exploded view of the socket connector device of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic enlarged perspective view of a terminal block of the socket connector device of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective exploded view of a support housing, a limiting member, and an assembly component in a terminal module of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic view illustrating the limiting member of the socket connector device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic perspective exploded view illustrating a cover plate, a support housing, and a circuit module. 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic perspective view illustrating  FIG.  6    after assembled. 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic perspective view showing  FIG.  7    with fasteners installed and is also a schematic perspective view showing the cover plate in an open state. 
         FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A showing the socket connector device. 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic enlarged view showing position B of  FIG.  9   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals denote the same elements or similar elements, and working principles of the present disclosure are described by examples implemented in a suitable environment. The following description is based on illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting other embodiments of the present disclosure not detailed herein. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the present invention provides a socket connector device  100 , which mates with a central processing unit (CPU) including a plurality of conductive portions (not illustrated). The central processing unit  1  uses ball grid array (BGA) package technology, that is, the conductive portions at a bottom are tin balls. However, in the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5   , a central processing unit  2  can also use land grid array (LGA) package technology, that is, the conductive portions at the bottom form a plane. No matter what packaging technology is adopted by the central processing units  1  and  2 , each conductive portion of the central processing unit  1  is in contact with a circuit module  110  through a terminal module  120  in this embodiment. 
       FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2    are a perspective view of the socket connector device of the present invention in a closed state and a perspective exploded view. As shown in the drawings, the socket connector device  100  includes the circuit module  110 , the terminal module  120 , and a cover plate  180 . The terminal module  120  can be electrically connected to the circuit module  110 . The terminal module  120  includes a terminal block  122 , a plurality of rows of terminals  124  integrally formed with the terminal block  122 , and a support housing  140  for protecting the terminal block  122 . Each terminal  124  includes a first contact end  125  and a second contact end  128 . The first contact end  125  and the second contact end  128  are arranged corresponding to each other and protrude out of an insertion through hole  146  of the support housing  140 , so that each of the first contact ends  125  can electrically contact one of the conductive portions, each of the second contact ends  128  can electrically contact a conductive pad  114  of the circuit module  110  ( FIG.  2   ). The cover plate  180  is rotatably mounted on the terminal module  120  to enable the conductive portions of the central processing unit  1  to electrically contact or not contact the respective terminals  124  of the terminal block  122 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4    together.  FIG.  3    is a perspective enlarged view of the terminal block of the socket connector device of the present invention.  FIG.  4    is a perspective exploded view illustrating the support housing, the limiting member, and the assembly component in the terminal module of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3   , the terminal block  122  is preferably composed of a base portion  1221  and a conductive layer  134  disposed on one side of the base portion  1221 . The rows of the terminals  124  arranged in an array are formed after chemical processes such as exposure, development, and etching and then adhered to the base portion  1221  through an adhesive layer  138  adhered to the rows of terminals  124 . The above steps are repeated to form the terminal block  122  having the rows of the terminals  124 . A material of the conductive layer  134  is selected from a group consisting of beryllium copper alloy, phosphor bronze, nickel titanium alloy, or copper alloy. A material of the base portion  1221  is selected from a group consisting of epoxy resin (FR4), polyimide, ceramic, or other suitable insulating materials. 
     It should be noted that the rows of the terminals  124  are spaced apart from each other by the base portions  1221 , and the terminals of any two adjacent rows of the terminals  124  are provided facing opposite directions, so that a distance between any two adjacent rows of the terminals  124  can be reduced to be, for example, between 0.4 millimeter (mm) and 1 mm. In addition, a spacing between any two adjacent terminals  124  in each row of the terminals  124  is between 0.2 mm and 0.9 mm, so as to achieve an extremely fine-pitch structure and satisfy the requirements for the current CPU  1  which has a gradually reduced spacing between the conductive portions. The first contact end  125  of each terminal  124  includes a first extension portion  126  and a first top portion  127  connected to the first extension portion  126 . The second contact end  128  includes a second extension portion  129  and a second top portion  131  connected to the second extension portion  129 . A fastening portion  133  ( FIG.  10   ) connects the first contact end  125  and the second contact end  128 . The fastening portion  133  can be positioned in the base portion  1221 , wherein a thickness of the fastening portion  133  is greater than a thickness of the first extension portion  126  and a thickness of the second extension  129 , thus providing better structural strength and stable signal transmission characteristics. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  4   , the terminal module  120  further includes a limiting member  150  and an assembly component  160 . The limiting member  150  and the assembly component  160  together limit and position the terminal block  122 . The limiting member  150  includes a first positioning component  152  and a plurality of rows of limiting slots  154 . The first positioning component  152  is detachably assembled to the support housing  140 . The assembly component  160  includes a second positioning component  162  and a plurality of rows of guiding through grooves  164 . The second positioning component  162  is positioned and assembled to the support housing  140 . 
