Patent ID: 7586319

Claim:
A method of retaining semiconductor component configurations within sockets, comprising: providing at least two different semiconductor component configurations, at least one of the semiconductor component configurations having only non-protruding terminal contacts; providing a plurality of identical sockets; each of said sockets comprising a base, a retention mechanism associated with the base and configured to retain components, and a lid on the base; the lid being movable to shift the retention mechanism between a retaining position and a non-retaining position; inserting a first nest within one of the sockets to shift the retention mechanism to the non-retaining position; while the retention mechanism is in the non-retaining position, placing a first of the component configurations within said one of the sockets; the first nest being utilized during alignment of the first component configuration as it is placed in the one of the sockets; after the first component configuration is placed within said one of the sockets, removing the first nest to shift the retention mechanism to the retaining position to retain the first component configuration within said one of the sockets; inserting a second nest within another of the sockets to shift the retention mechanism to the non-retaining position; the second nest having a different configuration than the first nest; while the retention mechanism is in the non-retaining position, placing a second of the component configurations within said other socket; the second component configuration being geometrically different from the first component configuration; the second nest being utilized during alignment of the second component configuration as it is placed in said other socket; and after the second component configuration is placed within said other socket, removing the second nest to shift the retention mechanism to the retaining position to retain the second component configuration within the other socket.