Patent ID: 7090522

Claim:
A socket assembly for forming a plurality of electrical connections between a ball grid array package having a plurality of conductive ball leads and an electrical component, the socket assembly comprising: a generally rectangular housing including a base having a plurality of apertures; a plurality of resilient electrical contacts disposed in the plurality of apertures, each electrical contact includes a lower portion for contacting the electrical component below the socket assembly, an intermediate portion for securing the electrical contact to the housing and an upper portion for contacting a ball lead of the package, each electrical contact includes a sleeve molded around the intermediate portion for forming an interference fit between the sleeve and at least one of the plurality of apertures of the housing; a cam having a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of contacts disposed in the housing, the cam being configured to position the plurality of electrical contacts from a first closed position to a second open position; a generally rectangular device guide plate disposed on an upper surface of the housing, the device guide plate having a base including a plurality of openings for receiving the ball leads and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the base defining an insert area for the package; and an actuating mechanism configured to interact with the cam to position the plurality of electrical contacts from the first closed position to the second open position.