     The first positioning component  152  includes at least one hook  156  and at least one guide pin  158 . The second positioning component  162  includes at least one elastic hook  166  and at least one positioning pin  168 . The support housing  140  includes at least one first limiting hole  142 , at least one first guiding hole  143 , at least one second limiting hole  144 , and at least one second guiding hole  145 . The hook  156  and the guide pin  158  are correspondingly fastened to the first limiting hole  142  and the first guiding hole  143 , respectively. The elastic hook  166  and the positioning pin  168  are correspondingly fastened to the second limiting hole  144  and the second guiding hole  145 , respectively. After the terminal block  122  is positioned and assembled to the assembly component  160  and positioned on one side (a rear side) of the support housing  140 , the limiting member  150  is assembled to another side (a front side) of the support housing  140 . 
     Specifically, the support housing  140  is preferably a rectangular housing, and further includes a plurality of foolproof protrusions  141 , the insertion through hole  146  extending through the rectangular housing, and a plurality of fixing holes  148 . The limiting member  150  is provided with a plurality of positioning grooves  151  corresponding to the respective foolproof protrusions  141 , so that the limiting member  150  is assembled to the support housing  140  in a correct direction and is fastened to the limiting hole  142  and the guiding hole  143  by means of the first positioning component  152 . The fixing holes  148  defined in a periphery of the support housing  140  are used for assembling and fastening the cover plate  180 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2    to  FIG.  4   , a preferred assembling method of the terminal module  120  is as follows. First, the terminal block  122  is positioned and assembled to the assembly component  160  and positioned on the support housing  140 , and the limiting member  150  is assembled to the support housing  140 , so that assembling of the terminal module  120  is complete. However, in alternative embodiments, the terminal block  122  of the terminal module  120  can also be formed in the support housing  140  through plastic injection insert molding, which can be changed according to needs and designs. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , when the terminal block  122  is assembled to the support housing  140 , each of the first contact ends  125  and each of the second contact ends  128  of the terminal block  122  can protrude from one row of the limiting slots  154  and one row of the guiding through grooves  164 , respectively. Each of the first contact ends  125  electrically contacts one of the conductive portions. Each of the second contact ends  128  electrically contacts one of the conductive pads  114  of the circuit module  110  (see  FIG.  6   ). Due to the arrangement of the rows of the limiting slots  154  and the rows of the guiding through grooves  164 , the first contact ends  125  and the second contact ends  128  can maintain the direction of each terminal  124  and prevent the terminals  124  from being crooked due to collision of external forces. A service life of the terminals  124  and the terminal block  122  is prolonged. 
     In addition, an overall structure of the limiting member  140 , the terminal block  122 , and the assembly component  160  can be quickly re-designed and modified according to the conductive portions of the CPU  1  or different requirements. In particular, in the embodiments shown in  FIG.  1    to  FIG.  4   , the limiting member  150  is preferably suitable for the CPU  1  in which the conductive portions are solder balls (BGA). However, in the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5   , a limiting member  250  can be suitable for the CPU  2  in which the conductive portions form a flat surface (LGA). The limiting member  250  further includes a limiting recess  252  for accommodating a CPU  2 . A shape of the limiting recess  252  corresponds to an outline of the CPU  2 , so that the CPU  2  is installed on one side of the limiting member  252 , and another side of the limiting member  252  is detachably assembled to the support housing  140 . Each row of limiting slots  254  of the limiting member  252  further includes a plurality of arc through-holes  256  which communicate with the limiting slot  254  and have greater diameters than a width of the limiting slot  254 . The arc through-holes  256  are provided for the first contact ends to pass through, respectively. Other structural details of the limiting member  252  are the same as those in the foregoing embodiments, and are omitted herein for brevity. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  6    to  FIG.  8    together.  FIG.  6    is a perspective exploded view of the cover plate, the support housing, and the circuit module of the present invention.  FIG.  7    is a perspective assembled view of  FIG.  6   .  FIG.  8    is a schematic perspective view showing that fasteners of  FIG.  7    are installed, and is also a perspective view showing the cover plate in an open state. As shown in the drawings, the circuit module  110  further includes a circuit substrate  112 , such as a mother board or other suitable printed circuit board (PCB), and a support plate  118  ( FIG.  2   ) positioned on the circuit substrate  112 . The support plate  118  is, for example, a metal material to provide structural strength or other suitable functions for the circuit substrate  112 . Specifically, the support plate  118  is positioned on the support housing  140  by means of a plurality of positioning elements  170 , such as positioning pins, inserted in the through holes  117  and  116 . The circuit substrate  112  is also provided with a plurality of conductive pads  114  corresponding to the second contact ends  128 , and each of the conductive pads  114  is provided for electrically contacting the second top portion  131  of each of the second contact ends  128  to perform arithmetic and logical operations and interpret every command inside computer systems/servers and controls operations. 
