Patent ID: 8267701

Claim:
An apparatus to align socket housing segments for an area array device, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of socket housing segments for an area array device each socket housing segment comprising at least a first surface and a second surface, the second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface of each socket housing segment providing electrical connections for a portion of the area array device; a plurality of socket contact pads disposed on the first surfaces of the plurality of socket housing segments, the plurality of socket contact pads corresponding to substrate contact pads disposed on a substrate; and one or more alignment structures disposed at a space between the plurality of socket housing segments, each alignment structure coupled to at least two of the socket housing segments, the one or more alignment structures maintaining a predetermined alignment of each socket housing segment such that the plurality of socket contact pads aligns with the substrate contact pads during a surface mount connection process connecting the plurality of socket contact pads to the substrate contact pads.