Patent ID: 7121858

Claim:
A test socket for connection of a ball grid array integrated circuit (IC) device to a test circuit, the IC device having an array of solder balls thereof, the test socket comprising: a socket body; a plurality of terminals on the socket body, the plurality of terminals at least comprising an array of terminals in columns and rows, for corresponding to the array of solder balls of the IC device, some of the array of the terminals each including at least two deflectable contact pieces at a distal region thereof to capture one corresponding ball of IC device to prevent movement of that ball in a first horizontal direction; a retention member on the socket body, the retention member having at least one retention side thereof; wherein, when the IC device mates with the socket, the at least one retention side of the retention member is adapted to engage with at least a portion of peripheral surfaces of the balls of the IC device so as to prevent movement of the IC device in a second horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, and thus, the terminals and the retention member together constitute a means for positioning the IC device in a predetermined plane defined by the first and second horizontal direction.