     The cover plate  180  further includes a cover body  182 , two positioning brackets  184  disposed on the cover body  182 , and an operating lever  186  pivotally connected to one side of the cover body  182 . The two positioning brackets  184  are rotatably positioned on the fixing holes  148  of the support housing  140 , and the operating lever  186  can rotatably lift or cover the cover plate  180 . Specifically, the cover body  180  further includes a locking limiting portion  188  and a limiting groove  192 . The locking limiting portion  188  protrudes from a front edge of the cover body  182  for limiting rotation of the operating lever  186  with respect to the cover body  182 . The limiting groove  192  is defined at a position adjacent to one side of the locking limiting portion  188  for positioning at least one fastener  172  such as a screw or other suitable fastening element, so as to keep the closed state of the cover plate  180  (as shown in  FIG.  1   ). 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the operating lever  186  is rotated to be restricted by the locking limiting portion  188  to set the cover plate  180  in a closed state A, so that the cover body  182  presses the CPU  1  to contact the terminals  124  of the terminal block  122 . As shown in  FIG.  8   , the operating lever  186  is rotated to be released from the restriction of the locking limiting portion  188  to set the cover plate  180  in an open state B, such that the cover body  182  releases the CPU  1  to make the CPU  1  detached from the terminals  124  of the terminal block  122 . 
     Specifically, the operating lever  186  is preferably a rod body and is pivotally connected to a bottom end of the cover body  182 . In the closed state A, the fastener  172  can pass through the limiting groove  192  to be fixed on the circuit module  110 , so that the cover plate  180  can stably press and fix the CPU  1 . On the contrary, when the CPU  1  needs to be replaced or changed, the fastener  172  needs to be removed first, and the operating lever  186  is rotated to be released from the restriction of the locking limiting portion  188 , so that the cover body  182  is rotated to be set in the open state B with respect to the terminal module  120 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  9    and  FIG.  10    together.  FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A showing the socket connector device of the present invention.  FIG.  10    is a schematic enlarged view of position B of  FIG.  9   . When the socket connector device  100  is in the closed state A, the first contact ends  125  of each row of the terminals  124  are in elastic contact with the conductive portions  11  of the CPU  1 , respectively, and the second contact ends  128  of each row of the terminals  124  are in elastic contact with the conductive pads  114  of the circuit substrate  112 , respectively, so signals of the conductive portions  11  of the CPU  1  can be transmitted to the conductive pads  114  of the circuit substrate  112  through the first contact ends  125  and the second contact ends  128  of the terminals  124 , thereby performing arithmetic and logical operations and interpreting every command in the computer system/server and controlling operations. 
     Because the terminal module  120  has a very fine pitch between the terminals  124  in each row, the socket connector device can replace a connector used for the CPU  1  of a current/future motherboard. Furthermore, each row of the terminals  124  also has high strength, high transmission ability, a good supporting and elastic structure, and low power loss, the terminals  124  are very suitable for the current/future high-transmission central processing unit  1  or hybrid high-speed chips. 
     The socket connector device  200  of this embodiment is easy to assemble and has design flexibility, and can be directly used to replace a connector of the conventional CPU  1 , thus achieving high compatibility. The spacing between any two adjacent terminals  124  in the terminal module  120  is between 0.2 mm and 0.9 mm, so as to achieve an extremely fine-pitch structure, which meets the requirements for the gradually narrowing spacing between the conductive portions of the current CPU  1 . Each of the terminals  124  also has high-strength, high-conductivity, and low-impedance, so the terminals  12  can alleviate the temperature rising problem caused by high impedance when transmitting signals or currents, which can not only improve the overall transmission efficiency, but also prolong the service life. 
     The above only describes preferred embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Other equivalent changes based on the spirit of the present invention shall all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.