Patent ID: 6877993

Claim:
An adapter apparatus for receiving a packaged device having a plurality of contact elements disposed on a surface thereof, wherein the packaged device further comprises one or more perimeter side surfaces defining an outer perimeter of the packaged device, the adapter apparatus comprising: a perimeter wall member comprising a length along an adapter axis between a first end region of the adapter apparatus and a second end region of the adapter apparatus; a conductive element layer comprising a plurality of arranged conductive elements, wherein the conductive element layer is positioned at the first end region of the adapter apparatus orthogonal to the adapter axis, and further wherein the perimeter wall member and the conductive element layer define a socket cavity adapted to receive the packaged device with the plurality of contact elements thereof adjacent the conductive element layer; and an alignment structure positioned at the first end region to align the packaged device within the socket cavity, wherein the alignment structure comprises an alignment plate positioned orthogonal to the adapter axis, wherein the alignment plate comprises at least one opening defined therein adapted to allow the contact elements of the packaged device to be in electrical contact with the arranged conductive elements of the conductive element layer, and further wherein the alignment plate comprises a plurality of movable elements configured to movably engage the one or more perimeter side surfaces of the packaged device when the packaged device is positioned in the socket cavity adjacent the conductive element layer, wherein the plurality of movable elements comprise two pairs of movable elements configured in opposing relation to one another such that each pair of the two pairs of movable elements movably engage the one or more perimeter side surfaces of the packaged device when the packaged device is received in the socket cavity, wherein each movable element of each pair of movable elements extends along an element axis, and further wherein the element axes of each pair of movable elements lie at an angle less than 90 degrees relative to one another.